ESPN: In the receiver trade proposal, the Ravens are linked to an area rival.

With a 12-5 record the previous season, the Baltimore Ravens easily won the AFC North.

With a 12-5 record the previous season, the Baltimore Ravens easily won the AFC North. After finishing with a four-game losing streak and falling to Baltimore 28-14 in the Wild Card Round, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were second in the division with a record of 10-7, turned out to be a mitigated catastrophe by the end of the season.

The Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson are predicted to be among the favorites to represent their conference in the Super Bowl and to be contenders in the AFC North once more.

After star running back Derrick Henry joined as a free agency last season and established himself as a valuable member of the offense, the offense has undergone a retooling. Someone lower on the depth chart may become expendable when you combine that with the arrival of former Boston College player Zay Flowers, who the Ravens selected with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and who later became a weapon for Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

Rashod Bateman, a 2021 first-round wide receiver, may be that guy.

Bateman was expected to become Jackson’s top target, but his contribution to the offense has been constrained by injuries and the development of tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely.

With 756 yards on 45 receptions and nine touchdowns in 2024, Bateman recovered and might be a desirable trade target. And according to one blogger at LWOS, he is…

For the Washington Commanders, trade bait.

“Meanwhile, the Commanders are still rebuilding as well, even though they’re in a good place since they went to the NFC Championship Game last year,” stated LWOS. “Even after acquiring Michael Gallup and bringing back Noah Brown, the third place is still up for grabs, even if Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel are Jayden Daniels’ offense’s two lockdown wide receivers. Luke McCaffrey could make a splash, but no one should expect the Commanders to go proactive in 2025 and acquire Bateman.