The idea of Lamar Jackson to the Ravens at No. 16 is picking up steam in the mock draft universe. It’s an interesting idea given Assistant Head Coach Greg Roman’s experiences with mobile quarterbacks and successful implementations of the run-pass-option (“RPO”) offense. Jackson’s style could provide a spark to the Ravens bland, boring style of offense, something fans have long yearned for.
But I’m just not feeling!
Such quarterbacks never seem to win much of anything. They may find success for a couple of years until opponents figure them out. Colin Kaepernick can’t get on the plus side of the performance v. baggage equation because the league caught up to him. RG III can’t stay healthy and let’s face it, playing with the big boys that is a major occupational risk for such players.
Besides, that electric style inherent in the Louisville Cardinal’s game would only be seen during the preseason. Jackson would spend his workdays carrying a clipboard, and on the surface, that represents wasted draft capital considering John Harbaugh is in a make or break season.
Or so we think.
I’ll say this, if the Ravens do turn Jackson’s card during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, it is likely an indication that Harbaugh has been quietly given a contract extension. That said, the bet here is that the Ravens are showing interest in Jackson publicly for two reasons. One, they may have interest in Round 2 or 3 if he slips and secondly, to serve as a red herring with the hope that other teams may want to move up to acquire pick No. 16.
JOE FLACCO: THE NEXT ALEX SMITH?
As a starter for the Kansas City Chiefs, Alex Smith compiled a record of 50-26 during 5 seasons in the barbeque capital. And as you know the 33-year old signal caller was traded to the Washington Redskins this offseason for up-and-coming CB Kendall Fuller and a third-round pick. That’s quite a haul for a quarterback that was about to be phased out for 2017’s tenth overall pick, Patrick Mahomes.
If the Ravens invest early draft capital in a quarterback and they are using Andy Reid‘s brilliant tactical maneuvering as a blue print to unload a veteran quarterback, do you think the market will yield a similar return for the 33-year old Flacco? It’s possible but both Smith and Flacco will need to have very good seasons if the Ravens plan to mimic the Chiefs. A bad season by either will drive down any offering price.
But if both do have fine seasons and the Reid-esque plan has in fact been implemented, a few potential landing spots for Flacco could be: New Orleans (if Brees retires); Tampa (if Winston continues to struggle); Arizona (if Bradford is hurt again); Miami (if Tannehill flops in 2018); Indianapolis (if Luck is hurt again); and Jacksonville (if Bortles reverts back to being Bortles).
DRAFTING A RUNNING BACK
It would be a mild surprise if the Ravens select a running back before Day 3 of the 2018 NFL Draft. Alex Collins performed well in 2017 as did Buck Allen, plus the promising Kenneth Dixon returns from a meniscus tear. That said, I do expect the team to make a play for a third-down back – one who can affect the passing game and put pressure on linebackers with his speed and/or his change of direction skills. A couple of such players that I’ll be keeping an eye on are:
D’Ernest Johnson, RB, South Florida
Height: 5-10. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.54.
Jaylen Samuels, FB, N.C. State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 223.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
SPREADING THE LOVE, AKA MONEY
A highly valued and respected member of RSR’s forums is SawRaven1. Saw dug into Spotrac.com to see how the Ravens employ their cap dollars relative to other teams. He uncovered some interesting details:
Ravens Cap Resources Allocated to Offense
* Rank: 32nd
* 35.69% of the cap roughly $61 million. (This is with the highly debated over paid Joe Flacco) Minus that contract offensive spending drops to $36 million
* NFL average on offense is $85 million
Ravens Cap Resources Allocated to Defense
* Rank: 5th
* $90 Million, 53.24% of the cap
* NFL average on defense is $77 million
Ravens Cap Resources Allocated to Special Teams
* Rank: 1st
* $9.7 Million, 5.6% of the cap
Other Categories of Note
* Money spent on the QB position: 9th highest in the league at $25 million.
* Money spent on the secondary: Ravens rank 1st at $46 million.
* Money spent on Offensive Line: Ravens rank 30th at $23 million, 13.70% of the cap
* Money spent on the WR position: Ravens rank 29th at $13 million, 8.0% of the cap
* Money spent on the TE position: Ravens rank 31st at $2.7 million, 1.62% of the cap
Ravens GM in waiting, Eric Decosta, is committed to fixing the cap.
The areas above might be a good place to start.
