On paper, it’s easy to declare that the Ravens have one of the best rosters in the league. It’s a roster that only got better this offseason with the additions of solid veterans DeAndre Hopkins and Chidobe Awuzie, and 11 draft picks.
However, there are some areas of the roster that could probably use better depth before the season gets underway. One of these areas is the defensive line, in which the elite Nnamdi Madubuike is there, but the other spots don’t have the most reliable options.
To help out here, Anthony Palacios of LWOS identified David Onyemata as a logical trade candidate. Onyemata has spent the previous two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and has traditionally been a stout run defender.
The Falcons added some defensive talent this offseason, and getting out of Onyemata’s deal could be enticing.
Regarding this potential deal, Palacios offered the following:
As Palacios mentioned, Onyemata could be an upgrade over Broderick Washington at the end spot opposite Madubuike.
In 2024, Onyemata played in all 17 games for the Falcons and collected 45 tackles, three sacks, and eight tackles for loss. The veteran earned a respectable 66.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 48th out of 219 qualified defensive linemen.
Onyemata has never been a Pro Bowl-caliber player, but he’s been a solid starter for two teams. Overall, the defender has racked up 30 career sacks and has usually graded out as an above-average run stopper.
Onyemata’s best season came back in 2020 when he was still on the New Orleans Saints. That year, the defender racked up 44 tackles and a career-high 6.5 sacks.
The veteran is set to play out the final year of his three-year, $35-million deal in 2025. This means the Ravens wouldn’t be making a long-term commitment, and the Falcons shouldn’t demand a king’s ransom in return.
Adding Onyemata would give the Ravens another reliable starting defensive lineman and certainly improve the depth.