The Ravens were gift wrapped a win this past Thursday night by the Steelers. Mike Tomlin and Josh Scobee breathed some life into what has been perhaps the most trying start to a season in Ravens history. With upcoming games against the Browns at home and the struggling 49ers in Week 6, the Ravens have a very realistic shot at getting back to the .500 mark. Making the playoffs is still a tough, uphill climb, but the win over the Steelers was the first step in the right direction.
While there is certainly some reason for a little optimism after Thursday night’s win, the fact remains that the current 2015 Ravens roster is not playoff caliber. They desperately lack playmakers. They were able to grind out their first win in Week 4 but that had as much to do with poor decision making on the Steelers’ part as it did the Ravens’ ability to make plays. The win was also very costly with the injury to Steve Smith Sr. With him now on the shelf for likely at least a couple of weeks, the Ravens have arguably the weakest receiving group in the entire league. The addition of Chris Givens is a logical, low risk move, but it’s not nearly enough if the Ravens are serious about being a competitive playoff team in 2015. The Ravens can preach the “next man up” mantra all they want, but they’ll need to add another playmaker sooner than later to give their offense a chance to compete.
Rumors of Alshon Jeffery being on the trading block have been swirling around the NFL. Jeffery was sidelined for the third straight week this past Sunday with a hamstring issue. Regardless, the Ravens should do their due diligence and make a call to the Bears. If the injury is minor and Jeffery is close, it’s an option worth exploring. The Bears have no shot of making the playoffs in 2015 considering they reside in the same division as the Packers. They’ve already traded away two starters on defense in Jared Allen and John Bostic and appear to be in rebuilding mode. Jeffery is also in the last year of his rookie contract so his cap hit is roughly a manageable $1.4 million. While it would be a one-year rental the Ravens could also have the first shot at reaching a long-term deal with him.
The Ravens have a golden opportunity over the next two weeks. After an 0-3 start they could realistically claw their way back to the .500 mark. Looking at the current AFC picture, with 12 of the 16 teams at .500 or worse, the Ravens season is far from over. But at the end of the Steelers game the Ravens’ pass catching group was made up of two rookie tight ends, two undrafted free agents and a rookie sixth round receiver. Givens helps, and he brings an element of speed that the Ravens were desperately lacking, but he’s not nearly enough. Â With likely 12 picks in the 2016 draft including what could be seven picks in the first four rounds, Ozzie has a plethora of ammunition if he chooses to make a move.
The Ravens covet draft picks more than any team in the league, and they rarely part with them, especially midseason. However if they’re serious about being competitive in 2015 and making the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years, they really have no choice.
