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Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome never enjoys giving up draft picks, but I think he slept OK last night.
Yesterday's trade that sent the Ravens' third and fourth-round selections to the Cardinals for wide receiver Anquan Boldin and a fifth-round pick was a necessity and dramatically improves a receiving corps in need of a major facelift.
The deal provides quarterback Joe Flacco with a physical target over the middle, and gives him a guy who he can count on to go up in traffic and win a jump ball. It opens up space underneath for Ray Rice and Willis McGahee to pick up chunks of yardage. It also gives the Ravens the ability to win not just a 13-10 game, but a 33-30 game as well.
Boldin, along with Donte' Stallworth and Mark Clayton, provide the Ravens a nice mix of strength, size and speed for Flacco to work with, and there's still the possibility that another receiver could be on the way, either through the Draft or free agency.
For years, the Ravens had the dominating defense and powerful running game in place. Now they've also got the makings of a strong, balanced offense which can win games in a number of ways.
And with a few key pieces possibly nearing the end of their road in Baltimore, that potent offensive attack couldn't come soon enough.
Safety Ed Reed has said he's considering retirement, and while the team expects him to return for this season, who knows how long he will continue to play.
Linebacker Ray Lewis still is a leader on and off the field, but he might only have two good years left in him.
And while Todd Heap has battled through injuries and shown flashes that he can still be a quality tight end, his long-term future with the team is in doubt as well.
The window with this current roster is closing quickly, and if the Ravens are going to make a run at a Super Bowl anytime soon, this might be the year to do it.
They were a win away two years ago and made the second round of the playoffs again last season. Now that Newsome has finally found his big-play wide receiver, 2010 is the season the Ravens will be expected to take the next step.
With the way the roster is shaping up, now's as good a time as any.
