Baltimore acquired guard Ben Cavil from Philadelphia for a…
Baltimore acquired guard Ben Cavil from Philadelphia for a 1999 seventh-round pick in August 1997. Cavil immediately became useful line depth, appearing in 15 games with eight starts in 1997 and all 16 games with six starts in 1998. Baltimore got two seasons and 14 starts from a low-cost acquisition before Cleveland selected Cavil in the 1999 expansion draft.
Baltimore Ravens Received
- player Ben Cavil
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- pick 1999 7th round pick
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On August 24, 1997, Baltimore sent Philadelphia a 1999 seventh-round draft pick for guard Ben Cavil. Multiple Ravens and Eagles historical records place the trade in 1997, not 1998. Cavil had been with Philadelphia before the deal, including time on the Eagles' practice squad, while Baltimore was looking for offensive-line help. The corrected date also fits the playing record: Cavil was already appearing for the Ravens during the 1997 regular season.
Baltimore Ravens Return
Baltimore received immediate, usable line depth. Cavil played 15 games in 1997 and started eight of them at left guard, then appeared in all 16 games in 1998 with six more starts. That gave the Ravens 31 regular-season appearances and 14 starts across two seasons from a player acquired for a future seventh-round choice. His Baltimore tenure ended when Cleveland selected him in the 1999 expansion draft, so the return was not long term, but it was tangible and meaningful for the price.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Philadelphia received the promised 1999 seventh-round draft asset. The available evidence confirms the round and year, but it does not securely identify which later Eagles selection came directly from Baltimore. Philadelphia made two seventh-round selections in 1999, and the surviving source trail does not justify assigning this trade to either player. The proper hindsight treatment is therefore limited but positive: the Eagles converted a depth guard into future draft capital without an evidence-backed downstream player outcome.
Value in Hindsight
Baltimore extracted more realized football value from the transaction. A seventh-round pick is inexpensive currency, and Cavil became a part-time starter for two seasons rather than merely a camp body. Philadelphia still received legitimate compensation for a player it could move, but the unresolved downstream identity of the pick prevents crediting the Eagles with more than the verified draft asset itself.
Final Verdict
Baltimore Ravens Win. Baltimore earns a B because 31 games and 14 starts represent a strong practical return for a seventh-round cost. Philadelphia earns a C because the Eagles obtained real draft compensation, but the available record does not establish a downstream outcome strong enough to match Baltimore's two seasons of usable offensive-line service.