Ravens Should Try to Land Holt, Pace

Torry Holt and Orlando Pace have combined for 13 Pro Bowls, all with the Rams. Now, the two late-'90s former first-round picks are facing the stark reality of what it means to get old in the NFL. The "it's a business" mantra means that, at some point, every player will have to make a choice: retire or risk getting cut.

For Holt and Pace, the former seems premature, which means the latter is a distinct possibility. Before it gets to that, though, the Rams are trying to work a trade for both players, perhaps as a package deal.

For now, Pace and Holt remain Rams, but league sources are convinced that the team is shopping both players as trade bait. Perhaps the thinking is that once the early buying spree calms down, there will be a market for Pace and Holt _ even if it's a mid_ to late-round pick.

Crazy thought: the Ravens should get the Rams on the horn and make something happen. No idea what the going rate is for two guys in their 30s and on the downside of great careers, but seeing the Chiefs only give up the 34th-overall pick for Mike Vrabel and Matt Cassel leads me to believe it's doable, particularly if St. Louis truly wants to get rid of these guys.

Even though he's been Baltimore's most reliable receiver in, well, team history, Derrick Mason might not be back. Holt would be an upgrade, and at 32, three years younger. Pace could play left tackle and it would be like Jonathan Ogden never left. Yes, Jared Gaither performed well at times in 2008, and, by all accounts, he's the club's future, but in the meantime, he can slide to the right side to solidify a unit that was inconsistent a season ago.

If the idea is to give Joe Flacco more responsibility, acquiring Holt and Pace accomplish that. Of course, it's a little more complicated than wishing it true, but it's early March -- pie in the sky is where it's at. The Ravens could also wait to see if the Rams release Holt and Pace, and then try to sign them. That's riskier, obviously, but potentially cheaper.

As to what will actually happen? Who knows. I'm just pretty sure it doesn't involve anything I've mentioned above. Although maybe it should.