With the 2025 season trending downward for the Baltimore Ravens, we're getting closer to when we will officially start talking about the offseason. What do the Baltimore Ravens need to do to get themselves back into the Super Bowl conversations for 2026?
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN said that one thing the team needs to focus on in the offseason is finding "a classic boundary receiver on the outside" to help out Lamar Jackson. Ravens fans are used to this team needing wide receiver help but they might be quite intrigued to hear the name that Fowler threw out there for them as a suggestion.
That would be George Pickens, who Ravens fans are all too familiar with from his days as a member of the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
"Pickens might be franchise-tagged by Dallas. But if available, the Ravens could use some of their $40 million in 2026 cap space on Pickens, knowing John Harbaugh is good at managing big personalities."
Jeremy Fowler floats WR George Pickens landing in Baltimore
Pickens was a second-round pick by the Steelers in 2022 draft and immediately broke onto the scene for them as a rookie, tallying over 800 yards receiving that season. The Steelers foolishly decided to trade Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys this past offseason and he's unsurprisingly been balling out for them. Pickens currently has 1,179 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games for the 'Boys this year.
While Pickens' talent was never in doubt while he was in the Steel City, his attitude was. Yes, that was entertaining for Ravens fans to watch out play out, but it's certainly something they'd have to keep in the back of their minds if they signed him. As Fowler pointed out, John Harbaugh has been known for his ability to manage some of those bigger personalities.
Another thing to keep in mind here is that Pickens will likely be franchise tagged by Jerry Jones in Dallas so this might not end up being a realistic approach for Baltimore. If the former Pittsburgh wide receiver is available though, what better way to annoy Steelers fans than to snag their former star and use him directly against them? That'd be comedy gold for Ravens fans, that's for sure.
This can probably be filed under the 'Too good to be true' section of the offseason but if Fowler is floating it out there, perhaps it's more realistic than Ravens fans might think.