Kamar Aiken had a stellar 2015 season only to disappear last season, but he is the type of receiver the Baltimore Ravens say they are searching for.
The Baltimore Ravens have been linked to pretty much every receiver to put on pads. As long as you have a pair of hands, the Ravens probably want you. It is no secret that one of the Ravens biggest needs coming into next year is wide receiver. It will almost certainly be addressed by Ozzie Newsome and company.
During the “State of the Ravens” press conference, Newsome said the team were looking for a complementary receiver. Assistant GM Eric DeCosta helped elaborate that phrase, saying:
"“I think we’re looking for a guy that can catch the ball, move the chains and get critical first downs when needed”"
So basically, a possession receiver. A guy that Joe can trust as his safety blanket. Someone that can go up and make contested catches when the Ravens need to keep a drive going. Steve Smith Sr. was good last year, but we still missed that Anquan Boldin type of receiver that DeCosta was referring to.
In an injury-riddled 2015 campaign, Baltimore did have one receiver step up and do these things. Kamar Aiken was truly the only receiver on the squad to stay consistently healthy throughout that year and he ended up becoming the team’s No. 1 receiver.
In 2015, Aiken amassed 944 yards on 75 receptions and 5 touchdowns. He was targeted a whopping 127 times. The former undrafted free agent had made a name for himself. Coming into the 2016 season, he was reasonably excited for an even bigger role. Unfortunately, with Breshad Perriman coming back healthy and the signing of Mike Wallace, Aiken took a back seat.
Aiken finished the 2016 with 328 yards on just 29 receptions. He was frustrated at the end of the year, and rightfully so. The disappointment is justified, as the Ravens were a pass-happy offense. Even without a great (or even good) receiver or an elite quarterback, the Ravens still threw it over 600 times. At his end of the year interview, it sounded doubtful the Ravens would bring him back.
While Baltimore has been linked to many receivers, (i.e. Brandon Marshall, Terrelle Pryor, Pierre Garçon) the type of receiver they say they are searching for may not be too far away. Kamar Aiken doesn’t have great speed, but he has a great pair of hands. He is a sure target for Flacco to go to and he has also showed that he can stay healthy. He hasn’t been inactive for a game in 3 straight seasons.
The Bottom Line:
While Kamar Aiken isn’t getting the same buzz as free agents like Rick Wagner and Brandon Williams, he still deserves some attention. The Ravens should really consider bringing him back. They can get a receiver they are looking for at a relatively cheap price and Aiken can show why they should’ve used him more last year.
Next: Free Agency: Why Losing Rick Wagner Isn’t End Of The World
While it doesn’t look very promising the team will get a deal done with Aiken, they should. He is generating interest from several teams so far. They see what the Ravens should see, a young, good receiver that can be relied on year in and year out.