Buffalo moved veteran receiver Lee Evans to Baltimore for a…
Buffalo moved veteran receiver Lee Evans to Baltimore for a 2012 fourth-round pick that became cornerback Ron Brooks. Evans played only nine regular-season games for the Ravens and caught four passes for 74 yards before his Baltimore tenure ended. Brooks became a multi-year depth and special-teams contributor, giving Buffalo the better return even though the pick did not become a major starter.
Baltimore Ravens Received
- player Lee Evans
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 2012 4th round pick (124th overall, Ron Brooks)
Trade Analysis
Why Baltimore Made the Move
The Ravens entered the 2011 season looking for another proven receiver after reshaping their veteran pass-catching group. Baltimore sent Buffalo a 2012 fourth-round pick for Lee Evans, a former first-rounder with two 1,000-yard seasons on his résumé. The idea was straightforward: add speed opposite Anquan Boldin for a team built to contend immediately.
What Buffalo Received
Buffalo converted the future fourth-rounder into cornerback Ron Brooks with the 124th pick in 2012. Brooks never became a full-time defensive starter, but he spent four seasons with the Bills and contributed as a reserve and special-teams player. That is modest value, yet it gave Buffalo several years of roster use after moving on from an aging receiver.
How Evans' Baltimore Season Fell Short
Evans' only Ravens season was limited by injury. He appeared in nine regular-season games and caught four passes for 74 yards. Baltimore still reached the AFC Championship Game, but the trade never delivered the dependable second receiving option the Ravens envisioned. Evans did make postseason contributions, yet the overall return was far below the cost usually expected from a fourth-round choice.
Why This Trade Still Matters
This was not a blockbuster failure for Baltimore; the Ravens were buying a veteran for a title run, and the price was manageable. Hindsight simply shows that Buffalo extracted more usable value from the exchange. Brooks' career was ordinary, but ordinary multi-year value can beat a one-season rental that barely played.
Final Verdict
Buffalo Bills Win. The Bills earn a B- for converting Evans into several seasons of Brooks, while Baltimore receives a D+ because the veteran addition produced only a brief and injury-limited return.