The Baltimore Ravens wide receiver situation is exciting, but it’s easy to get carried away. The Ravens don’t even have to keep six wide receivers:
The Baltimore Ravens could end up just keeping the five wide receivers that are somewhat known commodities. The five receivers who have a roster spot all locked up aren’t really a mystery and injury is the only thing that can really change their situation. Willie Snead, Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin, Chris Moore and Seth Roberts are the players who are practically locks to make the team.
What do the Ravens really have outside of this group? They have a bunch of players who haven’t done anything in a regular season football game. Jaleel Scott and Antoine Wesley have about the same skill-set. They are probably the last two receivers on the chopping block and neither has really separated themselves.
The Ravens are going to have a run based offense. Baltimore is one of the few teams where keeping four running backs and a fullback makes more sense than keeping six or seven receivers. All three of the Ravens tight ends (Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle and Hayden Hurst) figure to be heavily involved.
All of the running backs can contribute in the passing game as receivers, especially Mark Ingram and Justice Hill. Jackson isn’t going to run out of targets if the Ravens keep five wide receivers. The Ravens have a handful of players they don’t want to cut. Unless Scott or Wesley offer special teams value, they are not going to be doing much on Sundays.
The Ravens are going to lean on Snead, because he is a reliable target that Jackson trusts. Marquise Brown has a ability unlike anybody else on the roster. Miles Boykin has impressed in the preseason and he could be a big part of the plan moving forward. Chris Moore is a player that is great on special teams and has been teasing bigger things at wide receiver.
If healthy, Seth Roberts is a speedy receiver and the Ravens seem high on him. He’s missed some time this preseason so it all comes down to whether or not he’s good to go. If he’s healthy he should have a roster spot. That’s the five best receivers the Ravens have and it’s not even close.
There is one reason why this line of thinking really makes sense. It is doubtful that Antoine Wesley or Jaleel Scott get claimed by another team if they go on the practice squad. The Ravens don’t have a reputation for developing wide receivers. Wesley was an undrafted free agent, who has made one highlight play in the preseason. Scott isn’t on most radars either. These are exciting players to grow and develop, but that may not have to be done on the 53 man roster.
The wide receiver battle is intense because there may not even be a spot up for grabs. It’s something to think about as the preseason is halfway over.