Miles Boykin is entering a key year with the Baltimore Ravens

There is a lot of noise coming from RavensWorld that the team needs to obtain a big-time, physical X receiver who can elevate the team’s passing game and, with that, transform the Ravens from postseason heartbreakers to postseason dream makers. I get it. I do.

Adding a game-changer would no doubt make things easier for the growth of quarterback Lamar Jackson, free up a lot of the attention on both receiver Marquise Brown and tight end Mark Andrews, and, logically, would relieve some of that defensive traffic upfront, freeing up the Ravens potent running attack.

There is absolutely no arguing any of this. Getting a star receiver would make all of this come true.

But, and hear me out here, what if the Ravens already have a talented guy who can fill that position, and focusing on his development could allow them to fix and strengthen the offensive line (a gigantic priority), while adding pass-rush help and other, maybe less-significant, contributors?

Let me throw Miles Boykin’s name out there.

I get it. He’s been frustrating in terms of developing a rapport with Jackson, consistently hanging on to the ball, and becoming that physical presence in the red zone who should be able to take advantage of opportunities provided by that aforementioned running game, and the attention placed on Andrews and Brown.

But he’s also going into his third year as a receiver — often a big year for the growth of a receiver in the NFL — and he’s getting new voices this season in the form of Tee Martin as receivers’ coach, and pass-game specialist Keith Williams.

We all have seen his effort in blocking, as well as the videos of his offseason work last season, so we can safely assume (as much as one can from the outside looking in) that he’s a hard worker. Throw in what we believe will be a “normal” offseason this year, and there is a reason for some optimism.

Using Pro Football reference as a source, there are plenty of examples of accomplished receivers who used their third season as a springboard to future success in the league.

• Green Bay’s Davante Adams combined for 929 yards and four touchdowns over his first two seasons and bumped to 997 yards and 12 touchdowns in his third.
• Minnesota’s Adam Thielen jumped from a combined 281 yards and one touchdown in his first two seasons to 967 yards and five touchdowns in his third.
• Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin had more success in his first two seasons — posting 1,367 yards and eight touchdowns, but he really exploded in that third year, generating 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns.
• In the AFC North, Cincinnati Bengal’s receiver Tyler Boyd put up 828 yards and three touchdowns in two years, before jumping to 1,028 yards and seven touchdowns.

There is precedence, and Boykin has all the athletic talent in the world to do the same.

In fact, Boykin made a huge jump in his third year at Notre Dame. After putting up 334 yards and three touchdowns in his first two collegiate seasons, Boykin threw up 872 yards and eight touchdowns in his third. Sometimes, things just click.

And I’d argue that between the new coaches, his continued growth in understanding the offense and self-confidence, and a full offseason to work with Jackson, Boykin could be primed for a leap this season.

Boykin has put up 464 yards and seven touchdowns in his first two years in the league. Not great numbers, even in a run-heavy offense that often favors tight ends. But what if these elements combine to jump his production to 700 yards and six touchdowns this season? Would you hold optimism for him going into Year 4? The whole narrative changes then, right?

If the Ravens are in love with a receiver in the draft who falls to them, then by all means sweep him up without thinking. The same goes for a free agent they believe can truly change their fortunes. But let’s not throw out a talented, hard-working Miles Boykin because he hasn’t taken the league by storm in his first two years in the league.