Wide receivers and the Baltimore Ravens haven’t been a really perfect pairing during the last twenty years. Since the franchise moved from Cleveland to Baltimore in 1996, the Ravens have by no means drafted a Pro Bowl extensive receiver and have two 1,000-yard seasons from extensive receivers the group drafted (Torrey Smith and Marquise Brown).
There’s a purpose why the Ravens have gone the free agent route to search out good wideouts, beginning with Derrick Mason within the mid-2000s and Steve Smith within the mid-2010s. Mason had 4 1,000-yard seasons since signing with the Ravens in 2015 on the age of 31, whereas Smith logged 1,065 yards in his first 12 months with the Ravens on the age of 35.
More on Beckham to Ravens
Qadry Ismail additionally had two 1,000-yard seasons with the Ravens after touchdown in Baltimore as a free agent in 1999, but the Ravens nonetheless have been unable to have a Pro Bowl extensive receiver on their roster.
This is the scenario Odell Beckham Jr. is strolling into after signing a one-year cope with the Ravens value $15 million assured. Like Mason and Smith, Beckham is a former Pro Bowler who lands with the Ravens — one other hope for a franchise that has gotten manufacturing from veteran free brokers prior to now.
Beckham hasn’t made a Pro Bowl since 2016 or logged a 1,000-yard season since 2019, but the Ravens really feel him turning into a No. 1 extensive receiver once more (in goal share) would be the profession resurgence for a participant coming into his age-30 season.
Is the addition of Beckham sufficient to persuade Lamar Jackson to remain in Baltimore? There are important ramifications towards the Ravens signing Beckham, and Jackson’s future with the franchise — and would possibly influence a number of groups.
Jackson and Beckham have been involved
Jackson clearly was enthusiastic about Beckham becoming a member of the Ravens, even when the group’s franchise quarterback is not at present beneath contract nor has signed his non-exclusive franchise tag with the group. Not solely did the Ravens quarterback put up an image of him Facetiming with Beckham on Instagram, however Beckham shared a photograph of his son, Zydn, carrying a Ravens jersey with Jackson’s No. 8 — saying he was heading to Baltimore.
The Ravens have definitely appeased Jackson by getting Beckham to Baltimore. This could possibly be the transfer that will get Jackson to return to the Ravens, in spite of everything.
Best WR group Jackson has ever performed with
This is extra of an indictment of what Jackson has needed to work with at extensive receiver over time, but the place is considerably improved with Beckham. If Rashod Bateman can keep wholesome in 2023, Baltimore has a good 1-2 punch with Beckham and Bateman on the surface.
The Ravens additionally added Nelson Agholor to be the slot receiver, a task he is thrived in over time. This is arguably Baltimore’s finest trio of wideouts since Michael Crabtree, Willie Snead and John Brown in 2018 (once more that is not saying a lot).
Baltimore nonetheless wants extra depth on the place, however the trio of Beckham, Bateman and Agholor makes the place formidable. Perhaps the Ravens will rank increased than final amongst yardage from extensive receivers in 2023.
The Ravens can get higher at WR even with this group
Beckham’s signing is taken into account a luxurious for the Ravens, who’re anticipated to focus on a large receiver early on this draft. Unfortunately for the Ravens, the 2023 extensive receiver class is not the best. Drafting one of many prime wideouts would give the Ravens time to develop that participant whereas counting on the veterans to steer the extensive receiver group.
Baltimore might nonetheless land an impactful wideout, even when his targets might not be excessive instantly. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jordan Addison or Zay Flowers can be glorious gamers on this rotation.
Ravens truly spending cash at WR
Beckham will earn $15 million assured from the Ravens this offseason. They are spending extra money on one participant than they’ve on your entire extensive receiver place in any of the final 5 offseasons.
Baltimore spent simply $7.6 million at extensive receiver final offseason, which was final within the NFL. The Ravens have not spent greater than $14.4 million on the extensive receiver place in an offseason since 2018 (Jackson’s rookie 12 months), by no means rating increased than twenty second at spending on the place throughout that span.
The Ravens have spent $18.25 million at extensive receiver between Beckham and Agholor. While it is not as a lot as different franchises, it is a signal the Ravens are literally keen to spend to enhance the place. A step in the appropriate path.
With all this extensive receiver dialogue in Baltimore, it is easy to neglect the Ravens have probably the greatest receiving tight ends within the recreation in Andrews. The three-time Pro Bowl tight finish had 73 catches for 847 yards and 5 touchdowns final season, a 12 months faraway from logging 107 catches for 1,361 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2021.
Andrews has the second-most catches (302), receiving yards (3,761) and receiving touchdowns (31) by a decent finish because the begin of the 2019 season — trailing solely Travis Kelce. He’s a playmaker in a Ravens offense who wants manufacturing outdoors of Jackson.
Add Andrews and Isaiah Likely at tight finish to a large receiver group of Beckham, Agholor and Bateman and the Ravens have a pass-catching group that may be sufficient to appease Jackson for 2023.
Beckham signing with the Ravens does not have an effect on Rodgers and his aspirations to be with the Jets in 2023 in any respect. Sure, Beckham was on his strategy to go to the Jets, however the Ravens gave him the cash he simply could not ignore — even when Jackson might not be again.
The Jets are nonetheless high-quality at extensive receiver with Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard, who signed with New York to a four-year deal final month. Lazard was arguably Rodgers’ favourite goal in Green Bay not named Davante Adams, so Rodgers may have some familiarity when he ultimately will get traded to the Jets.
New York has a large receiver group of Wilson, Lazard, Corey Davis and Mecole Hardman. Where was Beckham going to slot in that image and get the targets he craves? The Jets additionally weren’t giving him $15 million for 2023, both.
Rodgers will nonetheless find yourself with the Jets. Beckham would have been only a luxurious for them at this level. The Ravens wanted him.
