The Ravens’ 2018 season will slowly begin to take shape this week when teams can begin putting franchise tags on players.
While the Ravens likely won’t have to use a franchise tag on any of their players, general manager Ozzie Newsome will be closely watching the developments with some other teams, especially at wide receiver and tight end.
Some of the best candidates for a franchise tag at wide receiver include the Rams’ Sammy Watkins, Jacksonville’s Allen Robinson and the Dolphins’ Jarvis Landry.
All three of those players would likely be targeted by the Ravens if they hit the open market. However, teams have until March 6 to apply the franchise tag, so Newsome might be forced to play a waiting game one way or another.
If none of those players become available, it will be disappointing, but certainly not debilitating. Newsome could opt to bring back unrestricted free agent Mike Wallace or make a play for some of the other notable free agent receivers, including Marqise Lee, Donte Moncrief or Paul Richardson.
The Ravens could look to the 2018 NFL Draft to add a wideout, but they certainly would like to have a more proven veteran on the roster. While the offense has been widely criticized, the Ravens did manage to average the second most points in the league (29.2) over the final nine games of the season.
[Related: Ravens Positional Overview – WR]
There is also some glimmer of hope that Breshad Perriman will finally be able to make a meaningful impact despite a disappointing career so far.
Perriman appeared in just 11 games last season, finishing with 10 receptions for 77 yards. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is hoping Perriman can at least get back to his 2016 form, when he caught 33 passes for 499 yards and three touchdowns.
“We certainly had higher expectations for Perriman,” Bisciotti said. “If he had taken his third year and improved on his second year, which we were very pleased with 33 for 500 … So he started to look like the player we were looking for.”
The fans might not be as optimistic.
In addition to wide receiver, Newsome will also be closely monitoring the market for a tight end. That unit has been hampered with injuries over the past three years and needs an upgrade.
The Ravens have been most closely linked to Jimmy Graham, who worked out with the team prior to the 2010 NFL Draft. If Graham leaves Seattle, he would be a nice fit in Baltimore, especially if Benjamin Watson decides to retire.
The Ravens need a sure-handed tight end to support quarterback Joe Flacco and Graham caught 57 passes for 520 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He was also durable, appearing in all 16 games. On the downside, Graham is 31 years old and has dealt with injuries.
Nonetheless, Newsome could face tough competition for the five-time Pro Bowler, with the Green Bay Packers also expected to make a strong bid for his services. The Ravens could also consider several other free agents, including Trey Burton, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and possibly Tyler Eifert, who might be too big of an injury risk.
[Related: 2018 Draft Prospects at Tight End]
Looking behind enemy lines, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a tough decision to make on running back Le’Veon Bell, who played last season under the franchise tag. Bell was third in the league with 1,291 yards on 321 carries with nine touchdowns.
Bell has expressed some disappointment with the status of his contract and could be with a new team next season. While the Ravens likely won’t make a play for him, it would be nice for then to get a top playmaker out of the AFC North.
If Pittsburgh does not work out a new deal or place another franchise tag on him, Bell would become an unrestricted free agent on March 14. He would have plenty of suitors, and the Ravens will be happy to see him gone.
