The Baltimore Ravens found a way to squeeze one more move in before the 2026 NFL trade deadline - and then some.
At 4 p.m. EST, the deadline came and went with Baltimore apparently done. Ten minutes later, though, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported the Ravens had landed former Atlanta Falcons starting center Ryan Neuzil in exchange for Andrew Vorhees and a future sixth-round pick.
“Buzzer beater! The Falcons are trading C Ryan Neuzil to the Ravens, per sources.
Neuzil has been Atlanta’s starter and is in the final year of his contract,” Schultz wrote. “The Falcons are trading starting C Ryan Neuzil to the Ravens for G Andrew Vorhees and a future sixth-round pick, per sources.”
For Ravens fans paying close attention, the move comes with a familiar feel. This is not the first time Eric DeCosta has dipped into the offensive line market before a trade deadline, and it’s not even the first time Baltimore has brought in a center. The team previously acquired Cam Jurgens from the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2028 second-round pick.
That deal has not paid off especially well so far, with Jurgens currently ranked 34th out of 36 qualifying guards by Pro Football Focus. Still, he has guard experience from earlier in his time in Philadelphia, and in theory he could step in for John Simpson if Neuzil winds up staying at center.
So yes, the Ravens got better, and the cost was lighter than the Jurgens deal. The bigger question is whether this is the kind of move that can actually rescue the season. That’s the one hanging over Jessie Minter’s first year as Baltimore tries to make sense of a very strange campaign.
In Other News...
Lamar Jackson And The Ravens May Be Headed For A Brutal Choice
Lamar Jacksons contract situation has been one of the Ravens defining storylines for a while now, and the latest round of negotiations only reinforces how complicated this has become. General manager Eric DeCosta and cap chief Nick Matteo have been working through the details on Baltimores side, while Jacksons camp has had outside guidance from Mark Levin, a former NFLPA salary cap expert who has been closely involved in the process.
Levins read on the situation has been blunt enough to keep the pressure on the Ravens as they try to find a path forward. He has made clear that this is not the kind of negotiation likely to resolve cleanly unless Baltimore is willing to meet Jackson at the very top of the quarterback market, and his skepticism leaves the organization facing a difficult decision if the talks continue to stall. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Still Face One Huge Lamar Jackson Question
Lamar Jacksons thumb injury has already put the Ravens in a difficult spot, with the quarterback expected to miss six to 10 weeks after getting hurt in Week 8. Baltimore now has to move forward with Jacoby Brissett as the starter, while the bigger picture around Jackson remains cloudy as the team navigates the stretch run without its franchise quarterback.
Jesse Minter has kept the details close to the vest, declining to say much about Jacksons injury or where things stand with any procedure, citing privacy in the teams communication. For now, the only real timeline comes from the recovery window, and the next layer of uncertainty is whether Jackson would even consider a return unless his health is fully in order and the Ravens are still in the postseason mix. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Lose Another Familiar Piece As Secondary Depth Questions Grow
Another familiar name from Baltimores recent defensive past is out of the picture. Arthur Maulet, who spent part of his nine-year NFL career with the Ravens and carved out a meaningful role in their 2023 defense, has decided to retire after bouncing through multiple teams around the league.
For a secondary already facing questions about depth, the timing stings a little more because Baltimore has been trying to stabilize other parts of the roster, too. The Ravens recently brought in Jacoby Brissett to help at quarterback while Lamar Jackson works his way back from injury recovery, and now one more experienced defensive back is no longer available as the team keeps sorting through its options. [Read more 🡒]
