Sammy Watkins is expected to sign with the Baltimore Ravens according to a report by Josina Anderson Here are three big things to think about:
1. It’s a smart move that can’t hurt
This is a smart move by the Baltimore Ravens. At this point, it is about the only free agent signing at the wide receiver position that makes a lick of sense. Watkins is a good receiver when he’s healthy. He’s not a superstar and he’s not a number one wide receiver. The Ravens have been telegraphing all offseason that a number one receiver wasn’t in the cards.
The Ravens could not get away with ignoring the position group so a solid number two receiver was the next logical move. Sammy Watkins only played in 10 games last season and he still had 37 receptions.
It’s worth noting in the Monday Night Football game against the Ravens, Watkins had seven receptions for 62 yards. The year before, Watkins had five receptions against Baltimore. The Ravens have seen firsthand that he’s not a chump. Does Watkins have some mileage on him? Yes. We’re talking about a one-year deal that can’t hurt.
This move at the minimum gives the Ravens a receiver opposite of Marquise Brown that’s better than Miles Boykin. In the best-case scenario, Watkins catches 50 passes and helps Brown be a more productive receiver. In the Ravens’ unique offense, landing anywhere in the middle will mean the Ravens got their money’s worth.
If you’re a Ravens fan that isn’t excited about this move, you’ve had plenty of time to temper your expectations with the Ravens’ receiver search. Secondly, this move can’t hurt. It’s an insurance policy at wide receiver. The Ravens don’t need to draft a receiver in the first round. They aren’t desperate at the position, even if they need to continue developing the talent there.
2. Edge rusher unequivocally becomes the Ravens’ biggest need
Now that the receiver position has been at least addressed the Ravens have one area of desperate need. Baltimore has enough at the wide receiver position to be functional. Brown, Watkins, and Duvernay sounds like a plan. Brown, Boykin, and Duvernay seemed like less of one. Boykin still has a chance to surprise Baltimore. James Proche still has a chance to get his career going.
If the Ravens didn’t sign Watkins they would be forced to spend early draft capital on a wide receiver. Watkins can make just enough of an impact where the Ravens can wait to the second or third round to get a wide receiver. If Rashod Bateman is there, this move doesn’t prevent Eric DeCosta from taking the receiver of the Ravens-Flock’s dreams.
This move just means the Ravens aren’t desperate at the position. The edge rusher position becomes the primary focus for the rest of the offseason. The Ravens have Tyus Bowser and Jaylon Ferguson returning at outside linebacker. Bringing back Pernell McPhee was a nice touch, but that’s not a lot to bank on.
There isn’t a position close to the level of desperation as the outside linebacker spot. Think about it. The offense is fairly set unless Orlando Brown Jr. gets traded. Quarterback, running backs and tight ends weren’t a questionable area for the team. The wide receiver group may be an area with some doubt, but at least it’s not screaming at you anymore.
The defense has most of the pieces. The secondary is set up for the most part. The Ravens drafted two inside linebackers last year, one of them in the first round. The defensive line is for the most part returning intact. The edge rusher is the one glaring hole for the defense.
The Ravens lost two starters (Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue), and a low-key contributor in Jihad Ward. Even if Tyus Bowser has a breakout year this is the biggest position group of need on the depth chart This should be where the Ravens go in the first round, unless a player falls that they can’t pass up.
3. This doesn’t mean the Ravens are done and Watkins won’t get in the way:
Signing Watkins doesn’t mean the Ravens are set at the wide receiver position. They still have a responsibility to continue drafting for the position. Watkins doesn’t necessarily provide a future. He’s here for the now and the Ravens will see from there. If the Ravens aren’t content at wide receiver there are always trade possibilities.
This move doesn’t mean the Ravens gave up on Miles Boykin. It does however mean they know they can’t put all their eggs in the Boykin basket. The Ravens may look to draft that big-bodied and reliable target that they were hoping to get from the former Notre Dame wide-out. While this calms things down and reduces the swelling of the Ravens need, the Ravens still need to build a receiver position.
What’s good about this move is that it doesn’t get in the way. Watkins is a receiver that’s not like the other receivers the Ravens employ. He’s not a huge target, but he’s got more size than the Marquise Brown’s and Devin Duvernay‘s of the world.
Duvernay is still set for his breakout year and his increased role in the offense. James Proche’s production doesn’t get knocked back at all. This may be a minimalist move, however, if Duvernay is the player we think he may become, Baltimore is on its way to building a receiving room that makes sense.
The Ravens get to continue with their streak of being practical in free agency. They have Watkins at a very affordable one-year clip. The Ravens can still add to the receiver position in a couple of ways this offseason and they can re-attack the position group next offseason.
The most important takeaway here is that the Ravens needed to make a move and this move is a valid one. The Ravens did something that made sense and they didn’t break the bank. They got what they wanted. They didn’t want to overpay a receiver and they still got one they feel can produce for them.