The Ravens need to add weapons for Lamar Jackson
By John Buhler
The Baltimore Ravens are already championship-caliber, but they need to add a few more offensive weapons to help Lamar Jackson get over the playoff hump.
Lamar Jackson will get by with a little help from his friends.
Though he doesn’t need much more, the Baltimore Ravens’ MVP quarterback could use a player or two to help make his offense more dynamic. The plus-one offensive attack under offensive coordinator Greg Roman worked wonders during the regular season, but was no match for the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Divisional round.
Jackson already has a few excellent offensive weapons to work with. In the backfield, he has fellow Heisman Trophy winner in Pro Bowl running back Mark Ingram Jr. In the receiving corps, he has Marquise Brown and Willie Snead, along with Mark Andrews at tight end. However, the Ravens could use a piece or two to make this offensive arsenal even more impressive.
If Baltimore wanted to address this in free agency, it may not be easy. The Ravens are below league average in available cap space at roughly $31 million. They might be able to go with an underappreciated wide receiver or bet on an undervalued running back they don’t think is quite on the decline yet.
Frankly, if the Ravens want to get Jackson another good weapon or two, then they are best served by addressing this in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft. Baltimore has seven picks this spring, including three in the top 100. With this being arguably the deepest receiving class in NFL Draft history, Baltimore could get Jackson a terrific wideout in any of the first three rounds.
At this juncture, we know what we’re getting out of Ingram and Snead in the Ravens offense. Andrews is coming off an excellent season. Perhaps the former John Mackey Award winner can get better in year three out of Oklahoma? Brown will only be in his second year, so he could pop in 2020 for the Ravens. But we have to believe Baltimore needs one more piece.
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Fortunately, the Ravens are in a great spot in the draft to take a wide receiver and possibly a running back with two of their first three selections in the draft.
This team is so close, but the right offensive additions could be what it takes to get the Ravens playing in an AFC Championship game again.