The Ravens ought to be searching for a large receiver who has as a lot identify recognition as manufacturing.
One of many main candidates gave the impression to be free-agent veteran Jarvis Landry, however he reportedly signed a one-year cope with the New Orleans Saints on Friday. Landry’s talent set is akin to second-year Ravens wideout Rashod Bateman, however the largest distinction is that Landry has been within the NFL since 2014 and has 688 profession receptions for 7,598 yards. Bateman had 46 catches for 515 yards a 12 months in the past.
Apart from that, they're the identical kind of participant. After the Ravens traded speedy vast receiver Marquise Brown to the Arizona Cardinals practically two weeks in the past on the primary evening of the NFL draft, they knew they needed to discover somebody who may draw the eye of defensive coordinators after they targeted on tight finish Mark Andrews.
Landry would have been the simplest repair. Now, the Ravens are pressured to look elsewhere.
There are different distinguished free-agent receivers nonetheless obtainable akin to Odell Beckham Jr., Will Fuller V and Julio Jones, however they aren’t good matches due to the Ravens’ run-dominant offense. We’ve seen this earlier than, final 12 months to be precise, when JuJu Smith-Schuster and T.Y. Hilton declined to return to Baltimore and the Ravens as an alternative signed Sammy Watkins.
Brown left little question he was sad with the passing offense beneath coordinator Greg Roman, so the Ravens had been pressured to hit the open market and hopefully signal a veteran who can even train a younger receiving corps.
Sadly, the listing of established gamers nonetheless obtainable is dwindling. After Landry’s signing, the large names left are Beckham, Fuller, Jones, Hilton, Cole Beasley, Emmanuel Sanders and DeSean Jackson.
Landry will flip flip 30 in November however he was an annual Professional Bowl choice from 2015 to 2019 with the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns. He's sound and has made some clutch catches in key conditions, particularly towards the Ravens. At 5 ft 11 and 196 kilos, he’s capable of play the slot or the skin, which makes him a main goal for brief to mid-range passes. He can even block, which he did lots of in Cleveland for star operating again Nick Chubb.
Doesn’t he sound like Bateman?
The 2021 first-round decide isn’t going to blow anybody away together with his velocity, however he can go deep often. Bateman will be the possession receiver on third down; at 6-1 and 193 kilos, he can put his physique between a defender and the ball like former Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin. If Bateman had been older and extra confirmed, there wouldn’t be a necessity for a veteran like Landry, however the 22-year-old isn’t that far alongside in his growth but.
Moreover Andrews, the Ravens don’t have some other confirmed receivers. Devin Duvernay appears succesful and has excellent velocity, however he solely has 53 catches for 473 yards throughout his two-year profession. James Proche II is hard and can sooner or later show his price within the slot when he strikes on to a extra extremely refined offense, however he has performed sparingly in two years. Tylan Wallace is simply coming into his second 12 months and undoubtedly not prepared for a beginning spot or sharing that function.
Ideally, the Ravens want a velocity man. Brown wasn’t robust and had issues with hand placement that led to bother catching the ball, however opposing groups at all times needed to respect his velocity. He wasn’t within the class of former Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and present Dolphins star Tyreek Hill, however he introduced related challenges.
The Ravens might need that velocity in Duvernay, however they don’t have an offense coordinator who can capitalize on it. The Ravens drafted two tight ends within the fourth spherical in Isaiah Probably and Charlie Kolar, which is a sign they plan on going again to the 2 tight-end offense. That was when quarterback Lamar Jackson was at his greatest throwing in the midst of the sector throughout his 2019 Most Beneficial Participant season.
When groups attempt to take that away, the Ravens want a counter. Landry solely had 52 catches for 570 yards and two touchdowns for the Browns whereas battling accidents final season, however there aren't any indications he can’t recuperate. At his age, he was searching for solely a short-term deal. He match the Ravens’ “proper participant, proper worth” method, and he had identify recognition.
Now it’s again to the drafting board, however it’s clear big-name receivers don’t need to come to Baltimore. They will’t be a star.
On this scenario, they actually do must play like a Raven — a minimum of like certainly one of their receivers.
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