The Baltimore Ravens are bleeding. After a gut-wrenching 1-4 start that’s left fans questioning everything, John Harbaugh’s job security hangs by a thread thinner than tissue paper.
But here’s the thing about Baltimore: they’ve got that gritty, never-say-die attitude that defines this city. And right now, they need to channel every ounce of that fight.
The Ravens’ defense has been absolutely tormented this season, looking more like a high school JV squad than a professional unit. When you’re on pace to have the worst defense in NFL history, you don’t just sit back and hope things magically improve.
You make moves. You get desperate. You do whatever it takes to save your season, and potentially your coach’s career. Here are five names to look out for if they do end up making a move.
The Odafe Oweh Trade Creates Both Problems and Opportunities
Let’s be brutally honest here: trading away Odafe Oweh, a guy who racked up 10 sacks just last season, seems counterintuitive when your pass rush is already flatlining. Sure, Oweh hadn’t registered a single sack for the Ravens through five games this year, but he was still eating up 45% of defensive snaps. Now he’s gone, leaving an even bigger hole in an already Swiss-cheese defense.
But here’s where things get interesting. That trade freed up roughly $8 million in cap space, and according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Baltimore could use that newfound financial flexibility to make a splash before the November 11th trade deadline. Sometimes you’ve got to take a step back to leap forward, and this could be exactly that moment.
The Ravens’ front office knows they’re walking a tightrope. Harbaugh has been a cornerstone of this organization for over a decade, but even legends aren’t immune to the harsh realities of a results-driven business.
With the AFC North looking surprisingly winnable: the Steelers are paper tigers, the Bengals have Joe Flacco starting till Joe Burrow comes back in December, and the Browns are starting a rookie, so they are on the outside looking in.
Why Jaelan Phillips Makes Perfect Sense for Baltimore
Enter Jaelan Phillips, the Miami Dolphins edge rusher who’s been wasting away in South Beach like an expensive sports car stuck in traffic. The 26-year-old former first-round pick has all the tools to be a difference-maker, but he’s been handcuffed by a Miami defense that’s clearly playing for draft position under a lame-duck coaching staff.
Phillips isn’t lighting up the stat sheet this season, but that’s not necessarily his fault. When your team has already mentally checked out and you’re playing for coaches who won’t be there next year, it’s hard to find motivation. Some players just need a fresh start, a new environment where they can rediscover their fire. Baltimore could be exactly that place.
Think about it: Phillips averaged 7.3 sacks per season across his first three NFL campaigns. That’s not fluky production; that’s legitimate pass-rushing ability. At 6-foot-5 and 263 pounds, he’s got the size to set the edge and the athleticism to bend around tackles. He’s everything the Ravens need in their current defensive scheme.
The Trade That Could Save Harbaugh’s Job
Here’s a deal that makes sense for both sides: Baltimore sends Miami a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round pick for Phillips. It’s not going to break the bank draft capital-wise, but it gives the Ravens an immediate upgrade at a position of dire need.
For Miami, it’s about getting something for a player who’s clearly not part of their future plans. They’re rebuilding, possibly looking at a complete organizational overhaul, and Phillips is on an expiring contract. Better to get some draft compensation now than watch him walk in free agency.
For Baltimore, Phillips represents more than just a pass rusher; he’s hope. He’s the kind of player who could single-handedly change the trajectory of this defense. One or two key sacks in crucial moments could be the difference between winning and losing close games. And in a division this mediocre, every game matters.
The Bigger Picture: Saving a Season and a Legacy
This isn’t just about one player or one trade. This is about salvaging what looked like a lost season and potentially saving the job of a coach who’s given everything to this organization. Harbaugh has been through the wars in Baltimore: he’s won a Super Bowl, weathered countless storms, and earned the respect of players and fans alike.
But respect only goes so far when you’re staring at a historically bad defensive performance. The Ravens need to show they’re still fighting, still believing in this season. Adding Phillips would send a clear message to the locker room: we’re not giving up, we’re not tanking, and we’re going to scratch and claw for every win.
The AFC North is there for the taking. The Steelers look good on paper, but lack the offensive firepower to separate themselves. Cincinnati without Joe Burrow is just like the Ravens, a porous defense carried by the offense but now with Flacco, who showed out on Thursday night. Cleveland is in full rebuilding mode with rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel. This division could come down to who wants it most, who makes the right moves at the right time.
Other Edge Rushers the Ravens could Target
Phillips might not be a household name, but he could be exactly what the Ravens need: a hungry, talented player looking to prove himself with a new organization. Sometimes the best trades aren’t the flashiest ones; they’re the smart, strategic moves that address specific needs without breaking the bank.
If Phillips isn’t the guy they go after, his teammate Bradley Chubb, or they could go after a young tandem in New York with the Jets, including Jermaine Johnson and a less-likely option in Will McDonald IV. The other name that could be a possibility is Chase Young on a reeling New Orleans Saints team.
The clock is ticking on this Ravens season, and potentially on John Harbaugh’s tenure in Baltimore. But if there’s one thing this organization has proven over the years, it’s that they know how to fight when their backs are against the wall. Adding an edge rusher could be the first step in that fight back to relevance.
