The first of two sizeable trades involving wide receivers saw Marquise Brown dealt from the Ravens to the Cardinals. To pundits and fans alike, the swap came as a surprise, but such a move had apparently been a distinct possibility for months. 
[RELATED: Ravens Trade Brown To Cardinals For First-Round Pick]
When speaking to the media after last night’s first round, general manager Eric DeCosta said Brown’s desire to be dealt was well-known in the organization long before it became public. That was further verified by the events which took place during the build-up to the draft. As NFL Network’s James Palmer noted (on Twitter) last night, ‘Hollywood’ himself was already at the Arizona draft party by the time the trade was announced.
“That’s a complicated topic” DeCosta said about the trade. “For me personally, complicated because Marquise was my first pick and one of my favorite guys on the team. But Marquise came to me after the season and requested that he be traded. He was not happy and wanted to play elsewhere.
It was something I anguished over for a long time. He would tell you that he and I had many conversations throughout the spring… This was a situation where it was going to be impossible for the club to truly win [the deal], but we try to do what’s best for the player.”
The trade sees Brown reunited with former Oklahoma teammate Kyler Murray, and will give the Cardinals a replacement for the speed at the position they lost with Christian Kirk‘s departure. The Ravens, meanwhile, elected not to use the 23rd overall pick on a direct WR replacement (as the Titans did after trading A.J. Brown), instead picking All-American center Tyler Linderbaum. That leaves the team thin on the WR depth chart, with 2021 first-rounder Rashod Bateman and All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews headlining Baltimore’s pass-catching corps.
How the Ravens fill the void left by the trade, and the level of success Brown has with the Cardinals will be two storylines worth watching over the remainder of the offseason and into 2022.
Baltimore must be where WRs go to die, you’re not getting the ball in Lamar’s offense lol
That’s probably the correct explanation.
The “revolutionary” new offense never did materialize. It is a read-option playaction pass offense. There’s nothing new about that. The only new component is the freak athleticism of Lamar at the position. Sadly, he’s just not a good QB. Everyone with a brain knows it. The people he plays with know it. The front office knows it, which is why he hasn’t been signed yet.
The experiment failed. Time to rebuild.
So many words to say absolutely nothing true. That’s impressive.
Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it isn’t true.
Rebuild? The team is awesome. Do you even watch the NFL?
People are dramatically underrating Baltimore after a year with disastrous injury luck.
In all sorts of ways. It’s really disheartening to see honestly. Completion percentage means very little aswell, on target % is higher than Allens. Average Depth of Target was among the deepest in the league. But hey, only missing on average 8 opening day starters every game! The team just sucks!
What have they won since Lamar has been QB?
Yes. Not only watch, but understand it. A run-first QB does not equate long term success in this current era league. That is history.
The offensive line is a constant shuffle mode while Stanley’s ankle keeps breaking, Brown Jr. was traded, and Yanda retired. You got a stable of decent RBs, but we know that the shelf life on them is not long. You just traded away your best WR because he hates playing this offense. You have a good TE squad.
The entire secondary is being rebuilt before your eyes, they still need another off ball linebacker to pair with Queen (which they may have just drafted), and the front 3 is a trainwreck that never gets any pressure. You have no real outside pressure threat either. At least nothing proven yet.
So yeah…rebuilding mode.
They lost several of their best players for significant time last year and still finished 8-9. I think rebuilding is a wild overreaction.
You obviously don’t follow too closely. The offense put up big numbers. Last year all three running backs were injured and didn’t play a single game. That kinda hurt the offense a bit, wouldn’t you say?
Injuries happen all the time. Next man up.
I pay very close attention, that’s why I am very often correct on everything I post.
What did the team win last season with those “big numbers?” I mean, with the way you all talk and with how great Lamar Jackson is, he should have won several superbowls by now, right? Remind me what his playoff record is again?
Offense put up big numbers. Let’s dissect that.
Team record: 8-9 tied for last in division.
NFL Rank for offense:
Passing Yds: 13th
Comp% 19th
Passing TD: T20th
Passing TD%: T26th
Passing INT: T27th
Longest pass: 30th
Yards Per Pass: T16th
QB Rating: 27th
Sacks: 31st
Seems pretty clear to me what the problem is. The elephant is not only in the room, it is sitting on your lap and eating your lunch.
Three lackluster years into his career, the Ravens manage to trade him for an even higher pick than they used on him. He did them a favor.
46/584/7 —440 pass vs 596 run
58/769/8 — 406 pass vs 555 run
91/1008/6 — 611 pass vs 517 run
In a run first offense he’s done just fine. Idk if I would call his 1st 3 years “lack luster”. His production matched what the offense was doing. His rookie season they only had 440 pass attempts. His 2nd year they actually went down to 406 and last year they passed it more cause of injuries to the running backs and his production increased as well.
I get the limitations of the offense, but he’s shown so little in terms of rising above it. I think Bateman will show much more during his rookie deal.
He had 91 catches and Andrews had over 100 so yeah that wasn’t it
Yeah, but he’s not the primary focus. In an offense designed in this century he would be an absolute terror and possibly be one of the best in the game.
Hmm….Baltimore can’t attract any elite level free agent WR, and the ones they draft don’t want to stay here…..
Could it be because Lamar isn’t the amazing QB everyone else seems to think he is?
It is massive shake up time in Baltimore. Do not sign the long term extension for Lamar unless you want to have an offense so behind the times that it would make Vince Lombardi proud. Lamar is a single leg injury and the age of 30 sapping that 1/2 step ahead of everyone else away from being a terrible QB.
You can’t have a team where your talent refuses to play for you because they can’t stand who leads the team.
