The Baltimore Ravens are probably going to be shopping for a wide receiver in the initial NFL Free Agency period. The Ravens need a quality receiver to pair with Marquise Brown, something that just about nobody on planet earth can dispute.
So the question isn’t what are the Ravens’ options. Let’s get past the multiple of the word. What’s the definitive option. The choice that makes the most sense, for the right price? It isn’t Allen Robinson. He’s the best player at the worst price, Chris Godwin is right there with him on that.
Kenny Golladay is probably getting the franchise tag and is just a little more affordable. He’s not setting the market, but he’s going to be living comfortably.
If you had to pick out of the next crop who would you take? Marvin Jones is an option, but I’m going to be Goldilocks about this, just right is the requirement. If I’m Eric DeCosta and I can’t get just right at wide receiver, I am more than happy to pay for some pass rush.
The name that fits is Corey Davis. You may remember that when Corey Davis came out of Western Michigan, I was about as high as you can be on a player. Did he turn out to be the superstar I thought he would be? No. Did he take that perfect frame and those great athletic traits and become a rock-solid player? Yes.
Spotrac.com has Corey Davis’s estimated market value at just under $10 million a season. They predict about a four-year $40 million deal. That’s a price the Ravens can afford. They get a rock-solid player at a rock-solid price. Even if that estimate is a bit low, it’s going to be in the realm of the very possible for Eric DeCosta.
On a side note, thanks to Vasilis Lericos from Baltimore Beatdown. His breakdown of the spotrac.com salary projections got me thinking about this article. He’s also a good follow, so I don’t mind giving a cross brand tip of the cap to him.
@spotrac FA contract projections (WR):
— Vasilis (@VasilisBeatdown) February 19, 2021
Samuel 4/$48M
Robinson 5/100
Golladay 5/93
Marvin 2/18
Fuller 5/85
Hilton 2/22
Watkins 2/20
JJSS 5/80
Godwin 5/90
Davis 4/42
Who do you covet #RavensFlock ?
Davis had 65 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games this past season. If he played a full 16 game slate, we’re talking about a player who just had his first 1,000-yard season. Davis is a player looking for his second contract, the lights are on and a more dynamic future could be home.
Davis has been a big-play weapon so far in his NFL career. In 2020 he averaged 15.1 yards per reception and his career average is 13.8.
At worst the Ravens would be getting a receiver that’s dramatically better than anybody they have not named Marquise Brown. They’d be potentially getting a number one receiver with his best football in front of him.
Whether Brown or Davis was the top receiver is really not important. What is important is that they are a great combination. If Brown is Simon, Davis is Garfunkel. If Brown is Lennon, Davis is McCartney. They’re different receivers that should work well in tandem.
Having Davis and Brown on opposite sides will balance out the Ravens’ entire offense. The Ravens would have two guys on the outside who could win one on one matchups and the defense has to respect on any route, short or deep. Mark Andrews in the middle all of a sudden is a little less easy to focus on.
On a very basic level, it is easy to understand that Davis and the Ravens are a perfect match. Davis even comes from a run-first offense and he did most of his eating at wide receiver on play-action passes. He’s big and tough. It’s a match.
The Bottom Line:
Davis is not the top option, he’s the best option. Scratch that, he’s the option. He’s just right.
Davis is going to be in the price range that allows this offseason to work. He’s a safe option that has huge potential upside. He’s a perfect fit in Baltimore. This move should be a priority.