With all the uncertainty surrounding the 2019 Baltimore Ravens, it would be nice if we could fix just one thing of our choice wouldn’t it? Well, the NFL genie has spoken and he’s granted us one wish, so I narrowed it down to my top 3:
NOTE: The idea for this Baltimore Ravens wish list exercise came from our boys on the Around The NFL Podcast who went around the league granting teams one wish from the “NFL Genie”.
Wish #1 – Guarantee Marquise (Hollywood) Brown becomes a superstar:
How amazing would it be for Ravens fans if Baltimore finally produced a homegrown superstar at the wide receiver position? After years of recycling aging veteran’s on bargain deals and watching first round talents bust, it would almost be too good to be true. Marquise Brown has yet to hit the practice field due to Lisfranc foot surgery he had in January so we have no idea what he looks like running around in the purple and black.
Brown becoming a superstar would go a long way in the development of Lamar Jackson and the offense Greg Roman is trying to install. Heck, it would even make his nickname “Hollywood” all that more fitting. I would envision his stardom similar to peak DeSean Jackson, but a little better. DeSean Jackson’s best season came in 2013 when he hauled in 82 catches, 1,332 yards and 9 receiving touchdowns according to NFL.com and anything close to that from Hollywood would suffice most Ravens fans, I’d hope.
Wish #2 – Give Lamar Jackson the accuracy of Drew Brees:
Arguably, there isn’t a more accurate quarterback in the NFL than New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. The biggest knock on Lamar Jackson is his throw accuracy, especially outside the hash marks. Give Jackson the accuracy of Brees and oh man… this offense would be fireworks. Lamar Jackson would likely become the most dynamic quarterback of all time and almost impossible to game plan for given his added electric running ability. Jackson already has the arm strength, so pairing that with pinpoint accuracy would do wonders for not just himself, but the offense as a whole.
Improved accuracy would also remove 80% of Jackson’s critics which would be a relief to Ravens fans since it’s his most popular talking point for the media. Additionally, improved accuracy would serve well for the receiving corps which consists of Hollywood Brown (R), Miles Boykin (R), Willie Snead, Chris Moore and a list of roster bubble players. With a lot of unknown at the receiver position, this would make it easier to spot and develop play-maker’s.
Wish #3 – Injury Free 2019 Season
There is nothing worse than watching one of your star players go down with a season ending injury and with this we wouldn’t have to see that, at least for the 2019 season. The Ravens also have a long history when it comes to season ending injuries and have been atop the league when it comes to players landing on the IR. It was just a few years ago when the cornerback depth was so depleted due to injury the Ravens were signing players off the streets on a weekly basis.
It’s no coincidence that the reigning Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots were 26th in the league with players on IR for the 2018 season. Most of the teams who make it far into the playoffs are also teams who had a healthy season. Having an injury free 2019 season would be one step closer to the ultimate goal of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
Final Decision:
If I could only pick one of the three wishes I would have to go with giving Lamar Jackson the accuracy of Drew Brees. Like I mentioned above, improving Jackson’s accuracy would have a ripple effect on the entire team. The wide receivers would improve, the running backs would have bigger holes to run through, and Greg Roman would have the worlds playbook at his fingertips.
Teams having to account for Jackson’s arm and legs with equal focus would benefit Mark Ingram almost as much as the receivers. This wish would also be a two-in-one special because Jackson’s improved accuracy would almost guarantee Marquise Brown becomes a superstar barring any injury.