As Ravens fans watch the Patriots dominate the Colts and advance to the Divisional Championship Round, it's got to hurt just a little…
But for a dropped pass here or a missed tackle there, the Ravens would have been in this tournament— and a lot of the current drama unfolding in the AFC Playoffs would have been different.
Joe Flacco never got a chance this season to shine in what he does best this time of year, and that is to rally his guys to blow out the best of the rest in the elimination series known as the AFC Playoffs.
This is Flacco's and head coach John Harbaugh's first time in six years together that they have been out of the post-season mix…
So what are they doing besides watching the playoffs on TV like the rest of us? They are evaluating the current class of draft-eligible receivers, and comparing notes…
9 Potential WR Targets For Ravens
Here’s what we know about the Ravens’ intentions at receiver…
They want a reliable pass catcher – wide receiver or tight end – who can convert on third down and get some yards after the catch. They are very confident they can find such a coveted receiver, whether he’s an unrestricted free agent (UFA), a cap casualty, trade or rookie.
“In other words, Baltimore is going to explore every option,” wrote ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
It’s tricky to identify potential trades or cap casualties, but Hensley points to five first-round wide receivers and four UFA wide receivers that the Ravens could target.
One thing to note before we get into the list is that even if the Ravens don’t use their first-round pick on a receiver, there could still be plenty of talent later on. The ESPN draft tracker has 13 wide receivers listed among its top 90 prospects.
“The wide receiver position is deep in this year’s draft, and that is good news for the Ravens,” wrote CSNBaltimore.com’s Clifton Brown.
Wide Receivers In The Draft
Mike Evans, Texas A&M
6-foot-5, 225 pounds
2013: 69 catches, 1,394 yards, 12 touchdowns
CBS Sports Breakdown: “Highly physical receiver who uses his size and strength to simply bully defenders. Possesses an NFL-ready body, aiding him in his fight through press coverage, pushing off to generate consistent (if illegal) separation, when boxing out defenders on jump balls and in providing excellent downfield blocking for teammates. … Classic long-strider who does not possess the preferred burst off the snap to instantly challenge defenders off the line or out of his breaks.”
Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State
6-5, 235
54 catches, 1,011 yards, 15 touchdowns
CBS Sports Breakdown: “Near-tight end size (6-5, 235) with a ridiculously large wingspan, giving him a catching radius that is probably on-par with anyone at the NFL level. Shows the gliding speed and short-area quickness to create some separation and be a terror in jump-ball situations, especially in the red zone. … Still developing as a route-runner.”
Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt
6-3, 205
112 catches, 1,477 yards, 7 touchdowns
CBS Sports Breakdown: “Matthews, a cousin of the legendary Jerry Rice, is a better football player than he is an athlete. While he led the SEC with a gaudy 19.0 yards-per-catch average last season, he has good (but not great) build-up speed. His size allows him to be moved inside and out in Vandy's offense, allowing the team to find him favorable matchups and has very good hand-eye coordination to haul in tough passes, including one-handed catches.”
Brandin Cooks, Oregon State
5-10, 182
128 catches, 1,730 yards, 16 touchdowns
CBS Sports Breakdown: “Special athlete with explosive feet and natural burst – springs in his legs. Fluid body control with excellent start/stop moves, open-field vision and patient hesitation to elude defenders – joystick moves with loose hips and joints. Beautiful acceleration with speed to burn – electric after the catch. Quick hands to adjust and pluck with very good coordination to look the ball into his mitts. Strong football character. Tough individual – has never missed a game at any level. … Lacks ideal size with below average height and length for the position. Limited strength, muscle and overall growth potential.”
Jarvis Landry, LSU
6-0, 195
77 catches, 1,193 yards, 10 touchdowns
CBS Sports Breakdown: “Solidly-built frame with above average toughness and body strength. Good build-up speed with smooth quickness and body control. Strong cuts and controlled momentum down the field – very good catch-and-go receiver. … Good size and speed, but limited in both areas. Only average height and length for the position. Takes a few moments to get up to his top-end speed and can be slowed in his routes by physical defenders – will struggle at times vs. press.”
Unrestricted Free Agents
Eric Decker, Denver Broncos
26 years old, 4 years experience, 6-foot-3, 214 pounds
87 catches, 1,288 yards, 11 touchdowns
Julian Edelman, New England Patriots
27 years old, 5 years experience, 5-10, 198
105 catches, 1,056 yards, 6 touchdowns
Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants
25 years old, 5 years experience, 6-1, 208
56 catches, 896 yards, 0 touchdowns
James Jones, Green Bay Packers
29 years old, 7 years experience, 6-1, 208
59 catches, 817 yards, 3 touchdowns
A lot of variables to consider, for sure, but one way or another, Baltimore has got to make a proactive move to upgrade its wide receiving corps, or it could be another year of wasted opportunity. You see, the secret is out— Joe Flacco has the strongest passing arm in the NFL— now get him an extra target to throw to with confidence.
Failure to upgrade (as in letting Anquan Boldin go proved in 2013) will result in Failure To Launch…
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