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The Baltimore Ravens hit their first home run of the offseason, and the MLB year hasn’t even begun yet.
By trading their third and fourth round draft choices to the Arizona Cardinals, the Ravens were able to acquire WR Anquan Boldin, who is about as legit a No. 1 receiver as it’s possible to get without drafting one and waiting three years for him to develop.
Injury history aside, Boldin does nothing but produce and, now that he has his new contract, should be quiet and content. In his seven NFL seasons, he has gone over 80 receptions five times and past the century mark twice. He’s a big, tough receiver who isn’t afraid to catch the ball and take a whack in the open field.
And he’s Joe Flacco’s new best friend.
Flacco, the young Baltimore quarterback, has taken his team to the playoffs twice in his mere two NFL seasons, and even more impressively, has a 3-2 record in the postseason. His team’s identity is built on its always solid defense and a recently re-tooled offensive line. With Ray Rice and Willis McGahee, the Ravens also feature a strong backfield, capable of churning out the tough yards.
What Flacco and the Ravens lacked, however, was a passing game that made opposing defensive coordinators nervous.
No more.
Baltimore started its offseason by signing the recently reinstated Donte Stallworth. Unlike the Saints and the Browns before them, the Ravens understood who Stallworth is and what he does best: work from the slot as a No. 3 receiver. They know that Stallworth was a good addition, but not the answer.
With Boldin, the Ravens have found the answer, at least for 2010.
The trio of Boldin, Stallworth and Derrick Mason give the Ravens about as good a stable of receivers as could be asked. Mason and Flacco have a good chemistry together, but despite his productivity, Mason could no longer be asked to carry the torch.
Now he’s just one of three.
The downside here is that all three will be the wrong side of 30 before the season is out. All have dealt with injuries in the past, and no doubt those hamstrings and groins will be a bit more brittle with age and wear.
Baltimore has a bit of work to do yet on this receiver corps, and that involves finally removing the albatross that hangs around the neck of General Manager Ozzie Newsome, College Scouting Director Eric DeCosta, and the rest of the men in what is the best draft room in the NFL.
They need to draft a decent receiver and actually develop him.
Kyle Boller aside, the Ravens worst first round draft choices have come at the receiver position. Travis Taylor, taken in 2000, barely passed as an NFL backup, let alone the quality starter you expect from No. 10 overall. Mark Clayton, 2005’s first rounder, has been better, but is best suited as a No. 3 or No. 4 receiver on your roster.
The Ravens have other needs more pressing than wide receiver, and can afford to draft a receiver later and develop him (though no one should say no to Dez Bryant should he fall past No. 20).
Baltimore, with no immediate and pressing needs for a 2010 championship push, may now look to trade down and possibly out of the first round on draft day. With a couple of second rounders and a third, they could take a defensive playmaker or two and snag a receiver prospect who would enter 2010 as both an insurance policy and a future investment.
Imagine a Baltimore squad fully loaded for 2010 with Boldin, Mason, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. Then think of the future with a prospect or two behind each of those key players.
Think the Steelers have a shot at regaining the AFC North crown anytime soon?
Quoth the Ravens: Nevermore.
This article also appears at quoththeravens.com, the author’s Ravens blog.
Read more Baltimore Ravens news on BleacherReport.com
