Last season, the Baltimore Ravens passing offense ranked last in the NFL in passing yards per game. However, since 2019, this Ravens offense has played host to the league’s No. 1 rushing offense averaging over 195 yards rushing yards each week.
This offseason, the Ravens added playmaking veteran Sammy Watkins and electrifying first-round pick- Rashod Batemon to surround a variety of additional offensive talent. Could this be the year the Ravens’ passing offense becomes one of the league’s best?
During the 2020 season, the Ravens struggled to find consistency in the passing game averaging fewer than 175 passing yards per game, as they were unable to step up in big moments.
Moreover, during the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Ravens offense struggled to score the ball finishing the game with only 12 points, and were unable to find the endzone through the air.
Defenses across the NFL are aware of the dynamic talent of Lamar Jackson, J.K. Dobbins, and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Nevertheless, the Ravens have made an effort to add proven talent to improve the offense this offseason.
The Ravens attempted to bolster their offense this offseason.
Three weeks before the NFL draft, the Ravens signed veteran wide receiver Sammy Watkins to a one-year deal. Watkins has been a playmaker since entering the league with over 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns over the course of his NFL career.
Expect Watkins to provide guidance to a young wide receiver group as well as create crucial plays at huge moments for this offense.
Additionally, with the 27th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Ravens selected star Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman.
Batemon amassed over 2,300 yards and 19 touchdowns in college utilizing a combination of size, speed, and great hands to create mismatches for defenses around the country.
Furthermore, Baltimore has additional playmakers in Devin Duvernay, who flashed when given opportunities during the 2020 season, and rookie receiver Tylan Wallace, who will bring an additional downfield playmaker to this offense.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ravens were not able to have early spring OTAs last year and will need to take full advantage of this year’s complete offseason to build the chemistry between Jackson and the receiver group.
Coach John Harbaugh was asked in a recent press conference about this year’s OTAs and he had the following to say.
"“…We’re a young team [with] a young quarterback, a young group of receivers and tight ends – the whole thing. So, last year really limits what you can do if you don’t have a suitcase full of plays that everyone knows how to run and execute and have executed hundreds of times together before. That would’ve been a benefit last year to teams like that, and it did show up, probably. You look at even the two teams in the Super Bowl. So, I do believe that this will be a big help to us across the board as a young team, especially a young offense.”"
If Jackson and the wide receiver group are able to find great chemistry this offseason, expect this Ravens passing offense to become one of the NFL’s best.