The Baltimore Ravens No. 1 goal this offseason is figuring things out at the quarterback position. Whether that means working out a long-term deal with Lamar Jackson or moving on and finding a new starting quarterback, the franchise needs to figure that out. It is anyone’s guess how that will turn out.
Regardless of who is under center for Baltimore in 2023, one thing is clear; they need more weapons around them. The Ravens have done Jackson a disservice in recent seasons by essentially ignoring the wide receiver position when it comes to upgrading the talent there.
Mark Andrews remains one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL and a reliable target, but for this team to reach the heights they’re capable of, they need some wide receiver help. Free agency is short on options, so the team could always wait until the 2023 NFL Draft to address their needs.
But, if they want a more established option, the Ravens could look to make a trade. The veteran wide receiver that has been talked about most this offseason is DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals. There is a chance that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could also look to move Mike Evans or Chris Godwin if their salary situation doesn’t improve.
All of those players would be costly in terms of compensation and contracts. If the Ravens are looking for a more cost-efficient player, Jerry Jeudy of the Denver Broncos makes for an intriguing target.
Jeudy was the No. 15 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has been a solid receiver, failing to live up to those expectations yet because of injuries and inconsistent quarterback performance. But, during the 2022 season, we saw glimpses of that No. 1 receiver potential.
The Alabama product played in 15 games and set career highs in receptions, yardage and touchdowns. He was one of the lone bright spots in an underperforming Broncos offense and would be a nice upgrade for the Ravens.
What would it cost to acquire him? A suggested trade between the teams would be the Ravens sending a third and fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Nos. 86 and 157, to the Broncos in exchange for Jeudy. That may be a little short of what Denver is looking for in return, as a second-round pick was reportedly the asking price ahead of the deadline in November.
However, after trading more draft capital to the New Orleans Saints to acquire head coach Sean Payton, the Broncos could be open to multiple picks even if they don’t get a second-rounder. For the Ravens, they would now have two young wide receivers in Jeudy and Rashod Bateman to pair with Andrews, giving Jackson a strong trio to grow with and improve the passing game.
