Baltimore Ravens: Evaluating Kamar Aiken’s Role
With little talent around him in the receiving corps, Kamar Aiken was asked to step up in the 2015 season. Once Steve Smith Sr. went down Aiken became the go to player in the passing game.
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It was a big shift for Aiken who couldn’t have envisioned such a large role on the offense. Going into his fifth season in the NFL and second with the Ravens, the UCF receiver had only 24 receptions. He accumulated 75 more receptions on his resume. In his 75 catch season Aiken had 944 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Before Aiken was a growing player, who had worked his way up the ladder with strong performance on special teams. He was a unkown commodity. Now his game is very known. The question is whar is Kamar Aiken moving forward.
He may have been forced into the number one receiver role last season but that’s not how he measures up. Going into the season I thought he was a solid number three, a slot receiver that could make some plays. Now I think Aiken can be a decent number two.
In the dream scenario Steve Smith Sr. comes back better than ever and Breshad Perriman finally plays and is a game changer (The Ravens could still draft a game changing receiver). This would make Aiken the third best receiver. He would be in a role in which he is over qualified rather than stretching him so thin like the Ravens did in 2015.
I have little doubt that the restricted free agent will return to the Ravens. He won’t cost that much at all. Most likely he will have a solid contribution to the offense. I see him as a 50 catch receiver with more help around him. His stats may go down as Flacco will spread the ball around. His impact could go up.
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Aiken made a statement in 2015. He is a receiver who put his career on the right track. Aiken finally got his shot and at the very least he showed he belongs.