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Baltimore Ravens owe Joe Flacco weapons on offense

By Keegan Matheson

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The Baltimore Ravens 2014 season stalled out in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs with a 35-31 loss in New England.  There is no shame in pushing the Super Bowl champs to their limit on their home field, and QB Joe Flacco continued to show in this postseason that he is capable of leading the Baltimore Ravens to playoff victories, but the team may need to re-stock the shelves for him on offense.

Few storylines in the NFL are more overplayed than the question of whether or not Joe Flacco is “elite”.  Frankly, I don’t care whether he fits under that neat-and-tidy label or not.  Despite the surprising fact that he has not eclipsed 4,000 yards passing in his seven-year career, he is coming off one of his strongest seasons as a pro, has never missed a start and has developed into an above-average playoff performer.

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Since 2010, the Baltimore Ravens have made the NFL Playoffs four of five seasons, winning the Super Bowl in 2012.  While Flacco’s first two trips to the postseason were forgettable, he has put together a record of 7-3 in his past four trips, throwing 24 touchdowns and just four interceptions.  Tom Brady he is not, but those numbers show that Flacco is not the liability that many still make him out to be.

Heading into the 2015 offseason, the Baltimore Ravens are faced with some serious holes on offense, and will need to supply Flacco with improved weapons if they hope to continue their near-annual playoff appearances.  Justin Forsett, the surprise star at running back, is set to hit free agency along with tight end Owen Daniels.  Steve Smith Sr. could be entering his final season at wide receiver, while the Ravens’ most dangerous outside weapon, Torrey Smith, is set to hit the open market himself.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the Ravens offered the younger Smith a 5-year, $35M contract with $19M guaranteed prior to the 2014 season.  Smith bet on himself, and maybe that wasn’t so wise.  The fourth-year WR caught just 49 passes for 767 yards, but did set a career high with 11 TD.  Both sides have expressed interest in a reunion, but Torrey Smith could be an appealing option once Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas are off the market.  With Baltimore’s limited resources, will they still be able to match a larger offer?

Forsett has also expressed an interest in returning, which could be done cost-efficiently at his age, but he would also be wise to test his value first in free agency.  Past that, the only impactful tight end remaining on the roster is Dennis Pitta, who has suffered a season-ending fracture and dislocation of his hip in each of the past two seasons.  He intends to return and the Ravens would love to have him, but what version of Pitta will they be putting on the field?

What makes this entire personnel situation difficult is the Ravens’ needs on the defensive side of the ball, also, causing their resources to be stretched even thinner.  With several holes to fill, one or two may need to be addressed via free agency instead of through the draft, as Ozzie Newsome prefers.  Even if Torrey Smith returns, however, it does not change the fact that the Ravens need to add an impact player to Flacco’s arsenal in the new Marc Trestman offense.

Baltimore’s existing WR depth features Marlon Brown, Jacoby Jones, Kamar Aiken and Michael Campanaro, none of whom topped 25 receptions or 275 yards in 2014.  The 6’5 Brown has potential to stick, as well as the shifty, 5’9 Campanaro, a first-year man out of Wake Forrest who could develop into a valuable slot asset.  Aiken will be given an equal opportunity in camp as well, but these names don’t jump off the page.

Jacoby Jones is set to make $2.5M next season in the second year of a 4-year, $12M contract that Baltimore might want a mulligan on.  He’s electric in the return game, but his 9 receptions for 131 yards and zero touchdowns in 2014 won’t fly, especially with his skills.  Unfortunately, Baltimore would free just $750k in cap space by releasing him.

The Ravens pick 26th in this year’s NFL Draft, which could put them in a comfortable spot to grab a cornerback, wide receiver or tight end.  Maxx Williams out of Minnesota, the top TE in the class, could very well still be on the board at that point and provide Joe Flacco with an athletic option over the middle.

2015’s wide receiver class features several raw athletes that will need the NFL Combine to establish their value, but there could be multiple high-ceiling prospects on the board at 26.  The big-bodied Jaelen Strong out of Arizona State could reach the Ravens’ pick along with Auburn’s speedster Sammie Coates.  The second round could still feature names like Dorial Green-Beckham, Devin Funchess or Philip Dorsett.  Ohio State’s ultimate deep threat Devin Smith could replace Torrey Smith as the home-run hitter, too.

I think this is an area that Ozzie Newsome will need to focus on in the immediate future, because the possible retirement of Steve Smith following 2015 would bring about this exact same situation if it hasn’t been addressed already.  The current depth on the roster could provide 2-3 passable role players, but Joe Flacco needs the help of a true game-changer.

Keep in mind that Torrey Smith’s 2014 numbers don’t tell the whole story.  Time after time, his deep routes would take safety coverage high and open intermediate throwing lanes for Flacco to find the elder Smith.  I’m a Joe Flacco believer, perhaps that puts me in the minority, but if the Ravens do not supply him with another offensive weapon entering 2015 I fear that he could regress to the level he played at earlier in his career.

Next: Mock Draft: Ravens grab exciting RB

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