Where we can find that playmaking #1 Receiver

[dhstandard]

Looking forward, what avenues should we take to approach this problem.  We are becoming one of the few competitive teams without a legitimate threat at receiver.  Obviously Steve Smith is playing out of his mind but even then, how well will he hold up the rest of the season and turning 36 years old.  

 

Our division alone has Josh Gordon, Antonio Brown, and AJ Green (Sanu as well).  Pats have Gronk who has proved to be crucial in their success (and is basically a receiver looking at his numbers).  Cards have Fitz and Floyd, Broncos Demarius, the list goes on.

 

 

All teams at the top of the league have a playmaking threat at receiver.  I reallly don't see a team in the top 10 power rankings without one.  We are completely lost at that position.  I see Campanaro being huge in our future but behind him I don't see anyone on this team who looks to fill that role every team seems to have.

 

Pitta was not the same coming back from the hip and never will be the same in my honest opinion.  Relying on him for our future would be a bad idea.  I truly think in order to stay competitive in this league we need a guy who scares teams and is a playmaker.  At this point, we do not have that.

[ravefan52]

The draft. Not some old FA that usually sucks but we think is good, but a high draft pick that can develop with Joe. We need to get Joe some real WR's. He's shown what he can do with one good one in Steve... We need to get one that can replace him soon. Also Imagine what Joe could do with a couple good receivers.

[rmcjacket23]

The original poster kind of answered his own question...

 

You listed Green, Brown, Gordon, Gronk, Fitz and Demaryius...

 

So ask yourself this... how did all of those players get on their teams?

 

The answer is the same for the overwhelming majority of the "elite" WRs in this league...

[Ravenseconbeast]

The draft. Not some old FA that usually sucks but we think is good, but a high draft pick that can develop with Joe. We need to get Joe some real WR's. He's shown what he can do with one good one in Steve... We need to get one that can replace him soon. Also Imagine what Joe could do with a couple good receivers.

 

I have a very hard time believing any high draft pick receiver can 'develop' with Joe.  His not really the type to hustle and work the receiver to groom him.  

 

History has always shown that Flacco works well with good veteran receivers.  Receivers that has already fully established themselves and know what to do from getco.   This also goes w/ TEs imo.

 

Besides Pitta, who has he really connected w/ from the draft?  I don't see it.  Ozzie/FO knows where the right players @ right price are @ FA.  

I think as much as we invested on D' this offseason, we need to sure up on secondary and oline for high picks.  Just imo.  Non elite QBs don't groom receivers too well.  

[RaineV1]

The draft is the best place to find a receiver without someone else out bidding you or ending up in cap hell. NFL.com did a list of the best current receivers in college: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000354178/article/amari-cooper-nelson-agholor-among-top-wrs-to-watch-in-2014

 

I'd say someone like Agholor, Parker, or Lockett could excel in a Gary Kubiak offense. And I wouldn't mind seeing the Ravens roll the dice on Green-Beckham.

[Alaska Alaska!]

I have a very hard time believing any high draft pick receiver can 'develop' with Joe.  His not really the type to hustle and work the receiver to groom him.  

 

History has always shown that Flacco works well with good veteran receivers.  Receivers that has already fully established themselves and know what to do from getco.   This also goes w/ TEs imo.

 

Besides Pitta, who has he really connected w/ from the draft?  I don't see it.  Ozzie/FO knows where the right players @ right price are @ FA.  

I think as much as we invested on D' this offseason, we need to sure up on secondary and oline for high picks.  Just imo.  Non elite QBs don't groom receivers too well.  

I don't care if you got negged.  The part I bolded in your post is 100% legit.  Flacco indeed works best with Vet WR.  I'd rather draft a playmaking running back over a playmaking WR

[RaineV1]

How many particularly good receivers have the Ravens drafted during Flacco's run? The only ones of note are Torrey and Camp (who was building chemistry was Flacco in that Bengal's game). Meanwhile, we've had Boldin and Steve Smith as the big free agent receivers the Ravens have brought in. Not exactly a fair comparison.

[ravefan52]

I have a very hard time believing any high draft pick receiver can 'develop' with Joe.  His not really the type to hustle and work the receiver to groom him.  

 

History has always shown that Flacco works well with good veteran receivers.  Receivers that has already fully established themselves and know what to do from getco.   This also goes w/ TEs imo.

 

Besides Pitta, who has he really connected w/ from the draft?  I don't see it.  Ozzie/FO knows where the right players @ right price are @ FA.  

I think as much as we invested on D' this offseason, we need to sure up on secondary and oline for high picks.  Just imo.  Non elite QBs don't groom receivers too well.  

