With so much focus on Jeremy Maclin this week, another WR may have become available, and Ravens fans see a backup plan forming, should Maclin slip through the team’s grasp.
Jets reaching out to teams on Eric Decker, Ravens among them. Not out of the realm of possibility he's dealt. Otherwise he'll bne released
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) June 7, 2017
I don’t doubt the Ravens interest in Decker. However, I have to believe the trade talks are very one-sided. Decker is owed more than $7 million in base salary this season and next season. Any Decker-to-Baltimore deal would take a restructured contract to be agreed upon prior to completion. Either that or restructuring a contract or two for players already on the roster, which is never ideal.
For what the Ravens need short-term, Decker is a pretty perfect fit. He has the size to be a factor in the red zone. With recent injuries to Dennis Pitta (and his subsequent release) and Michael Campanaro the team’s suitable slot options have dwindled to next to nothing. Decker could plug in there and complement Breshad Perriman and Mike Wallace outside in three-wide receiver sets. He also makes the tough contested catches nobody else on the roster has proven they can make consistently.
With that said, the team should move with some caution. Cap flexibility is right around the corner and there is a potentially special free agent class of pass catchers in 2018.
Locking in a then 31-year-old Decker into a number that may dissuade them from being aggressive in said future market would be a problem. As I describe in the above-linked article, that market will have multiple 25-to 28-year-old receivers that have been productive in the NFL.
Long-term, Decker doesn’t move the needle enough to be the only significant add on offense. To get back to contending for championships, Decker can be A piece, but not THE piece. The Ravens shouldn’t be willing to give up anything of significance in a trade. Should the receiver be released, any free-agent contract would have to be of the team-friendly variety.
