The Baltimore Ravens don’t exactly have a long history of success at the wide receiver position. But there is a renewed sense of optimism that this year, the team could boast the best receiving corps they’ve had in quite some time.
That seems to be the sentiment shared by former Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith as well.
Smith attended Wednesday’s training camp practice alongside former NFL outside linebacker Aaron Maybin with several children from their Level Up Leadership Academy summer camp.
But being a former NFL wide receiver himself, Smith couldn’t help but take notice of the Ravens’ wideouts.
Btw, the @Ravens wide receivers look good 👀
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) August 4, 2021
Torrey Smith praised the Ravens’ wide receivers.
Smith knows a little something about wide receivers too. The 2011 second-round pick played eight seasons in the NFL with the first four coming in Baltimore.
The highlight of his tenure was a 1,128-yard campaign in 2013 — the second-most ever recorded by a Ravens player in a single season.
Only two players have topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark since Smith’s 2013 campaign (Steve Smith and Mike Wallace), but there’s hope that this year could snap the streak.
The team went out and signed Sammy Watkins in free agency before adding both Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace in the 2021 NFL Draft.
A top trio of Marquise Brown, Watkins, and Bateman will be joined by others such as Wallace and Devin Duvernay to give the Ravens perhaps their deepest wide receiver room in years.
Even behind them, the likes of James Proche, Miles Boykin, Deon Cain, and Jaylon Moore have all made their case for roster spots this summer.
The Ravens are going to have to make some difficult cuts, and Smith seems to be aware of that.
With a renewed focus on the passing game, Baltimore will need all hands on deck at the wide receiver position this season. Especially if they’re going to improve significantly upon their league-worst passing offense a year ago.
The Ravens offense has struggled a bit in training camp, but the hope is that the unit will look much better once Lamar Jackson returns.
The Ravens will need a more competent wide receiver corps this season. And at least one former player believes in the group.