NFL: Ravens in Crisis, Titans in Free Fall, QB’s on the Trade Block?

NFL Week 5 Analysis: Rumors, Concerns, and Possible Moves

A month into the start of the NFL season, our experts have been in contact with league sources to bring us the latest news and rumors about key situations coming up in October. One of the hottest topics of the week is the situation of the Ravens, who have had a 1-3 start to the season. We analyze the feeling in Baltimore and the level of concern within the team. We also delve into the Titans’ 0-4 start and its possible long-term consequences, as well as what is being heard on the quarterback front as the trade deadline of November 4 approaches. In addition, rookies who have earned more playing time are explored. Here are the answers to the big questions and analysis from our reporters before Week 5.

• What changes could the Titans make after their 0-4 start?
• What is the level of panic in the Ravens?
• Which rookies are standing out and deserve more playing time?
• Will any quarterback trade materialize?

Titans: Concerns Rising After a Complicated Start

The concern within the Titans’ coaching staff is moderate, as management and ownership could be less patient than initially thought, potentially leading to changes soon. The overall atmosphere is not good at the moment. Management began the season with optimism regarding head coach Brian Callahan, who was a highly sought-after name on the coaching circuit in 2024. Although no win-loss targets were set, the Titans’ management expected to see an improving team. However, this has not been reflected in Tennessee, where the point differential of -69 in four games is the worst in the league. The lack of fluidity in the game from week to week only intensifies the discomfort. Callahan ceded play-calling responsibilities to assistant Bo Hardegree, which could give the staff some time, but firing him a week later would be counterproductive. The Titans’ bye week is in Week 10, which is important. The expectation is that the pressure will increase, especially with owner Amy Adams Strunk’s willingness to make drastic changes in recent years. Starting 0-4 with a rookie quarterback is one thing, but being as uncompetitive as the Titans have been is another. They had a lead in the second half against the Broncos in Week 1, but things have gotten worse each week. Sunday’s loss to Houston was disappointing, and being shut out a week after changing offensive coordinators doesn’t say much about their chances of fixing this on the fly. Callahan was Tennessee’s first choice as head coach after the 2023 season, and the franchise began this season believing he was the right person to guide their quarterback’s transition. However, there have been warning signs, including game management situations and post-game press conferences in which Callahan seemed unaware of some of the rules governing replay challenges. If the Titans can win a couple of games, that will give him time, but it’s a big “if” at the moment, and Callahan hasn’t helped himself with some of his mistakes. As for the future, this could be a desirable job if it becomes vacant. They have a young and promising quarterback and a new stadium on the horizon. Cam Ward has great potential, but he needs receiving talent around him. A couple of drafts can fix that. The offensive line hasn’t solidified despite significant investments. JC Latham (currently injured) and Peter Skoronski are players to build around. The defense has kept afloat at times. President of football operations Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi come from well-established and methodical personnel trees, respectively. This should lead to patience to build through the draft… which was once thought to help Callahan, but now isn’t so clear. Another aspect to consider is that Borgonzi and Brinker weren’t really in their current roles when the organization hired Callahan. It’s never comfortable working for people who didn’t hire you. The offensive line is critical, as the offensive line coach is Callahan’s father, Bill Callahan, considered one of the best in that position. Bill wouldn’t stay if Brian were fired, so there would be talk of a major change in critical areas. The prediction is that the Titans will give Callahan the rest of the year before making a decision.

Ravens: The Panic Level in Baltimore

The panic level in Baltimore is at 5 on a scale of 1 to 10, but it’s important to note that’s a very high number for Baltimore, where there’s usually not much panic. The defense has had no answers for anyone except the Browns, and with Nnamdi Madubuike out for the season and many other injuries on that side of the ball, where will the answers come from? Added to this is the hamstring injury of Lamar Jackson, and now there’s a potential for disaster. If Jackson is lost for a long time, this season could go downhill quickly. Cooper Rush is the backup, and obviously the offense will look very different when he plays instead of Jackson. The running game has done nothing since the first game of the season against Buffalo. There are many problems for a team that was a Super Bowl favorite before the season. The level of panic about the Ravens outside the team, among fans and those of us who analyze objectively, is closer to 10 at this moment. But the Ravens trust in the strength and stability of coach John Harbaugh, general manager Eric DeCosta and their internal leadership structure to solve problems and overcome difficult moments. They are surely looking for answers, internally and externally. It’s important to remember that Jackson has a .717 winning percentage as a starter. Assuming Jackson doesn’t miss much time, the Ravens have a path to a playoff spot. The three losses are against elite teams with championship aspirations. The offense is still trying to find its rhythm with the personnel formations. There’s enough talent on offense for it to work anyway. But this defense is light years away from the once proud unit that fueled Super Bowl runs. It’s currently serving as a confidence builder for struggling offenses to get up to speed. Losing Madubuike during the year is a devastating blow.

