The Baltimore Ravens could look to upgrade their linebacker group before the 2025 NFL season, and one analyst believes the team should try to trade for a Detroit Lions veteran.
Last Word on Sports’ Anthony Palacios listed Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone as a potential trade candidate ahead of the season. Palacios dubbed the Ravens as one of the top landing spots for Anzalone in a trade.
“Trenton Simpson hasn’t been living up to expectations, so if Anzalone becomes available, the Ravens should target him,” Palacios wrote.
Anzalone is entering the final year of his deal in 2025 and is an aging defender who missed seven games last year, so Detroit could look to move on and get younger at linebacker.
Though Trenton Simpson does have a lot of promise as the starting linebacker next to Roquan Smith, Anzalone’s savvy veteran experience would pair well with Smith on Baltimore’s defense.
The 30-year-old has started 77 games since entering the league in 2017 and has been a team captain with the Lions since signing with Dan Campbell’s squad in 2022. Anzalone’s stout run defense and solid pass coverage abilities would be a nice addition to Zach Orr’s defense and bolster the Ravens’ linebacker core.
Though Anzalone would be a nice fit in Zach Orr’s unit in Baltimore, this trade isn’t going to happen. Detroit is unlikely to move on from one of their defensive starters and team captains just a few months before the season, while Baltimore likely wants to see what Simpson can do as a full-time starter for a 17-game slate.
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