rewrite this title Ravens acquire edge-rusher to further bolster attempted second-half surge

The Baltimore Ravens still have plenty of work to do to make up for their rough start to the 2025 season, but thanks to an aggressive front office, they might have a chance.

On Monday, a day before the NFL’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline, the Ravens acquired Tennessee Titans edge-rusher Dre’Mont Jones for a 2026 conditional fifth-round pick that has the potential to turn into a fourth-rounder, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

Jones, 28, has 4.5 sacks this season, all in his last four games. The 2019 third-round pick began his career with the Denver Broncos, where he played four seasons before signing with the Seattle Seahawks as a 2023 free agent. After two seasons in Seattle, he signed a one-year, $10M contract in March to join the Titans.

Dre’Mont Jones addition should help Ravens close gap in AFC North

The Ravens, winners of two in a row, were already trending in the right direction before acquiring Jones. The trade makes Baltimore even more dangerous down the stretch. It’s currently two games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) but has two games remaining against the division leader

Quarterback Lamar Jackson returned in Week 9 and was superb against the Miami Dolphins (2-7), ending the game 18-of-23 for 204 yards and four passing touchdowns. After an awful start to the season, the defense has turned a corner, too. The unit allowed at least 37 points to four of its first five opponents but is allowing an average of 13 points per game over its last three games.

As much as the defense has improved, the pass-rush has remained largely non-existent. Entering “Monday Night Football,” the Ravens ranked No. 29 in pressure rate (14.4%) and tied with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets for the league’s second-fewest sacks (11).

Baltimore is making a concerted effort to remain relevant in the AFC playoff picture. With Jones in the fold, the Ravens addressed arguably their biggest weakness, making them more dangerous for the stretch run.