The losses are against the Bills, Lions, and Chiefs, who are among the best teams in the league, but the Ravens were also expected to be. In the case of Buffalo and Kansas City, those are losses that could really hurt the Ravens at the end of the season when they are sorting out the playoff standings and tiebreakers. With a 1-3 record, Baltimore is probably hoping to have that problem, but assuming the Ravens come back from this and make the run we all expected, these early season losses could put them at a disadvantage when it comes to playoff seeding. The game against the Texans is another one that could have implications for tiebreakers and standings if the Ravens manage to get back into contention.

The Ravens’ schedule will soften. Only one of their next seven opponents (Rams, Week 6) has a winning record. The AFC North is winnable. But it seems they will have to win in shootouts. On defense, the Ravens need more from pass rusher Odafe Oweh and cornerback Jaire Alexander, who hasn’t played since Week 1. Otherwise, the preseason Super Bowl pick looks bleak. Harbaugh made an unconventional defensive coordinator hiring in Zach Orr, a former Ravens linebacker who quickly rose through the ranks, in February 2024 to replace Mike Macdonald. Orr was able to help stabilize a struggling Ravens defense at the end of last season, but this is two consecutive years of subpar results for long periods.

Young Talents: Who Earned More Playing Time?

Cam Skattebo, Giants’ running back, is proving to be a capable option from the backfield. His recent impact has been undeniable. His ability to break through tackles and create extra yards will be crucial for a pass-heavy New York offense. He averages almost six yards per touch so far. Another emerging receiver is Tory Horton of the Seahawks, who is making the most of his limited role. He averages just under 27 snaps, but has six receptions on 10 targets for 74 yards and two touchdowns, including an impressive catch in the end zone in Week 3. Horton is giving the Seahawks something to think about after producing three total touchdowns (including a 95-yard kickoff return). It seems that general manager John Schneider got a gem in the fifth round. Woody Marks looks like a more exciting runner than Nick Chubb in Houston, where the Texans are looking for any answers they can find on offense. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Marks run a bit more. Chiefs rookie running back Brashard Smith has had more involvement in the offense in recent weeks and that is expected to continue. Harold Fannin Jr. has earned a spot in the receiving rotation in Cleveland, even with David Njoku ahead on the Browns’ tight end depth chart. The Browns love to use Fannin in many different roles, and I think that usage will only expand. Cleveland is very excited about Fannin’s future, and that of running backs Quinshon Judkins and wide receiver Isaiah Bond. On defense, Panthers’ running back Nic Scourton has made a quick impression. The Panthers wanted to use more young players on defense after a slow start, and Scourton, a second-round pick in April, has played 100 snaps in the last two weeks, producing a pass deflection and several quarterback pressures. He has a great motor, plays with power, and has an elegant spin move in his arsenal. The youth movement is underway for Carolina, which is also giving Princely Umanmielen, a third-round pick, extended snaps. Ashton Gillotte is a player who really excites the Chiefs. He got his hand on a field goal attempt in the Week 3 victory over the Giants and has seen his snap count increase each week as the team continues to rely more on him. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kansas City use Gillotte more as the season progresses, as they increasingly rely on their defense while the offense gets up to speed.

Will a Quarterback Be Traded Before the Deadline?

It’s probable. It could be someone like Carson Wentz or Kenny Pickett, which wouldn’t be news, but the question is whether it could be someone like Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson. Anything is possible. It doesn’t seem like Wilson has a real role in New York, where Jaxson Dart is now the starter. Wilson’s trade value is also probably very low at the moment, so the Giants could wait until someone gets desperate to send him away. The situation of Cousins in Atlanta, as a veteran backup behind Michael Penix Jr., is something that has been frequently discussed. He could be traded, but Atlanta is not desperate to trade him and is still asking for a relatively high price. The Falcons believe he has value as a reliable backup in case something happens to Penix. Cousins is one of the prominent voices in Penix’s ear between possessions. He has been helpful in Penix’s development and, along with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and quarterbacks coach D.J. Williams, is an additional set of eyes and ears that benefits Penix.

