Ravens Deal Rookie Tackle Diego Pounds to Chiefs for Future Draft Capital
The Baltimore Ravens traded rookie offensive tackle Diego Pounds to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2028 sixth-round pick. Pounds, an undrafted free agent from Ole Miss, had a strong preseason but was unlikely to secure a roster spot. The move follows Baltimore's earlier trade of nose tackle C.J. Okoye to the Giants for a seventh-rounder.
Pounds, who measured roughly 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, drew a fourth-round grade from some evaluators before going undrafted out of Ole Miss. He appeared in all three preseason games but never challenged Carson Vinson for the swing tackle role behind starters Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten, making a roster spot unlikely.
The trade continues a busy roster-trimming period for general manager Eric DeCosta, who earlier shipped nose tackle C.J. Okoye to the Giants for a 2028 seventh-rounder. Baltimore has already released or waived roughly two dozen players, including quarterback Austin Reed and cornerback Robert Longerbeam, with the 53-man roster deadline set for Sunday evening.
This trade reflects the NFL's broader roster economics, where teams increasingly convert surplus developmental talent into future draft picks rather than risk losing them on waivers. For the Chiefs, acquiring a physically imposing tackle with preseason promise could address depth concerns at a premium position. For the Ravens, accumulating 2028 capital may provide flexibility in future drafts, though such distant picks carry inherent uncertainty. Fans of both teams may see this as a low-risk bet with modest upside.