The Baltimore Ravens’ defense has undergone significant alterations this summer.
They lost their defensive coordinator to the Seattle Seahawks’ head coaching post.
Their defensive line and defensive backs coaches have left to become defensive coordinators elsewhere.
In addition, the Ravens have lost several key defensive players in free agency.
With so much shifting, the team may need to make a significant move to restore the defense to elite status.
A trade for a top cornerback may be just the thing.
In an article examining moves that NFL contenders may make to fix their worst vulnerability, Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton proposed that the Ravens try to trade for New Orleans Saints CB Marshon Lattimore.
Lattimore Has Been Dominant When Healthy.
After being picked 11th overall in 2017, Lattimore quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s greatest cornerbacks.
He won Defensive Rookie of the Year after intercepting five passes and defending 18 in his rookie NFL season. Lattimore made the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
For the next four years, he had double-digit passes defended and restricted opposing quarterbacks to a completion rate of less than 60% in three of those seasons.
Lattimore qualified for the Pro Bowl in each of the seasons with a completion percentage allowed of less than 60%.
Lattimore’s excellent play over the first five years of his NFL career earned him a massive contract extension. He agreed to a 5-year contract for $97.6 million.
Unfortunately, he has battled to remain healthy since then. In the two years since signing the agreement, Lattimore has appeared in only 17 games.
Nonetheless, he has performed admirably in the games he has taken part in.
Lattimore defended eight passes in ten games in 2023, allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete fewer than 60% of their throws when he was on the field, and allowing only 6.4 yards per target.
That last figure was a career high for Lattimore.
Nonetheless, his injuries over the last two seasons, combined with his hefty deal, might make him a trade target for a Saints club in need of financial space.
If the Saints make him available, he would be an excellent match for the Ravens as they attempt to restock their defense.
Ravens Need to Reload on Defense.
The Ravens had the NFL’s strongest defense in 2023.
Right now, it appears that they will not be quite as good in 2024.
It’s impossible to predict how much the coaching changes will affect the defense, but it’s clear how the guys they’ve lost might damage next season.
Geno Stone departed for the Bengals after intercepting seven passes previous season.
Jadeveon Clowney has recently signed with the Panthers.
Kyle Van Noy remains a free agent.
Those two accounted for 18.5 of the team’s 60 sacks.
Patrick Queen, an All-Pro linebacker, departed for the Steelers after recording 133 tackles previous season.
Those four players comprise a significant portion of the team’s productivity from last season, and the defense was already struggling before losing them.
The club lacked a solid corner who could play with top cornerback Marlon Humphrey or fill in for him when he was injured. This summer, they lost Ronald Darby, leaving them considerably weaker at the position.
Cornerback was thought to be a top priority for the Ravens this summer, but they have failed to address it and may now have too many other needs in the draft to spend a premium choice on one.
That may make a move for Lattimore more tempting.
He had previously demonstrated exceptional skill, but his injuries over the last several seasons have most certainly reduced his trade value, which may not have been very high to begin with.
L’Jarius Sneed is the same age and coming off a very successful season, but the Titans only paid up a third-round pick in 2025 to acquire him from the Chiefs and sign him to a similar contract.
If the Ravens can obtain Lattimore for a reasonable price, the move makes a lot of sense for them in 2024.
John Vaccaro covers the NFL for Heavy.com, specializing on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. He formerly worked as an editor and writer for BroBible and FanSided, covering the NFL, NBA, MMA, and college sports. More about John Vaccaro.
