Last season, the Ravens focused on a wide receiver corps that included Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Devontez Walker, Tylan Wallace, and LaJohntay Wester for the bulk of the season. Wester was also the primary punt return player.
The disappointment of an 8-9 season began when Rashod Bateman had a down year and even missed the AFC North title game due to illness. After a career year in 2024, Bateman finished last season with 13 games played, 12 starts, 38 targets, 19 receptions, 224 yards receiving, and two touchdowns. Baltimore is so uncertain at wide receiver that there could be room to bring back DeAndre Hopkins, who had 39 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns.
ESPN's Ben Solak proposed a litany of blockbuster trades, including one high-profile deal involving Bateman, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2027 fourth-round pick (conditional third-rounder) going to Philadelphia for A.J. Brown.
Why this deal makes sense: One of the clear lessons of the Ravens' 2025 season was that their current group of pass catchers is insufficient. While they might not need to make a move this drastic, they would benefit from having a receiver with size and contested-catch ability -- something quarterback Lamar Jackson has never enjoyed in his seven seasons.
By acquiring him for Bateman, the Ravens can give Brown a true WR1's volume and use Zay Flowers as a big-play WR2 -- something that fits his skill set more. In Philadelphia, DeVonta Smith is clearly destined to be WR1; Bateman represents a classic buy-low move from Roseman on a player with high draft capital but modest career production.
Any such trade would be costly for Philadelphia before June 1. According to Over The Cap, if Brown gets traded before June 1, the Eagles would incur a dead cap charge of $43,515,106. If he remains on the roster in 2026, Brown would count for 23,393,497 against the salary cap. If he's traded after June 1, the dead cap hit would be $43,515,106, with $27,161,609 counting towards 2027's cap as well.
Brown has earned All-Pro honors, Pro Bowl honors, 1,400+ yards twice, and amassed 5,000+ yards receiving since joining the Eagles.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: ESPN proposes a blockbuster Rashod Bateman for A.J. Brown trade