The Ravens’ depth at receiver is shallow, especially following the trade of Marquise Brown. However, it sounds like reinforcement could be coming. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes that the Ravens “will sign or acquire a veteran receiver at some point before training camp.”
2021 first-round pick Rashod Bateman is likely the only receiver with a secure spot on the depth chart. Otherwise, the receivers room consists of unproven players, including Devin Duvernay, James Proche II, Tylan Wallace, Binjimen Victor, Jaylon Moore, and a whopping six undrafted rookies. Of course, the team’s passing attack is also highlighted by tight end Mark Andrews.
While Zrebic expects a transaction, he does note that the team isn’t operating like an organization that’s “desperate” for a receiver. That’s likely a “vote of confidence” for the team’s current crop of wideouts, and while the team may be seeking additional depth, they’ll still be heavily relying on the receivers who are currently on the roster.
“We like our receivers, we do,” DeCosta said recently (via Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Sun). “We’ve seen growth, we’ve seen our guys mature and develop. … We will add players to the mix. We’re doing that right now, and we’ll look at veteran players as well. It wasn’t really by design that we wanted to create a hole on the team. I don’t look at it that way, but in this business, you pivot, you dodge, you weave — you’re always really going to be chasing a need. Every team in the league would tell you that you’re chasing needs.”
What veterans could Baltimore turn to? The Ravens really haven’t been definitively connected to any free agents, but it’s worth noting that the organization pursued veteran T.Y. Hilton last offseason. The long-time Colts wide receiver remains unsigned. Julio Jones, Odell Beckham Jr., Emmanuel Sanders, and DeSean Jackson are other veteran FA wideouts.
Yeah they should sign 2 of Julio, Sanders or even Will Fuller or Cole Beasley. Can’t imagine they’d cost much at this point and at the very least would provide a vet presence to the young WR room.
Seems pretty low risk high reward to me.
Meh , the Ravens are fine , on paper it doesn’t look good sure .. But if you take out last season (which undrafted FA’s ,the ghosts of D.Freeman and L.Bell took lots of meaningful snaps) the Ravens led the league in Rushing plays (1# in ’20 & ’19 and 3# in ’18) .. I’m sure they plan to do alot of running in ’22 .. They have a dominant receiver over the middle (Andrews) they just need a few burners running go routes to keep the safeties honest .. so i believe DeCosta when he says they like who they have .. even more why they traded Hollywood in the first place ..
I’d hate to face julio as a steelers fan.
Baltimore is where WR’s go to die. No one wants to play there as a WR. That offense is running and TE. Who wants to be a 3rd option. Bateman is unproven but any WR is a very low ceiling with LaMar in town.
I also think Mark Andrew’s should be buying LaMars dinner for eternity. He wouldn’t be as good of a TE IMO on a regular team with a more traditional offense. ( Raiders, Chargers, Bengals, Colts, Packers) Andrew’s benefits from broken pockets and coverages due to LaMar running. Which leaves a good TE in a fantastic position to rake.
I can see the Ravens being the team to take a chance on AB. He’s been pretty vocal about going there but might change since Hollywood is gone
“The Ravens depth at receiver is shallow”. Interesting. Anyone looking at that depth chart would prob first point out that they don’t have a legit WR on the roster. Bateman has proven nothing and would be WR #3, at best, on most NFL rosters. It’s almost as if the Ravens are trying to stick it to their QB and force his price as low as possible. No wonder he wants out.
I don’t think they’re actively trying to sabotage Jackson. This is a team that should have playoff aspirations, so playing a game like that would be self-defeating.
They most likely will add a WR, but with a limited amount of cap space, they’ll be patient looking for a deal. As far as what NFL GMs say publicly, I rarely put much stock in it. The business is a high-priced poker game, and everyone bluffs.
also probably has to do with how they value WRs in their system.
with Lamar always looking to run or connect with the TE , seems the WRs are a 3rd option downfield and why the Ravens keep going with the straighline speed guys like Perriman, Hollywood & now Bateman
Duvernay is also a burner. He’s alot faster than the 4.39 he ran at the combine.
Ravens would never sign AB
i don’t think anyone would at this point
“Of course, the team’s passing attack is tight end Mark Andrews.”
fixed
The Ravens should make a trade with Seattle – as they have a bunch of receivers but no one to throw the ball to them.
What so they could come to Baltimore and have no one to throw to them?