The Baltimore Ravens added a deep threat on Saturday by swinging a trade with the St. Louis Rams for wide receiver Chris Givens, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Rams will receive a seventh-round pick in 2017 in exchange for the wide receiver.
Givens, 25, joined the Rams as a fourth-round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft and made a quick impact with 42 receptions for 698 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie as well as 539 yards as the team's kick returner. His numbers steadily declined in each of the seasons that followed, though, and through three games in 2015, Givens has just one reception for 7 yards.
There's no secret what Givens can offer an offense and that's deep speed. As a rookie, Givens recorded touchdowns from 51, 50 and 37 yards for the Rams, and a notched a 47-yard touchdown in 2014, which are the only four touchdowns of his NFL career.
After years of throwing deep passes to Torrey Smith, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco hasn't had the same type of deep threat in 2015. Steve Smith leads the Ravens with 29 receptions for 373 yards and two touchdowns, but suffered a lower back injury in a Thursday win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Injuries for Michael Campanero and 2014 first-round pick Breshad Perriman have also kept the Ravens thin at receiver.
The Ravens host the Cleveland Browns in Week 5 and are looking to continue with their winning form after an overtime victory vs. the Steelers that put their record at 1-3, a step forward from the first 0-3 start in franchise history