Heading into the offseason, the Baltimore Ravens had several flaws they needed to address. Signing Trey Hendrickson gives them a much-needed elite pass rusher. Nevertheless, they still need a dependable wide receiver next to Zay Flowers, and losing Tyler Linderbaum makes center a clear priority.
Given that the Ravens splurged on Hendrickson and Eric DeCosta saying the Ravens are done breaking the bank, it's fair to assume that they'll upgrade these areas of need in the draft.
Baltimore should use their first-round pick (No. 14 overall) to target their receiver room before bolstering their line in the later rounds. And there's no better receiver who could realistically be available than Jordyn Tyson. Likewise, the Arizona State product perfectly suits the style of receiver that Baltimore needs.
Why Jordyn Tyson is the perfect draft target for the Baltimore Ravens
While there is some risk attached to Tyson due to injury concerns, the upside outweighs this risk. For most of the season, Tyson was viewed as a consensus top-two receiver and top-10 pick, but a hamstring injury, coupled with past knee problems, has made his range more volatile. At this juncture, it feels fairly likely that Tyson will be available at pick 14 -- something that the Ravens could only have dreamed over a few months ago.
Tyson's production is undeniable in nine games this past season; he recorded 711 yards and eight touchdowns. Furthermore, in 12 games as a junior, Tyson recorded 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Just as importantly, Tyson is a picture-perfect fit with the Ravens. Flowers is a terrific receiver coming off a 1,211-yard season. Nevertheless, the 5-foot-9 speedster would benefit from being paired with a bigger and more physical receiver like Tyson. At 6-foot-2 with stellar athleticism and an impressive catch radius, Tyson fits this mold perfectly. His versatility would also make him a seamless fit in Declan Doyle's new look offense.
This year's class is littered with high-upside receivers, so the Ravens will have plenty of options if they want to draft a pass catcher at pick 14. Still, not every receiver within this range fits the Ravens' needs to the degree that Tyson does. USC's Makai Lemon, for instance, is a dominant slot receiver who doesn't have elite physical tools. As such, Lemon might be repetitive next to Flowers.
With the Ravens' offense focusing on explosive plays and leaning into the passing game, having some variety with Tyson would be the most ideal outcome. To be clear, I don't think drafting someone like Lemon would be a complete disaster. Regardless, I think Tyson checks the most boxes for what the Ravens are looking for in their next receiver.