Baltimore Ravens fans are expecting an aggressive mindset in free agency. What avenue Eric DeCosta and company choose to go down is unclear. However, the desire to get more quality talent around Lamar Jackson is clear. I think most fans are hoping for another wide receiver to pair next to Zay Flowers, but what about another tight end?
Gilberto Manzano and Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated recently released an article going over the best landing spots for the league's top 50 free agents. In this article, the Ravens were listed as a landing spot for David Njoku.
The Ravens' tight end room feels destined for a shake-up with Isaiah Likely's pending free agency. Since Mark Andrews' mid-season contract extension, the prevailing thought has been that Likely will find a new home, and this article backs that up by not listing the Ravens as a landing spot for him.
On the surface level, Njoku could be a worthwhile target, and snagging him from the division rival Cleveland Browns is a nice wrinkle. Still, it's worth wondering if the Ravens would be wise to use their cap space to upgrade their wide receiver, not their tight end room.
Does the Baltimore Ravens adding David Njoku make sense?
Frankly, I'm lukewarm on the idea of the Ravens adding Njoku. On the positive side, Njoku wouldn't break the bank. SI projected his contract to be worth $20 million over two years, which is slightly less than Likely's.
Njoku is a productive pass catcher and a better blocker than Likely. The Ravens have typically run two tight end sets in the Lamar era, and this likely won't change despite a new system. As such, I can understand targeting another tight end in free agency, especially if Likely departs.
Regardless, Njoku is coming off a down season, recording just 293 yards in 12 games last season. It's unclear if that was a product of bad quarterback play or a sign of decline for the 29-year-old. Furthermore, his history of knee injuries is something that should give the Ravens cause for pause.
Now, signing Njoku wouldn't cost the Ravens a chance to upgrade their wide receiver core. Still, it makes it more challenging; instead of possibly landing someone like Jauan Jennings, the Ravens would presumably be forced to look at a cheaper option, such as Keenan Allen. Pivoting to the draft and using their second-round pick on a WR is another reasonable pathway.
Bolstering the wide receiver room should be the priority for Baltimore. I'm not saying signing Njoku would be a disaster, but in the end, it could be counterproductive given that WR depth is a bigger need. While the depth at wide receiver suffers, adding Njoku would feel like overhauling a tight end room already led by Andrews.
Whether you're all in on the possibility of the Ravens signing Njoku, all out, or somewhere in the middle, there's no denying this move would be a massive change.