After four years in New Orleans, Willie Snead looks like he will head north. The Saints are not planning to match the Ravens’ offer sheet, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (Twitter link), which will send the RFA wide receiver to Baltimore.
The Ravens only submitted this two-year offer sheet on Friday, but as of Saturday, it doesn’t look like the Saints are planning to retain Snead. This could have been expected after the Saints signed Cameron Meredith to a two-year, $9.6MM RFA offer sheet and agreed to bring back Brandon Coleman. This seemingly locks in a 2018 top four of Michael Thomas/Ted Ginn/Meredith/Coleman and left Snead without a surefire role.
He figures to have one with the Ravens, who continue to overhaul their receiving corps. The 25-year-old pass-catcher joins Michael Crabtree and John Brown as new Raven receivers, and this could well affect the franchise’s potential pursuit of Dez Bryant. Thus far, they’ve been the only team to express interest in the former Cowboys Pro Bowler.
Although, this two-year, $7MM deal, with some incentives, would have been a major discount based on Snead’s 2015 and ’16 seasons. But after a vast production dip in 2017 (eight receptions, 92 yards), Snead will earn a raise nonetheless. This through-2019 contract could double as an audition for Snead, who was negotiating with the Saints for a new deal last offseason. But he’ll be departing the league’s most consistent passing attack for one that hasn’t enjoyed as much success in recent years, so it will be interesting to see how Baltimore pieces together its new-look aerial group.
The former UDFA’s best work came during his age-23 and age-24 seasons, when he totaled 141 receptions for 1,895 yards and seven touchdowns between them. The Ravens are obviously hoping he can move closer to that form instead of the one that relegated him to a surprising afterthought in 2017.
Complete overhaul of the WR Corp is what people asked for this off-season. Crabtree, Brown and now Snead to go along with Adeboyejo, Perriman who is likely in his last season in Baltimore, Posey and Moore. Now it looks like best player available will once again be the route they go. If James falls at all, Baltimore needs to get him as an inevitable replacement to Weddle but if not, there is plenty of talent in the mid first round to grab. They should be in an enviable position come the draft later this coming week.
Hopefully he can rebound to his form from two years ago. Last year was terrible, between suspensions, injuries, and lack of playing time in general. I kept him in my 6 keeper fantasy league after his great season, but he turned out to be a bust. If he rebounds, he will be a huge boost to the Ravens receiving corps.
If he can’t do it with Brees throwing to him, he’s not gonna do it with Flacid.
I think the 8 receptions is a pretty clear indicator Brees wasn’t actually throwing the ball to him
Big mistake by the Saints
My only question is who is a better receiver? Cam Meredith put up some nice numbers in a mediocre offensive system but is coming off of a missed season due to a major knee injury. Willie Snead was a good number 3 receiver with the Saints but they clearly are tired of his work ethic and character. We shall see
Dez want’s you to know he is better than both these guys.
Cam put up decent numbers in garbage time when nobody actually covered him plus coming off of a torn ACL/MCL.
Meanwhile Dez has received NO phone calls. Hahahaha