Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh Didn’t Hold Back on his Negative Assessment of Top Guard Which Means a Trade Could be Coming.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh appears to have lost confidence in guard Ben Cleveland, and his recent remarks suggest a potential trade. The Ravens, after losing key players like 2023 starting guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson in free agency, were forced to rely on their existing depth. However, this plan hasn’t worked out as right guard Daniel Faalele has struggled.

When asked if Cleveland might step into the starting lineup, Harbaugh’s response was blunt, stating Cleveland hadn’t earned the position. “If Ben had earned the job, he’d be starting. The film shows he didn’t outperform Daniel or anyone else… If Ben wants playing time, he knows what he needs to do. Our evaluation is that Daniel outplayed Ben. Simple as that.”

This critical stance is uncommon from Harbaugh, hinting that Cleveland may not be in the team’s long-term plans. With Cleveland entering the final year of his contract, a trade could be on the horizon, possibly to teams like the New Orleans Saints or New England Patriots.

The Saints came into the season with concerns about their offensive line, but surprisingly, Lucas Patrick and Cesar Ruiz have excelled, earning top Pro Football Focus grades. If they maintain this level of performance, they likely won’t pursue a trade for Cleveland. However, if they regress to their usual form, Cleveland could provide valuable depth.

For the Patriots, offensive line troubles have left a big gap in protecting their quarterbacks. Injuries to Cole Strange and Sidy Sow and the inexperience of rookie Layden Robinson have left New England desperate for talent. Trading for Cleveland could help improve their struggling line, even if it won’t immediately return them to their past dominance.