The Baltimore Ravens made a draft-day transaction, trading wide receiver Marquise Brown and the 100th overall pick to the Arizona Cardinals.
In return, the Ravens received the 23rd overall selection from Arizona.
Baltimore then traded that pick for the Buffalo Bills’ 25th overall selection before selecting Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum.
Trading Brown was a shocker, especially since he was one of the more productive receivers last season.
The move was so out of left field that quarterback Lamar Jackson also expressed his shock at the trade.
Despite the surprising turn of events, general manager Eric DeCosta revealed the reason behind the move.
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said the trading of Marquise Brown was a "complicated topic."
DeCosta said Brown requested to be traded at the end of the season.
"It's something I anguished over for a long time," DeCosta said.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) April 29, 2022
ESPN’s Ravens reporter Jamison Henley shared that DeCosta considers the Brown trade a complicated topic.
The general manager revealed that Brown requested a trade by the end of the 2021 season.
DeCosta said, “It’s something I anguished over for a long time.”
It must have been difficult for DeCosta to trade Brown away because he’s one of the franchise’s stalwarts.
The Ravens would also need to address their receiving corps with Brown gone.
With several options left in the deep wide receiver pool, Baltimore can draft someone who can compensate for Brown’s production.
Baltimore Changes Its Draft Strategy
Drafting Linderbaum addresses some of Baltimore’s problems with their offensive line.
The Ravens will likely get a wide receiver in the second round with that concern solved.
Baltimore owns the 45th overall selection.
But with a pick that deep, the Ravens might be looking to trade up to get a wideout.
Therefore, DeCosta might pull off another trade to improve their position.
Otherwise, it would be difficult to see where Baltimore will generate production in their passing game.
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