The Ravens need offensive playmakers this offseason and they believe that their best playmaker, quarterback Lamar Jackson, will help lure dynamic players to Baltimore.
“I think players respect talent,” GM Eric DeCosta said (via ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley). “I think players respect athletes and competitors. Anyone can watch Lamar Jackson and see how talented he is and what kind of a competitor he is. Players also want to win, and I think that’s something that drives every professional athlete — winning games. I think they’ll recognize that about us. When they watch us play, they’ll want to play here.”
Last year, the Ravens produced only 57 plays of 20+ yards, which was the ninth-fewest in the NFL. Eight of those plays came off of big runs from Jackson, who only started in seven of the team’s 16 games. In essence, the Ravens are looking to make up for missed opportunities in past drafts. As Hensley notes, the Ravens have only selected a wide receiver or running back three times in the first three rounds of the last three drafts (Torrey Smith in 2011, Bernard Pierce in 2012 and Breshad Perriman in 2015), and none of those players are on the roster today.
Here’s more out of Baltimore:
- The Ravens have some cap flexibility, thanks in part to having Jackson on his rookie contract, bu that doesn’t mean their free-agent strategy will change, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes. The Ravens will have more cap room than they’ve had in years, but they’re still far from the top of the leaderboard which is headlined by the Jets and Colts with $100MM+. The Ravens also must focus on keeping their current free-agent class, which features wide receiver John Brown, top blocking tight ends Nick Boyle and Maxx Williams, linebacker C.J. Mosley, sack leader Za’Darius Smith, and all-time sack leader Terrell Suggs.
- Recently, we learned that the decision on whether to trade or cut QB Joe Flacco likely won’t come until March. More than 70% of PFR readers believe that the Ravens will be able to find a suitable trade for the one-time Super Bowl winner.
The dude can’t throw. I wouldn’t want to be a receiver to a QB who won’t throw it to me.
Lamar can throw he has make great throws in pro and college level, also he isn’t the one calling the plays Marty barely called passing plays and just relied on the run game. Think and watch film for yourself and don’t be a follower
Says the guy with the obvious Baltimore bias. Lamar hardly completes more than 60% of his passes. I watch film and he was pretty wild on passes longer than 10 yards. If the receiver didn’t have 4-5 yards of separation odds were he wasn’t getting it.
His issues are entirely technical. A good QB coach should help. A good OC and HC would be even better, but idk if Baltimore has any.
Maybe real maybe you watch a bit of film but you clearly don’t know the facts. Our “top” receivers been dropping passes, Crabtree lead the league in drops Brown was in the top 10 this yr and there were more players that dropped catchable passes. Same was at Louisville his receivers were garbage besides Jaylen Smith. Not saying he is the future but saying he can’t throw is not entirely true.
Go back and watch the last bowl game he played in at Louisville and tell us about his passing skills. I can’t believe any team drafted him as a QB unless they are planning to run the option. Yes he has a strong arm but is wildly inconsistent with his accuracy and can’t read a defense to save his life. He’s Michael Vick II, except Vick was a little more accurate on his throws. IDK if experience and coaching can improve that, maybe, but I wouldn’t bet the house on it. I think it’s more likely that teams figure out how to control his running game and then he (and the offense) will struggle. He should have a future at RB if his passing game doesn’t improve.
“When they watch us play, they’ll want to play here.”
^^^ draws an even bigger laugh when the Orioles say it.
It’s doubtful, that any “dynamic” receiver is being lured to Baltimore because of Lamar Jackson. Maybe an older “once was” WR will chase the money to Baltimore. That is the best Ravens’ fans can hope for.