Realistic Draft Trade Possibilities for the Baltimore Ravens

Trades have become very common in the NFL draft.

In 2014, nine picks were traded in the first round alone, one year after 11 picks changed hands in the first round. Because of the most recent collective bargaining agreement signed in 2011, every draft slot is essentially slotted into a rookie salary based on how high that pick is.

That's made it much easier for teams to simply trade picks and not worry about the ramifications of negotiating a contract for a pick made higher in the draft, as the contact is essentially set before the pick is even made.

The Baltimore Ravens are no strangers to trades during the draft. Let's take a look at some of the possibilities for trades Baltimore could make this year.

Trade Up to Draft DeVante Parker

The Ravens' biggest need heading into the draft is at wide receiver after failing to address that position this offseason.

Baltimore lost Torrey Smith in free agency after he signed a deal with the San Francisco 49ers. This, after he caught a franchise-record 30 touchdowns in his first four seasons.

Steve Smith Sr. is the only other consistent pass-catcher on the roster, and he turns 36 in May. He's at the age where retirement is a possibility every year going forward.

Beyond Torrey and Steve, Baltimore got little production from its other receivers, who combined for just 64 catches and four scores last year. Getting another receiver is already a must in the draft, but the top prospects at that position should be off the board by the time Baltimore picks at No. 26.

Instead of reaching for one toward the end of the first round, the Ravens might try to move up and get one of the top receiver prospects this year. It helps that they have 10 picks in this year's draft, including five in the first 125 picks.

Having that kind of ammunition could make it easier for Baltimore to trade up and still have plenty of picks left in the latter rounds.

If Baltimore wants to move up 10 to 15 spots, they might be able to get a guy like Louisville's DeVante Parker. The 6'3", 209-pound monster notched 156 career receptions for 2,775 yards (17.8 yards per catch) and 33 scores.

Parker is one of the top overall prospects in this year's draft, but there's no chance he'll be on the board at pick No. 26.

CBSSports.com's Pat Kirwan, Dane Brugler, Pete Prisco and Rob Rang all have Parker drafted within the first 16 picks. If Baltimore wants to move up, Houston at No. 16 looks like the furthest spot Parker could fall to.

Other teams Baltimore might look to trade up with could include New Orleans at No. 13, Miami at No. 14 and San Francisco at No. 15—wouldn't that be ironic?

Though trading up that far would be costly, it would be worth it to get a guy like Parker for a Ravens offense in need of another big-time pass-catcher. Parker could step in to replace Torrey's lost production as a rookie and ensure that Baltimore remains a championship contender in 2015.

Trade Up to Draft Jaelen Strong

As mentioned in the previous slide, Baltimore would likely need to trade up in this year's draft to get one of the top receiver prospects.

Most experts believe West Virginia's Kevin White, Alabama's Amari Cooper, Louisville's DeVante Parker and Arizona State's Jaelen Strong are the top four receiver prospects.

In order to get a guy like Parker, Cooper or White, Baltimore would need to trade a lot of assets to move up.

That's not true regarding Strong. Most experts still regard him as a mid-first-round pick, though, so there's a good chance he'll be off the board by the time Baltimore is on the clock.

Strong should hear his named called somewhere between picks No. 16 and No. 25. There are a number of spots in that range where Baltimore could move up to draft Strong if he's still on the board.

Moving up to select Strong wouldn't cost nearly as much as climbing high enough to pick someone like Parker, which I detailed in the previous slide.

More than likely, the Ravens could trade two or three Day 3 picks to move up into the early 20s and get Strong.

I've already made the case for why Baltimore should draft Strong. I also believe trading a few Day 3 picks to secure his services would be well worth the investment.

Trade Down with New England

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

If the Ravens want to move back in the first round, they can't go far. After their first pick, there are just six more picks in the first round, but there still could be a trade to made.

New England is in need of an upgrade on its defensive line, and there are several defensive tackles slated to be selected within the first 31 picks right before the Patriots pick at No. 32.

Texas' Malcom Brown, Florida State's Eddie Goldman, Oklahoma's Jordan Phillips, and Washington's Danny Shelton all might be off the board before New England makes its first pick, so it could look to move up if it wants one of those guys.

Cornerback is another position the Patriots have to address in this draft. Michigan State's Trae Waynes, Wake Forest's Kevin Johnson and UConn's Byron Jones may all go off the board before New England's first pick.

If one of them is one the board at pick No. 26, Baltimore should try to move back and get more picks in the earlier rounds.

Trade Down with Team Wanting to Get Back in 1st Round

GAIL BURTON/Associated Press

Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome has shown he's not afraid of trading back in the draft if he doesn't like who's on the board.

In fact, Newsome has traded out of the first round twice since 2010. In 2012, the Ravens traded out of the first round with the Vikings, and the picks they got from Minnesota turned into Courtney Upshaw in the second round and Gino Gradkowski in the fourth round.

Upshaw has been a solid pass-rusher off the bench, and Gradkowski has been a decent backup who has provided depth at multiple spots along the offensive line.

In 2010, Baltimore did a deal with Denver to trade out of the first round, and one of the three picks the Ravens got in return was used to select tight end Dennis Pitta.

He has been a Pro Bowl-caliber player who was key in helping the Ravens win the Super Bowl in the 2012-13 season.

While trading down would keep Baltimore from drafting a potentially better player, it would get more picks to address more areas with. Even though Baltimore has a ton of picks this year, the team could work out deals that get rid of some of those Day 3 picks and accumulate more Day 2 picks.

For example, let's say Baltimore wanted to trade down with a team like the Oakland Raiders at pick No. 35. The Ravens could do a deal that sends their first-round pick to Oakland for the Raiders' second- and third-round picks.

While Baltimore would be trading back eight picks, it'd be gaining an extra third-round pick in the process. Baltimore has found impact players in any round of the draft as well as any team.

If the Ravens think there's more value picks to be had in the middle parts of this draft, they might be best served to acquire more picks in that range—even if it means moving back in the first round.