The AFC has a plethora of contenders, but the Kansas City Chiefs have dominated the conference for the last two seasons. The Baltimore Ravens are looking to break that streak after a playoff appearance last year and one of the best offseasons in the NFL. General manager Eric DeCosta has built one of the best rosters in the league over the last couple of years, but there are still a couple of moves that could help edge the Ravens to a Super Bowl.

Baltimore doesn't have any glaring holes on the roster, but depth is an issue in some spots. Tight end, cornerback, and inside linebacker all need to improve in order for the Ravens to maximize their chances of a championship.

Here are three potential trade candidates for the Ravens.

Zach Ertz

A couple of years ago, Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz was one of the best receiving tight ends in football. He isn't near that point anymore, but he still has some gas left in the tank. Overlooking a miserable 2020 season where his quarterback situation was a nightmare, Ertz has been fantastic. The Stanford product had 916 yards receiving and six touchdowns in 2019, and it's possible that he returns to that level of production when paired with a decent quarterback. Former MVP Lamar Jackson definitely counts as a decent quarterback, so Baltimore is an ideal situation for Ertz.

Ertz also fits well schematically in Charm City. The Ravens love to run the ball, so trotting out two tight end formations benefits them in that respect. Ertz and current Ravens tight end Mark Andrews are both mismatches in the receiving game, so putting both of them on the field would give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares. This potential dynamic duo would allow the Ravens to have the personnel advantage in both the pass and run games simultaneously, making an already potent offense even better.

Nik Needham

The Ravens have a great cornerback group on paper, but a deeper look reveals some cause for concern. Projected slot cornerback Tavon Young has been fantastic when healthy, but he's also torn his ACL two years in a row. Top backup Jimmy Smith also has a lengthy injury history, missing twelve games over the last two seasons. That's where Needham comes in. The former undrafted free agent out of UTEP has been hugely impressive over his first couple seasons, showing the ability to play in the slot or on the boundary. Last year he notched 58 tackles, two interceptions and a sack while only starting six games. Needham's presence would allow the Ravens to breathe easily when thinking about their cornerback room.

The Miami Dolphins, Needham's current employer, can afford to trade him. Needham is the fifth corner on their depth chart, so a fifth round pick should be enough to land the UTEP product in Baltimore.

Leighton Vander Esch

The Ravens spent a first round pick on middle linebacker Patrick Queen in the 2019 draft, but their work at the position shouldn't be done. It looks like former third round pick Malik Harrison will take the starting spot next to Queen if the Ravens don't make an upgrade. Current Dallas Cowboy Leighton Vander Esch is the perfect candidate to take Harrison's job and start for Baltimore.

Vander Esch has had a couple of seasons marred with injury, but his work when healthy has been great. The Boise State product has also played in a couple of terrible defenses, which all make him look worse than he actually is. Vander Esch's presence has the potential to take Baltimore's defense to another level, which makes him worth the risk of a trade.

The Cowboys also just drafted another linebacker in the first round while declining Vander Esch's fifth-year option, so it looks like his time in Dallas is coming to an end no matter what. The Cowboys would probably be glad to get something for him before he leaves the team in free agency. A late round pick should be enough to get Vander Esch to Baltimore.