Ravens John Harbaugh says it’s time to see how the team’s young receivers can perform.
GM Eric DeCosta has invested numerous draft picks to attain wideouts and now they will have an opportunity to shine.
The Ravens have thus far opted not to add a veteran wideout after Marquise Brown, a first-round pick in 2016, was traded to the Arizona Cardinals. DeCosta was able to land Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum with the first-round pick the Ravens got back from that trade.
The Ravens also might have a sour taste in their mouth after signing veteran wide receiver Sammy Watkins last season. While Watkins did have some clutch receptions, he seemed to disappear or not play at a high level in all of the games in which he appeared.
This will create a chance for the Ravens’ young wideouts to make an impact. The onus is on them to perform.
“I think at some point in time, you’ve got to put guys out there,” Harbaugh said. “We all like to cling to the known, the names, whatever it might be, and the opportunity to throw those guys out there and see how they do … I can tell you this, they’re working really hard. I mean, they understand the situation, and I think they’re making the most of it.
“They’ve been here, really being honest with you, for almost months now. They’ve been here from the beginning working extremely hard every day.”
If Lamar was returning to a familiar group on offense, concerns about missed #Ravens OTA's wouldn't be as salient. But w/ new RB's unfamiliar w/ the mesh pt. exchange, a new center & unproven WR's w/ which he hasn't spent enough time, the missed practices are opportunity costs. pic.twitter.com/2eFsJocA81
— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) May 26, 2022
The Ravens are counting on Rashod Bateman, a first-round pick last year, to become the No 1 option for quarterback Lamar Jackson. Bateman missed the first five games of the season after undergoing groin surgery. He was one of the Ravens’ best offensive players when he returned to the lineup and finished with 46 receptions for 515 yards and a touchdown.
“I’m just glad I got out healthy,” Bateman said. “I feel like I’m going into the offseason strong so I can work on the things that I need to work on to come back next year and have a better chance of performing at a higher level. My rookie season, it went OK in my opinion, coming back from injury and working my way back. I’m just thankful to be here, be a part of this organization, and I’m looking forward to the future.”
Devin Duvernay, a Pro Bowl pick as a returner last season, will also get more opportunities to make plays downfield. James Proche and Tylan Wallace will compete for that spot as a third option.
The Ravens also have undrafted wide receivers competing for roster spots. The group includes Makai Polk (Mississippi State), Slade Bolden (Alabama), Trevon Clark (California), and Devon Williams (Oregon) to compete for jobs.
Bolden is also a dominant special teams player and he could compete for the top job as a returner, especially if Duvernay focuses more on being an offensive player.
DeCosta is bullish on this young group of wide receivers, but they have to show they can perform consistently on a daily basis.
“We took ‘Bate’ [Rashod Bateman] last year; he was our first-round guy, and I think he’s going to show you why,” GM Eric DeCosta said. “Devin, we have a theory that guys that end up playing on special teams and being really good special teams players end up being really good position players. We think Devin is a great young player. We took Tylan last year, and kind of the same thing. He’s a young player and we were very excited to get him last year. He’s a guy last year that we got in the fourth round, that we probably would have taken a round and a half earlier last year.
“Then we have James, and James made a jump last year and made some critical plays in games.”
