Mink: I do not think yesterday's trade of Odafe Oweh for Los Angeles Chargers safety Alohi Gilman was the last trade General Manager Eric DeCosta will make this season. We all know DeCosta is active around the trade deadline, and he's determined to give the Ravens the best shot at clawing their way back into the playoffs.
I don't know how "big" any trade would be. I do not see the Ravens giving up major draft capital to land any player. That's just not in DeCosta's DNA.
However, another piece of the Oweh-Gilman trade was that the Ravens gained about $7 million in salary-cap space, per Russell Street Report’s Brian McFarland. That gives DeCosta the flexibility he craves this time of year.
I don't envision the Ravens making a trade for a guard. They have some in-house candidates in Ben Cleveland and rookie Emery Jones Jr. if they want to make a change in the starting lineup (see below). I do expect Baltimore will pursue an outside linebacker/defensive end that could help offset the loss of Oweh. The other area for improvement would be on the defensive line, where the Ravens are feeling the effects of losing Nnamdi Madubuike for the rest of the year.
Mink: I'll stick with this line of questioning about trades. No, I do not think the Ravens are in selling mode. They very much believe they can still contend for the AFC North title despite their 1-4 start, especially once they get Lamar Jackson and several other injured star players back on the field. Head Coach John Harbaugh made it clear that he believes they are capable of turning things around. While the Ravens improved their draft capital for next year, the Oweh-Gilman trade was mostly about getting better now.
The trade deadline is Nov. 4, after the Ravens' Week 9 game in Miami. That gives Baltimore three more games, including two after the bye, when I expect this team will get healthier, to evaluate where it's at. If the Ravens' losing streak continues even once players return, they could re-evaluate whether it makes sense to sell at the deadline. But I don't envision that happening.
Brown: An offensive line shakeup in Week 6 would not be surprising, based on what Harbaugh said on Monday.
"Everything's on the table," Harbaugh said. "If we were hoping for you to make more progress as a player, and it's not happening, then at some point in time, somebody else is going to get a chance."
This might be the week that Corey Bullock gets the call at either guard spot in place of Andrew Vorhees or Daniel Faalele, who have started all season. Cleveland, who has seven starts in his career, and Jones are two other options the Ravens could consider.
I don't think the coaching staff fears change. Four of five offensive line starters returned from last season. That continuity was viewed as a plus. However, the unit has not had the same success in run blocking or pass blocking this season.
Ravens coaches being under fire comes with the territory of being 1-4. Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr has received the most heat, but he has also received unwavering support from players, Harbaugh, and the entire staff. Orr has earned that respect due to the way he has consistently overcome adversity as a player and coach. Baltimore turned its defense around last year when Orr was a rookie coordinator, and the coaches and players believe that will happen again.
I think Harbaugh's defensive staff will continue to take a collaborative approach, rather than shaking up the room. Harbaugh mentioned Monday that he had spoken with former Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees, and that Senior Secondary Coach Chuck Pagano is already heavily involved in the defense.
As for "Fub" (Aeneas Peebles), he has played 18.2% of the defensive snaps, but I wouldn't be surprised if his action increases as the year progresses. He's still a rookie and the Ravens already have many rookies dealing with heavier roles sooner than anticipated.
Brown: Yes, I think there's a chance that Huntley gets some snaps against the Rams, and his action won't necessarily be restricted to the red zone.
Huntley has rushed for five touchdowns and 644 yards during his career. If Rush plays well, Huntley may still see snaps as a change of pace. If Rush struggles early, Huntley's playmaking could provide a spark. The Ravens acquired Rush because he has proven he can win games as a backup quarterback. But the Ravens need a victory badly, and Huntley has plenty of experience filling in for Jackson. As Harbaugh said, everything's on the table, including a possible quarterback change.
"We'll consider everything, every part of it to try to get the win," Harbaugh said.
