Free agent wide receiver Donte Moncrief could be a perfect fit for the Baltimore Ravens this offseason.
The Baltimore Ravens, as of now, have possibly the worst receiving corps in all of football. The team is likely looking for a complete revamp of the group. Right now, the only wide receiver s currently under contract are Breshad Perriman and Chris Moore. Baltimore is also very low on cap room, so that comes as a restriction on their search for playmakers. Great players cost money, and the organization doesn’t have a lot of it.
However, that is where DonteMoncrief comes in:
One free agent match that’s worth watching as we get into next week: #Colts WR Donte Moncrief and the #Ravens. Baltimore is revamping its receiving corps and Moncrief should sign a nice 1-year deal. Could he be this year’s Alshon Jeffery?
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 6, 2018
This is an interesting take by Rapoport and one that no one has mentioned much. The big-named players such as Jarvis Landry, Allen Robinson, and Sammy Watkins have been the talk around Baltimore. However, those players will probably cost more than the Ravens currently have in cap-space. The team can always create more cap space of course, but Moncrief would cost less than half of what the top receivers will make.
Moncrief is a playmaker that the Ravens have been missing. He is a big-bodied player with strong hands. Flacco hasn’t had a great red-zone threat since probably Anquan Boldin, which is exactly what Moncrief can be. He can go and get the 50-50 balls and make tough catches for first downs.
The former Colt is also only 24 years old. Baltimore has long gotten free agent receivers on the back end of their careers. Boldin, Jeremy Maclin, Steve Smith Sr., and Mike Wallace are all aging players who were no longer wanted by their former team. Some of them worked out, but younger and more explosive players are much more intriguing for the team.
However, there is a reason a great talent like Moncrief will come so cheaply. In the past 2 seasons, he has missed a total of 11 games. Availability is always the best ability and the Ravens are entering a crucial season. After missing the playoffs for three straight years, everyone in the organization is feeling the heat. Spending money on an injury prone player might not be the best option.
However, Moncrief may be too good of a talent to pass up. In 2016, he scored seven touchdowns in just nine games. As for 2017, his numbers dropped significantly due to poor quarterback play. In Baltimore, he will be playing with a proven quarterback that has the capability to get him the deep ball.
Moncrief shouldn’t cost a lot, so he is a low-risk, high-reward option for the team. It gives Joe Flacco a really good weapon in the red zone as well as a safety blanket on third downs. As for Moncrief, he finally gets to play with a well-run organization and a playoff competitor.
Next: Baltimore Ravens: The case for and against acquiring Tavon Austin
Baltimore is looking for playmakers to finally put them over the hump. Is Donte Moncrief a guy that can help take them to January?