The Denver Broncos made a big splash on Tuesday morning by trading for Jaylen Waddle. This certainly stings for Baltimore Ravens fans. Not only did one of their biggest threats upgrade one of their major areas of need, but the Miami Dolphins (who pick a few spots ahead of them) may now use their first-round pick on a wide receiver.
After signing Trey Hendrickson, Eric DeCosta said that the Ravens are done breaking the bank. As such, the Ravens will focus on filling their remaining roster holes in the draft. One of which is undeniably the wide receiver position. Thankfully, this year's class offers plenty of WR talent.
Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, and Makai Lemon lead the pack. Tate falling to pick 14 never seemed likely, but it was starting to look like Tyson could be in play, and he is perfect for the play style Baltimore needs. Hey, maybe he still will be available at 14, but the Dolphins trading Waddle makes it more likely that they draft a WR with the 11th pick, and Tyson seems to be a logical target for them.
The draft is just over a month away, so nothing is guaranteed. However, it feels likely that the Dolphins would go this route to surround new starting quarterback Malik Willis with some talent amid a retooling period.
The Baltimore Ravens' path to drafting a top-end wide receiver gets more complicated after the Jaylen Waddle trade
If the Ravens have their hopes set on drafting a receiver at 14, that makes Lemon the most realistic target. However, the Ravens may shift their focus and draft another position of need, such as offensive line. And who knows, Lemon could be off the board at 14, too.
Undoubtedly, this would be a nightmare scenario for Baltimore. If this happens, it's unclear if the Ravens reach for someone like Omar Cooper or shift their attention elsewhere.
Listen, Lemon wouldn't be a bad pick, and he's a terrific prospect. However, the Ravens could use someone with more size and physicality next to the smaller Zay Flowers. This play style perfectly describes Tyson. Conversely, Lemon would be slightly more repetitive next to Flowers.
Again, a lot can change between now and April. In the end, Baltimore might still get a high-end WR with their first-round pick or find a high-value player later in the draft.
Nevertheless, the Dolphins now seem primed to draft a WR, as Malik Washington currently leads that room. With that in mind, Tyson seems like a clear fit for them, which undoubtedly makes the Ravens' path to drafting a game-changing pass-catcher murkier.