More likely than not its because the modern Wide receiver is the pick me girl of the NFL. They are all about themselves, and won’t lay down a block. Brown had the 9th most targets in the league last year, and had 7 drops and caused 4 interceptions on tipped balls that hit his hands. But yeah its the Quarterbacks fault. The ravens have never put up with Diva’s in the locker room.
Maybe if the QB could actually throw him a ball on target that would help….
I think Jackson is an amazing QB talent, but what he is good at and the style of offense he must run limit the ability of his team ever being a true title contender without a great defense. Give him the Ray Lewis Terrell Suggs defense maybe they go all the way. With a run first offense though, clearly they are having issues keeping or obtaining any good WR talent.
Yes, with a killer running back like Jamal Lewis, an history making defense, and a HOF kicker, even Trent Dilfer can win a SB.
So what do you need Lamar for then?
Without Greg Romans simplified college run offense, Lamar wouldn’t be Lamar as we know him. Ratbirds fans are in complete denial and try to say that GR is holding him back. Either GR needs to go or Lamar needs to learn to play QB. Until they do, receivers don’t want anything to do with the Ravens. Lamar winning MVP that early was the worst thing that could have happened to both Lamar and ravens fans. Cuz anytime someone points out a flaw, it’s a built in excuse. “But he was MVP”….okay but he hasn’t improved at all since then.? But he was mvp….
How do you improve on MVP? Is there a Super MVP Award that I don’t know of? Most people thought Jackson would regress a little. Last year he had no running game but until the last 3 games he played, he was doing good. He had Baltimore 8-3. I’m a Browns fan but even I admit Jackson is still a dangerous quarterback overall.
You do know that awards are popularity contests and not exactly a measure of merit. You do know this….
By your logic Brees would have won at least 1 mvp based on numbers. He didn’t because he not wildly popular and on the saints most of his career. It’s a popularity contest. Also lamar in postseason is let’s just say “yikes”
He won it with his legs. Take that away from him and he doesn’t win football games. It is that simple.
Led the league in deep balls that year, and completion % on deep balls. Led the league in touchdowns with 30-40% less attempts than the average quarterback. What makes you hate Lamar so much? Its pretty obvious.
Yes, the threat he is with his legs makes it such that defenses have to give somewhere. Leaving an extra man or two in the box to account for the plays he makes with his legs opens up the deep threat, giving more opportunities downfield. I’m not sure how to quantify that in terms of value, but it certainly is a weapon very few other QB’s possess.
On the other hand, just because someone disagrees with the value of a player doesn’t necessarily mean they hate that player. Why is that so hard for people to understand? And then to take it to a level of “it’s pretty obvious” tells us all that you’re running out of bullets and have to resort to “the card.” You had a good take. Would have been advantageous to stop there.
I appreciate this take but….
The proof is in the pudding and we’ve already sat at the table and ate. The results are in on what you say. When teams shut down his ability to escape on the run, he doesn’t beat you with the deep pass. His longest pass this season was 49 yards.
He makes costly mistakes and loses games when teams force him to be what he isn’t. A pocket passer. You don’t have to believe me or take my words as fact. All you have to do is look at his playoff losses. Look at the games where his running was kept in check.
I don’t know how many more times you need to see the same result time and time again for it to be believed.
He’s not a good QB. I don’t hate him at all. I don’t know him as a person.
If he is as good as you say he is, why don’t prime free agent WR’s want to come here and why did his best WR ask to get the heck out of dodge. Oh, I know, they must all be racist too, huh?
You can get out of here with that racist bullcrap. I don’t care what color you are if you can ball.
Because wide receivers are all pick me girls, and want to be the center of attention, and why would you assume that is about race? Are you projecting? It is just obvious that you hate him.
I don’t hate anyone. I was taught to love everyone. I just don’t have to love what they do, like fail at the one thing they are paid to do.
It is because WR’s want to put up numbers so that they can get paid. They know they can’t do it with a QB like Lamar.
Why did you make it about race about me then?
I don’t project anything but my voice.
Take his legs away? But that’s what makes him dangerous. He may not be a great quarterback when he’s 34 but he is now. His record is 37-12. Winning is what matters. Doesn’t matter if he ran or threw
How many post season wins does he have?
Seems to matter to the WR’s that don’t want to play or stay here.
I like the Linderbaum pick, but they need someone to play WR, right?
Run Andrews as a Slot 1 with Boyle back to block, Bateman as a 2, Duvernay 3 as the burner, Wallace 4, Proche 5. I think is the plan? Maybe swinging out dobbins a bit, he has pretty good hands. Unsure though. Should look for probably 2 WR’s with the 6 4th round picks they have and hope one pans out.
Bateman, Andrews, and they have Tylan Wallace and Devin Duvernay as immediate replacements. Wallace is similar to Brown but a bit taller (5’11” vs 5’8″).
They could also add another mid round receiver like a John Metchie III or Justyn Ross who are recovering from injuries but have a lot of potential.
Plenity of good WR’s in the 2nd
Cleveland needs one and I hope Pickens is still available then
I can’t think of a team that consistently drafts better than the Ravens.
They walked away with two (likely) future Pro Bowlers last night.
Looks like a win-win. Brown gets to go somewhere to prove he is worth big money, and Baltimore can find a cheap replacement who likely is just as talented.
Now all they have to do is get a QB that can throw them the ball and win playoff games.
He tryna get paid and he can’t maximize his value playing with Lamar. His best attribute is his speed but if the QB only throws short passes then he won’t get a lot of looks. Which is why the Tight end is happy and WRs don’t wanna go to Baltimore.
We got a smart cookie in the room. Congratulations. Somebody that actually pays attention and understands.