Do I think a quarterback will be traded? Yes. A quarterback with a prominent name? I’m not so sure. Wilson would be the most sensible candidate. Cleveland had some level of interest in Wilson before he signed with the Giants, and his base salary of $2 million makes him very negotiable. But it’s uncertain where Cleveland will be from a roster construction point of view in three or four weeks. Wilson would be a low-cost play if the Browns are not satisfied with Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders. Cleveland explored Cousins’ situation before signing Joe Flacco, trading Pickett, and selecting two passers.

Outside of that, there isn’t a clear need for teams unless there’s an injury. An intriguing option is Anthony Richardson Sr., who is behind Daniel Jones in Indianapolis. The feeling is that Richardson would be open to joining a top-tier play caller like Sean McVay as a developmental player so he can reset for 2026. Acquiring a starting quarterback at the trade deadline is difficult, because in most cases it’s a guy who has to learn a new offense on the fly. By the time he’s up to speed, it could be too late for him to save the season. That’s why someone like Richardson, whom teams might consider for long-term development, makes more sense. But there are situations that arise where a team with high hopes finds itself with a sudden need and might be willing to take the risks involved with bringing someone in from outside their system, right? Quarterback needs can change quickly, especially after what the Bengals just showed on Monday night. One has to wonder if Cincinnati will evaluate quarterback options if the downward spiral deepens. After Monday night’s lifeless outing, Cincinnati has now gained fewer than 200 offensive yards in three of its first four games. The last team to do that was the 2009 Raiders, who featured a combination of JaMarcus Russell, Bruce Gradkowski, and Charlie Frye at quarterback. The Bengals still believe in Jake Browning, who was far from the only one to blame in Denver on Monday, but Cincinnati has too much talent at the skill positions to accept the status quo. At some point, they might need reinforcements at the most important position in the game. It might be worth calling recently retired Derek Carr to see how his shoulder injury is healing.

Additional Notes for the Week

Tyreek Hill’s contract with the Dolphins is structured in such a way that he could benefit from being released before the end of the season. Hill has a $36 million salary for 2026, none of which is guaranteed, not even against injury. If Hill is still on the roster on March 13, 2026, then $11 million of his 2026 salary will be fully guaranteed and his $5 million roster bonus will vest. So, the Dolphins will most likely release Hill before March 13 to avoid owing him $16 million next year, unless the two parties agree to redo the contract before that date. Hill’s compensation for 2025, the combination of salary and bonuses, amounts to $25.85 million, and all of that is guaranteed; he will get every penny. But Hill’s contract for 2025 also includes $1.8 million in active roster bonuses per game: $105,882.36 for each game in which he is a member of the 48-man active roster. That money is conditionally guaranteed, meaning that if the team releases him, he will get the full $1.8 million. But the way the conditional guarantee works is that if he is on the 53-man roster but is not active on game day, he does not get the $105,882.36 for that week. The Dolphins have played four games, and Hill was active in all four, so he has already pocketed $423,529.44. If the Dolphins were to cut him this week, he would get the remaining $1,376,470.56. But if they keep him on the roster for the rest of the season and he is not active on game days, he will not get any of that $1,376,470.56. Strange as it may seem, Hill would earn more money if the Dolphins released him before the end of the season than if they waited until March to cut him. After covering the Washington game in Atlanta last Sunday and speaking with people from the Commanders, quarterback Jayden Daniels is believed to have a good chance of being activated and playing this week in Los Angeles against the Chargers. Daniels (knee) was a limited participant in practice last week after not practicing at all the week before, and from what they were told, he was close to being cleared to play in Atlanta. The team doctors decided on Friday that it was best to leave him out. Keep an eye on whether he registers any full practice this week, which would be a strong indication that he is ready to play on Sunday. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin looked like he might need another week or two to recover from his quadriceps injury, but the Commanders will know more as the practice week progresses. With McLaurin out, the Commanders leaned heavily on Deebo Samuel in Week 4, which is not a surprise. What might have been a surprise, however, was the extent to which they used him as an outside wide receiver, rather than just in the slot or in the backfield as they usually do. What makes them feel more comfortable doing so is what they’ve seen from fourth-round rookie receiver Jaylin Lane in the slot. So Washington used him there a bit and moved Samuel around more than usual. Once McLaurin and Noah Brown (groin) return, I would expect Samuel’s usage to return to the original plan. One more note from the Commanders, for fantasy managers wondering about the running backs: They are very happy at the moment to use a committee with Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jeremy McNichols.