BUFFALO, N.Y. — In receiver Lee Evans, the Baltimore Ravens acquired a proven veteran to play alongside Anquan Boldin.

By trading Evans for a fourth-round draft pick, the Buffalo Bills are putting their trust in a young group of receivers.

Two teams who have spent much of the past decade going in different directions completed the trade on Friday in the midst of the NFL’s first week of preseason games.

“We’re excited about getting Lee Evans,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said a day after Baltimore opened the preseason with a 13-7 loss to Philadelphia. “He’s a proven player in this league, and a quality person who will fit in well on our team.”

Evans is a seven-year veteran, who is a downfield threat with two 1,000-yard seasons. He is expected to immediately step into the No. 2 role in Baltimore to improve a receiving attack.