The Baltimore Ravens have finally done what fans have been clamoring for since the team first arrived in 1996. By taking two wide receivers in the first three rounds of the 2019 NFL draft, Baltimore has made a firm commitment to quarterback Lamar Jackson and their offense.
And it’s easy to say, Jackson is one of the early winners from the 2019 NFL draft.
The Ravens did very little to surround former franchise quarterback Joe Flacco with talent over 11 years with the team. More often than not, Baltimore would look for bargain-basement wide receivers in free agency while focusing on defense. The end result was a string of stop-gap fixes and abject failures around a guy the Ravens paid around $147.8 million to lead the offense.
With Eric DeCosta running the show as Baltimore’s new general manager, he doesn’t appear too eager to repeat that mistake with Jackson. So in DeCosta’s very first NFL draft as the team’s general manager, he’s double dipped at wide receiver. In the first round was Oklahoma speedster Marquise Brown. In the third round was big-bodied Notre Dame wide receiver Miles Boykin. Combined with slot receiver Willie Snead and the Ravens’ wide receiver depth chart is looking more competent than we’ve seen it in years.
In 23 previous drafts, Baltimore has selected just seven wide receivers in the first three rounds. In just one draft under DeCosta and Jackson as the starter, the Ravens have added two more. That’s quite the culture change.
While Jackson has been working on his mechanics this offseason, Baltimore has invested in his future. It’s all on Jackson’s shoulders at this point to turn four recent wide receiver selections into at least an average passing attack.
