Colts: 3 trades back Chris Ballard can make in 2021 NFL Draft
By Mike Luciano
No. 1: The Ravens eye a wide receiver
The Ravens might’ve sent Orlando Brown Jr. to the Kansas City Chiefs in a deal that brought them a first-round pick and a few pick swaps, but don’t be surprised if Baltimore decides to replace Brown by signing a veteran tackle. This means that the pick could be used to entice a team like Indianapolis to trade down.
The Ravens have found it hard to lure free-agent wide receivers to play with Lamar Jackson, likely due to the fact they will be blocking as much as they are running routes. The best way to circumvent this is to build through the draft, using that space to restock Jackson’s bare cupboard of wide receivers.
The Colts could get a haul from Baltimore in a Draft Day trade.
The Ravens are sitting at pick No. 27, and there a half-dozen teams ahead of them who could draft receivers like Elijah Moore, Rashod Bateman, Kadarius Toney, and Rondale Moore. The only way Baltimore will assuredly get Jackson a true No. 1 perimeter speedster is to move up by way of their newfound capital.
The Colts might get two first-rounders out of this swap if Baltimore is very desperate, or they could get one of Baltimore’s Day 2 picks. Either way, Indianapolis will still have plenty of options available to them at No. 27, and they can take one of the targets while allowing Baltimore to nab that receiver they have been targeting.
