Baltimore Ravens 2020 season outlook: Willie Snead

Marquise Brown headlines the Baltimore Ravens wide receiving core, but steady veteran Willie Snead will once again be prominent in the passing game in 2020.

Two years ago when the Baltimore Ravens signed Willie Snead it was expected that he would be an important piece to a completely rebuilt wide receiving core. Baltimore also signed John Brown and Michael Crabtree that offseason, but Snead was the only one to last more than one season in Charm City. Snead now enters his third year with the Ravens and is the most experienced receiver on the roster.

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What should we expect from the 27-year old in 2020?

For starters, it’s important to note that Willie Snead will not be the star of the show here. The title goes to Marquise Brown, who will be looking to prove his value as a first-round pick after a promising rookie season. Snead is the unquestioned no.2 receiver on the roster after Brown, so we can expect to see him on the field more often than not.

Snead will find success as the team’s slot receiver, just as he did his last two years in Baltimore. From that spot, Snead provides a safety blanket for Lamar Jackson to dump the ball off underneath. While he isn’t the most creative guy after the catch, Snead is a chain-mover.

Where Willie Snead’s true value comes in is in the little things like run blocking and accountability. Snead has proven himself to be someone more than willing to block for this run-heavy offense and is one of the league’s best at it. Snead is also someone who holds himself and others accountable for their parts in the offense. He may not be the vocal leader, but he’s someone who you can entrust to be a silent leader.

Asking Willie Snead to be a 1,000-yard receiver is entirely unfair, especially in this Ravens offense. Even expecting him to lead the team in receiving yards isn’t reasonable. Instead, look for Snead to be the savvy veteran this young receiving core needs and lead by example. It won’t show up on the stat sheet, but we can absolutely expect him to once again be a dog as a run blocker.

Simply put, Willie Snead is a team-first player that will produce for the Baltimore Ravens quietly and behind the scenes. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable more often than not and someone the franchise can trust to be a leader.

Willie Snead 2020 projected stats: 35 receptions, 400-yards, three touchdowns