Dennis Pitta injury could open door for Chiefs to trade with Ravens

The Kansas City Chiefs have a number of tight end options on the roster, which might mean a Ravens trade makes sense.

Adam Schefter broke the news on Friday that the career of Baltimore Ravens tight end could be “in jeopardy” with his latest injury, another hip issue that would already be his third.

Fear is Ravens TE Dennis Pitta fractured and dislocated his hip for third time in four years. If so, NFL career likely would be over.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 2, 2017

It’s sad news for the former BYU All-American who has never been able to live up to expectations or been given a fair shake in the NFL. Just last season, Pitta won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award, an inspiring story that showed what Pitta could do. He started 12 games and played in all 16 and was targeted by Joe Flacco an incredible 121 times. In response, he caught 86 catches for 729 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. It’s an incredible loss on a personal level as well as for the team’s offense.

The Ravens will now likely turn to free agency or check around with other general managers to see what their options are for replacing such a reliable target. They already have Maxx Williams, a second round pick in 2015, at the ready, however he’s also coming off of a season-ending knee injury that cut short his 2016 season. He’s reportedly feeling good, so there’s less reason to panic with Williams there, but the need is still present.

More from Arrowhead Addict

The team also has veteran Benjamin Watson (yes, that Ben Watson, who has been playing since 2004) coming off an Achilles tear. (Yes, the Ravens had have an incredible run of injuries overall and especially at tight end.) The veteran certainly knows how to play, but he’s also not seen the field since 2015 and he’s 36-years-old.

Other younger options are also around, including former Colorado State product Crockett Gilmore but he’s a nice blocker who shouldn’t be on the receiving end of 100+ targets, that’s for sure.

Depending on how the Ravens feel about the loss, a trade might seem to make sense if a veteran like Gary Barnidge‘s price is too high or is simply not a fit. The Chiefs currently have too many tight ends heading into training camp and that’s even after trading James O’Shaughnessy to the New England Patriots. That’s why a low-level trade might provide a draft asset for the Chiefs while simultaneously helping the Ravens feel a bit better about the loss of Pitta.

Behind All-Pro Travis Kelce, the Chiefs have a number of pass catching options they’ve been developing. The No. 2 guy is assumed to be Demetrius Harris, who was arrested on a felony possession of marijuana charge earlier this year, but the Chiefs have been very clear that they’re trusting the legal process to help sort things out. They have a lot invested and he’s grown every year under the coach’s tutelage.

It’s also clear that the Chiefs like what they have in former Penn State basketball player Ross Travis. Another basketball player-turned-tight end a la Harris or even Tony Gonzalez, Travis has slowly hung around and moved up the depth chart, outlasting competition to stay in range for the active roster.

If the Ravens are up for a bit of the legal drama hanging around Harris, perhaps he makes sense as a buy-low target who is still definitely developing into a nice target. Even more, they might be interested in former Cowboys tight end Gavin Escobar, a catch-first tight end who has shown the ability at the college level to be a dynamic pass catcher a la Pitta (hence the second round pick used on him). He failed to emerge from Jason Witten’s shadow, but the Chiefs grabbed him early in free agency and he’s a potential sleeper waiting to be used in the right offense.

Next: Chiefs mentioned as potential destination for Anquan Boldin

Travis is too much of a project even at this point to be considered likely trade bait, but both Harris and Escobar could be worth a simple 7th round choice to help ease the bleeding in Baltimore. There’s nothing that can help Pitta personally and that’s sad to see given the tremendous rebound year he enjoyed in 2016. But the Chiefs might have a bandage of sorts for the Ravens if they are looking to trade.

Home/Kansas City Chiefs News