The Baltimore Ravens have welcomed Ja’Kobi Lane to Charm City, selecting him with their third-round pick at No. 80. The move fills the need for a wide receiver that the team desperately lacked in 2025.
The decision to draft Lane should have Lamar Jackson smiling ear to ear. The Ravens already added protection for him in the first round in the huge form of Vega Ioane, and now, they’ve added another big, physical presence. Lane should be able to win on the outside effortlessly with his 6-foot-4 frame.
Jackson really hasn’t had a weapon of Lane’s play style in his NFL career. Obviously, the new rookie will have a lot to prove, and there are some real flaws to his game, but Jackson hasn’t had a consistent weapon who can match Lane's size. With Lane (and also Ioane) on Jackson’s offense, the two-time MVP could be headed for his best season yet.
Baltimore Ravens give Lamar Jackson long-desired weapon in Ja’Kobi Lane
The Ravens tried to address that need for size last year. They signed DeAndre Hopkins to a one-year deal, but he got limited opportunities in former offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s offense. However, he did flash in that small sample size, and his connection with Jackson was pretty fun to watch.
Jackson and Hopkins paired nicely, especially in red zone opportunities. For some reason, Hopkins never got more of a shot. It’s really a shame that John Harbaugh and company didn’t let them reach their full potential. Regardless, Hopkins is probably being replaced by Lane here, and with a new regime taking over, we could see the coaches actually let Jackson thrive with a big-bodied receiver on the outside in Lane.
Luckily for Jackson, the red zone also appears to be Lane’s speciality. He can be borderline unstoppable in that area, tallying 12 touchdowns in 2024, and is incredible at locating and snatching the ball out of the air. We know Jackson’s ball placement is elite, and with a 6-foot-4 Lane at his disposal, the pairing could be dangerous.
If Lane can impress the coaching staff and earn a starting role in his rookie campaign, or at least see the field more consistently than Hopkins did last year, we could see Jackson take another stride. He’s dominated without wideouts with lethal size and lucrative investments at offensive guard in recent years, but with both of those needs (hopefully) addressed, Jackson may somehow be able to unlock another level.
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