 

I don't care if you got negged.  The part I bolded in your post is 100% legit.  Flacco indeed works best with Vet WR.  I'd rather draft a playmaking running back over a playmaking WR

I don't think thats fair to say because since we've draft Flacco, the highest picks we've taken a WR at is one in the 2nd round and two in the 4th round. So in 7 drafts we really have given him one high pick, a couple mid rounders and a bunch of late picks. That's called lack of talent at WR, NOT Joe not being able to work with young WR's.

 

Also you must be happy with average WR's. Because we're never going to sign one of those big-name, high price FA receivers. They are so expensive and rarely work out for teams

[kassaiscool]

What disturbs me is we could have had dez byrant or thomas from the broncos.  The cowboys and broncos both traded up right in front of us to get those two players. The draft was strong last year at the wr position, but not this year because all the good jr's declared for that last draft.

[Ravenseconbeast]

I don't think thats fair to say because since we've draft Flacco, the highest picks we've taken a WR at is one in the 2nd round and two in the 4th round. So in 7 drafts we really have given him one high pick, a couple mid rounders and a bunch of late picks. That's called lack of talent at WR, NOT Joe not being able to work with young WR's.

 

Also you must be happy with average WR's. Because we're never going to sign one of those big-name, high price FA receivers. They are so expensive and rarely work out for teams

 

Mark Clayton was also a top pick.  Although he came before Flacco, he was always touted as a sure thing when he was initially drafted by many.  Many people thought Flacco and Clayton can become a good duo.   

Heap, Mason, Boldin, Steve Smith, Owens.  They all had had immediate connection w/ Flacco.  Have any of them became 'so expensive and have rarely work out for the team'?   

 

If 2015 draft became a draft for TE/WR, and put a secondary/oline on the back end.  I don't think Flacco would have as much of a success as the latter.  He just won't connect with the receivers to make enough of an impact to compesate for the draft.  

[rmcjacket23]

Mark Clayton was also a top pick.  Although he came before Flacco, he was always touted as a sure thing when he was initially drafted by many.  Many people thought Flacco and Clayton can become a good duo.   

Heap, Mason, Boldin, Steve Smith, Owens.  They all had had immediate connection w/ Flacco.  Have any of them became 'so expensive and work out for the team'?   

 

Just saying.

Obviously, there's pros and cons to both approaches.

 

If you draft a stud WR in the first round, you get at least 2-3 years of elite level production out of them. But then, you almost certainly have to pay them top tier money, which is becoming expensive for receivers.

 

Conversely, you could try to get value WRs in FA, guys like Mason, Boldin, Smith. Problem is... those guys aren't always available (see 2013) and when you don't get one, you can be in big trouble.

 

Either way, the Ravens HAVE to have some contribution at receiver coming from the draft. Whether its Clayton for a period of time, or Torrey Smith, you can't have your entire starting receiving core coming from FA if you want to be competitive both financially and on the field. You really not a combination of both.

[Militant X 1]

We need to draft a solid beast or two at the WR spot!  I believe that Ozzie is cheap and would rather pay these old cats for less.  That is nothing more than putting a "patch" on a bullet wound!  Smh!  Get some fresh, young lions in here and coach'em up and get their tales on the field and let them grow into their position as a pro!

[ravefan52]

Mark Clayton was also a top pick.  Although he came before Flacco, he was always touted as a sure thing when he was initially drafted by many.  Many people thought Flacco and Clayton can become a good duo.   

Heap, Mason, Boldin, Steve Smith, Owens.  They all had had immediate connection w/ Flacco.  Have any of them became 'so expensive and work out for the team'?   

 

Just saying.

But that was 3 years before Flacco. Clayton was already struggling before Joe came and Joe only had 2 years with him, so not much of a chance to develop with a receiver. Still, even if you include him that's only 2 WR's in the early rounds that have played with Flacco. Idk if that's a big enough sample

 

No they haven't been, but they've never been great receivers when we signed them... and that's usually why our offense has always been rather pedestrian (This year with Steve is the one exception, but good luck finding another WR that good for that cheap). There's also plenty that don't work out like Housh and Lee Evans.

[Alaska Alaska!]

But that was 3 years before Flacco. Clayton was already struggling before Joe came and Joe only had 2 years with him, so not much of a chance to develop with a receiver. Still, even if you include him that's only 2 WR's in the early rounds that have played with Flacco. Idk if that's a big enough sample

 

No they haven't been, but they've never been great receivers when we signed them... and that's usually why our offense has always been rather pedestrian (This year with Steve is the one exception, but good luck finding another WR that good for that cheap). There's also plenty that don't work out like Housh and Lee Evans.

Do they have to be great?  We didn't great WR when we won the SB

[PurpleReign92]

I see Companaro getting some serious looks as the only target open for Joe Flacco.... Everybody else is going to be covered man to man and deep coverage....

