The Baltimore Ravens and Antonio Brown feel like an unwanted marriage that just won’t go away. But then again, that’s what the offseason’s all about, isn’t it?
The Ravens have been connected to rumors regarding the disgraced former star wide receiver for over a year now, and those rumors have led to speculation that he could join the team this offseason.
Arjun Menon of Pro Football Focus recently predicted the landing spot for the top-50 free agents this offseason, and for Brown, he settled on the Ravens.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has followed the Ravens/AB discourse over the last year or so. Menon explained his reasoning.
"“Injuries and off-field drama aside, Brown was on his way to another productive year. Unfortunately, he only played 268 snaps in the regular season, but he still posted an 87.4 PFF grade and was still one of the better receivers in the league. The Ravens have needed a true WR1 for a while, and Brown can step right in and fit that role for them. He has inside-outside flexibility, as 58 of his 202 receiving snaps came from the slot in 2021, and he would give Lamar Jackson a true top receiver to throw to — something he’s never had.”"
Antonio Brown wants to play for the Ravens, but do the Ravens want him?
Brown has made his intentions clear in the past — he’s very interested in playing for the Ravens. Or, more specifically, he’s very interested in playing alongside Lamar Jackson and cousin Marquise Brown.
Antonio Brown has been seen working out with Jackson in the past and stated just last month that he’d love to play with the former NFL MVP in Baltimore.
But how much interest would the Ravens actually have? It’s hard to imagine owner Steve Bisciotti signing off on any potential Brown deal given all the baggage he would bring with him.
From his social media antics to his sexual assault allegations to straight-up walking out on his former team in the middle of a game this past season, Brown doesn’t seem like a good fit for the Ravens’ organization.
From a sheer talent perspective, Brown would undoubtedly provide a major boost to the Ravens’ offense. While wide receiver isn’t a pressing need, there’s no doubt that Brown’s addition would be huge for Jackson and company.
However, this feels like a situation where the Ravens just don’t think the talent outweighs the potential issues.
That isn’t going to stop people from predicting this unlikely marriage will commence, however. Only time will tell who ends up being correct.