It's pretty difficult to look at this Baltimore Ravens roster and see glaring roster holes that need immediate fixing. Sure, there are holes. The roster is far from perfect, duh. However, there isn't one position that is screaming out, crying for help.
It was assumed that the offensive line—especially the left tackle spot—would be the biggest question mark as Ronnie Stanley is set to hit free agency. That narrative has been squashed for now with general manager Eric DeCosta's recent remarks at the NFL Combine suggesting they will go down any and every avenue to come to an agreement with their star tackle to bring him back to Baltimore.
Outside of looking for help along the offensive line, a pass rusher would be nice, an outside cornerback would be useful, and adding another wide receiver would probably be a smart move, too. Well, recent combine talk almost guaranteed the team a pass rusher. Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, and T.J. Tampa are all in-house cornerback options, so two of their three biggest remaining headaches are potentially solved. But what to do at wide receiver?
Apparently, there's a veteran about to hit the market who's being linked to the Ravens and could solve that roster dilemma as well.
Amari Cooper could sign with the Ravens in free agency
In the middle of last season, DeCosta thought the team needed a veteran playmaker to help bolster the receiving corps. He swung big for Carolina Panthers receiver Diontae Johnson. The goal was to get Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman another running mate to enhance the passing attack. It was a modest effort that blew up spectacularly.
The Johnson experiment failed spectacularly, and while Baltimore salvaged a compensatory pick from the debacle, it’s clear they still need a WR3. Fortunately, Moe Moton at Bleacher Report believes there's a free-agent receiver that fixes their Johnson mistake and gets the Ravens the WR3 they've been looking for.
The Ravens want a veteran receiver, but this time, they have to get it right. Enter Amari Cooper.
Moton describes the fit and reasoning for why he believes Cooper will end up in the Charm City:
"Cooper will turn 31 in June. If healthy, he could bounce back from a modest 2024 term, though it may be best for the 10-year veteran to sign with a team that allows him to blend into the offense rather than be the go-to target.
They can take another shot at a veteran wideout in free agency. Cooper can still win one-and-one matchups and make big plays. In eight games with the Bills, he averaged 14.9 yards per catch.
Along with Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, Cooper can help maintain the balance in the Ravens offense. The five-time Pro Bowler may also be intrigued by playing with two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson."
It’s an intriguing option that makes a lot of sense. The Ravens have been searching for another weapon in their receiving corps, and Cooper—a five-time Pro Bowler—could be the missing piece alongside Flowers and Bateman.
With limited cap space available, DeCosta will need to be extra shrewd in his roster-building this offseason. However, if he's serious about making minor tweaks to improve the team, it's not unreasonable to think Cooper would be a great addition.
Cooper will be turning 31 before the season kicks off, but one can't help but reminisce a little and look back and think this move could be eerily similar to another move the Ravens once made to bring in a veteran receiver to help get the team over the Super Bowl hump. That player was, of course, Anquan Boldin, who helped Baltimore hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XLVII.
Could Cooper's potential arrival bring the same success? It's tough to say for certain, but for a team knocking on the Super Bowl doorstep, this could be a move that pushes them over the top.