[PurpleReign92]

The draft. Not some old FA that usually sucks but we think is good, but a high draft pick that can develop with Joe. We need to get Joe some real WR's. He's shown what he can do with one good one in Steve... We need to get one that can replace him soon. Also Imagine what Joe could do with a couple good receivers.

Steve is great but everybody wants to cover Steve and Torrie are pretty much done.  You put Companaro down for 1,600 yards for this season because now that is exactly what's going to happen...

[ravefan52]

Do they have to be great?  We didn't great WR when we won the SB

But that was before we gave Flacco $120mil. I think if we put that much money into a QB we should surround him with a good set of weapons to maximize that. We're a much better team when Joe has that IMO.

[HazDaGeneral]

To be honest this whole front office approach is getting boring.....we need to take risks and go get someone who can help this offense and be dynamic.....we should of stayed put in that draft when we had a chance to get dez.....but noooooo....we trade back for draft picks who aint even on this team....f stacking up draft picks if you are not using them to go get top tier players.....i say we get cooper....he like julio 2.0 or parker who ate all day on FSU

[CalvinSmoke]

Your tripping on the Mark Clayton talk. Clayton was looking like a decent receiver with Flacco for a little bit there, and then he dropped that huge catch against the Patriots and lost all of his confidence. He then signed with another team after us, the Rams mabye? Either way, where is he now. 

 

If that situation was something like Golden Tate's where he left the team and became a beast, it would be a discussion, but your not proving any points bringing up Mark Clayton...

[CalvinSmoke]

BTW the Steelers just showed us first hand, draft your receivers, let them get molded within the offense, and hope you struck gold. 

[Static]

Its pathetic that we've never had a probowl WR. We need to draft our own guy and let Joe mold him.

[Maryland]

As you watch college football (or draft vids on draftbreakdown.com), keep an eye on these receivers:

 

Kevin White

Amari Cooper

Devante Parker

Jaelen Strong

Dorial Green-Beckham (doesn't currently play, but you can still watch his highlights)

Sammy Coates

Stefon Diggs

Rashad Green

Ty Montgomery

Nelson Agaholor

 

(These are my personal rankings. They'll vary quite a bit from person to person)

 

White and Cooper won't be in our range unless we bomb the rest of the season, but Strong and Parker should be available in the 20s. The others are round 2-3 picks. Of course the combine will change things a bit, but just watching them play, this is who I like from those I actually watch. 

[AsianRice]

As long as Kubiak stays with the Ravens for long time, we will have elite WRs in the draft, even gem in lower tier.  

 

We seriously need a top #1 WR in the next year draft; our O-line is fine right now......may be drafting a center....

[AsianRice]

Its pathetic that we've never had a probowl WR. We need to draft our own guy and let Joe mold him.

We do but they all passed their prime....lol

[RaineV1]

As you watch college football (or draft vids on draftbreakdown.com), keep an eye on these receivers:

 

Kevin White

Amari Cooper

Devante Parker

Jaelen Strong

Dorial Green-Beckham (doesn't currently play, but you can still watch his highlights)

Sammy Coates

Stefon Diggs

Rashad Green

Ty Montgomery

Nelson Agaholor

 

(These are my personal rankings. They'll vary quite a bit from person to person)

 

White and Cooper won't be in our range unless we bomb the rest of the season, but Strong and Parker should be available in the 20s. The others are round 2-3 picks. Of course the combine will change things a bit, but just watching them play, this is who I like from those I actually watch. 

I would love to see Agholor in a Ravens uniform. He comes off as a true play maker, someone that can make any catch into a long gain. Parker would probably be a good fit for Flacco as well.

[edthehead]

we need to draft a number 1 and groom him, it's cool to bring in vets but without a true 1 , we will look the same.OZ loves his BAMA BOYS, ok lets go get him,lets make him a RAVEN, does anybody know how cooper compares to julio jones,,,,,,,

[rmcjacket23]

To be honest this whole front office approach is getting boring.....we need to take risks and go get someone who can help this offense and be dynamic.....we should of stayed put in that draft when we had a chance to get dez.....but noooooo....we trade back for draft picks who aint even on this team....f stacking up draft picks if you are not using them to go get top tier players.....i say we get cooper....he like julio 2.0 or parker who ate all day on FSU

Dez was drafted one pick before us, and before we made that trade.

[Cillmatic]

The draft. Not some old FA that usually sucks but we think is good, but a high draft pick that can develop with Joe. .

Joe's reached his peak, he's done developing.

[Cillmatic]

Dez Bryant's a free agent this season

[rmcjacket23]

Dez Bryant's a free agent this season

Not likely...