Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome is interested in trading for Miami receiver Jarvis Landry, but the combination of paying a high salary and giving up a high draft pick probably makes him hesitant in doing a deal.
But the Ravens need to be aggressive. If they can get him for a fourth- or even third-round selection and a four-year contract worth from $50 million to $52 million, then the Ravens should sign Landry.
Right now Landry, 25, is big news and big trade bait around the NFL. The Dolphins have agreed to tender him with the franchise tag, which will pay $16.2 million next season. It's been reported that Landry no longer wants to be in Miami and the Dolphins don't want him in Miami, either.
So, he's on the market. Other teams reported to have interest are the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears. And like those teams, the Ravens need to seriously upgrade their receiver corps.
Newsome made that assessment again last week at the NFL's college scouting combine in Indianapolis. So, if they overpay a little, it's not a big deal, especially considering their previous failures to develop a No. 1 receiver in the draft.
The Ravens need to be careful. They want to improve but not where it sets the organization back for years with a costly contract. But Landry would make the Ravens better. In four seasons, he has been to three Pro Bowls and has 400 receptions for 4,038 yards and 22 touchdowns.
This guy has attitude, sometimes too much of it. He is as fiery as Steve Smith and as nasty as Anquan Boldin. He'll run over a linebacker as easily as he'll take on a defensive back, or balk at his offensive coordinator as easily as an official.
Is Landry a top-notch wide receiver?
No, certainly not in the class with his best friend, New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr, or Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown or Cincinnati's A.J. Green, each of whom will make over $15 million next season. All of those guys can blow by cornerbacks and open up a defense. Landry is 5-feet-11 and has spent a lot of time in the slot. He's only averaged about 10 yards a catch but that's partially because of scheme and the quarterbacks who have played in Miami.
But when it comes to red-zone production or extending drives, few have done it better recently than Landry.
The Ravens need to go after him hard. Their failures in developing a top-notch receiver are starting to haunt this organization. Alabama's Calvin Ridley, college football's top receiver, might not be available when the Ravens select at No. 16 and there are some experts who claim he isn't worthy of a top 20 pick.
The Ravens don't need to add another veteran receiver on the downside of his career. Derrick Mason and Steve Smith worked out well, but Mike Wallace was really only a No. 2 receiver and Jeremy Maclin was a major disappointment.
And now names like former Raven Torrey Smith and Tavon Austin are surfacing as possible receivers for the Ravens to sign.
The Ravens need to find a receiver in his prime. This is a critical time period for this organization. The Ravens haven't been to the playoffs for three straight years and four out of the last five seasons.
In the last two years, they have only been two plays away from the postseason, and after each season, there have been demands to supply quarterback Joe Flacco with a big-time wide receiver.
The Ravens reportedly are close to the salary cap, but there are ways to circumvent the cap. It just requires some creativity. That's what the Ravens need now in dealing with Landry.
They need to be aggressive and forceful and tell Landry how far the 49ers, Browns and Bears are from being a contender and how the Ravens are possibly one player away.
That player could be Landry.
