Eric DeCosta has no business sending John Jenkins to Buffalo for a late seventh-round pick.
That’s the heart of the latest Ravens-Bills trade idea floating around, and it’s a deal Baltimore should shut down immediately. Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton floated Jenkins as a possible trade chip in a recent piece that suggested one move for every NFL team, with the veteran nose tackle headed to the Bills in exchange for a late seventh.
On paper, it sounds like the kind of pick-collection move DeCosta usually loves. In reality, it’s nowhere near enough.
Jenkins may be 37, but he still matters. Last season he was one of Baltimore’s steadiest defenders, the kind of player who doesn’t make noise but keeps the whole thing from wobbling.
He played all 17 games, started 14 of them, and gave the Ravens a dependable presence in the middle of the defensive front. The stat line was modest - one sack and three tackles for loss - but that’s not how a nose tackle earns his keep.
What Jenkins did well was the dirty work. He ate blocks, held his ground, and helped make Baltimore’s run defense at least somewhat decent. That kind of reliability is not something the Ravens should be tossing away for a late-round dart throw.
There’s also the contract angle. Jenkins signed a one-year extension just before the 2025 season ended, a deal worth nearly $2 million. With Jesse Minter bringing new ideas to Baltimore, the Ravens still aren’t in a position where moving a proven interior defender makes much sense, especially when he was quietly one of the better performers on the roster in 2025.
Depth is another reason to keep him around. Nnamdi Madubuike is making progress after the neck injury that wiped out his 2025 season, but there’s still no certainty he’ll be ready when 2026 begins. Jenkins gives Baltimore a true nose tackle option, which would let Travis Jones and Calais Campbell slide over and handle Madubuike’s role if needed.
And then there’s the simple matter of who’s asking. The Bills and Ravens have built a rivalry that’s only gotten more intense in recent years, and Baltimore has already felt that sting in the playoffs. Handing Buffalo a trustworthy veteran for a late seventh-round pick would be a gift, not a move.
Jenkins has been in the league for 13 years for a reason, and heading into year 14, he still brings value that far outweighs a throwaway draft choice. Baltimore needs him in purple and black.
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