Let's make one thing very clear: Kadarius Toney is and never will be the answer for the Baltimore Ravens.
By now, most NFL teams know better than to fall for the hype of Kadarius Toney. The former first-round pick turned Super Bowl champion is back on waivers after the Cleveland Browns gave him the boot. For those keeping count, that’s three teams in four seasons—three teams that believed they could tap into his athletic potential, only to find out that Toney is more of a liability than an asset.
Yet, there are already rumblings about potential landing spots for Toney. According to Anthony Palacios of Last Word on Sports, the Ravens could be a fit, especially after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. this past offseason.
Palacios claims that Baltimore might need “Diontae Johnson’s arrival to the Ravens has been an unfortunate disappointment so signing Toney could bring some temporary life. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are Lamar Jackson’s top targets no matter what, but they need some extra backend insurance policy to relieve the pressure from Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews to help protect the quarterback.”
He suggests Toney could “make a few catches to move the chains.” No disrespect to Palacios, but that’s a hard no. The Ravens should steer clear of Toney, and it’s not even up for debate.
Kadarius Toney is not the answer for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore’s receiving corps has been a work in progress, but bringing Toney into the fold would be a massive step backward. Sure, Toney has talent. His speed and elusiveness make him a dangerous playmaker—on paper. But the reality of Toney’s NFL career tells a different story.
Whether it’s his questionable hands, muffed punts, or lack of focus, Toney has been a letdown at every stop. New York Giants fans remember him as the guy who teased greatness with an 189-yard game against Dallas but never came close to that level again. Kansas City Chiefs fans will point to his record-setting punt return in Super Bowl LVII, but they’ll also remind you of all the dropped passes and boneheaded plays in between.
The Browns are just the latest team to learn the hard way. In his last game with Cleveland, Toney muffed a punt and picked up a taunting penalty in the fourth quarter, effectively ending the Browns’ chances of a comeback against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s the Kadarius Toney experience in a nutshell: one step forward, ten steps back.
It’s a minor miracle that Kadarius Toney is still in the league and gifting us moments like this
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 8, 2024
pic.twitter.com/G2ey3JIibi
Now, let’s be real. Do the Ravens really need that kind of inconsistency in their locker room? Absolutely not. This is a team in playoff position, led by an MVP-caliber Lamar Jackson and bolstered by rising stars like Zay Flowers. Baltimore’s offense doesn’t need a reclamation project that might hurt more than help.
Additionally, the Ravens do, in fact, have Diontae Johnson on the roster. Whether they play him or not, or if he wants to take the field or not, he is on the roster. Also, fourth-round receiver Devontez Walker is already on the team. Both present better options than Toney at this point.
The Ravens have spent years building a roster that can contend for Super Bowls. Taking a flier on Toney would be the opposite of that philosophy. If Cleveland, Kansas City, and New York couldn’t make it work, what makes anyone think Baltimore would?
At this point, Toney’s NFL future is murky at best. He might get another shot on a practice squad or have to explore options outside the league entirely. But one thing is clear: the Ravens should have no part in the Kadarius Toney experience.