Baltimore Ravens: Willie Snead ramps up pressure on Joe Flacco

The Baltimore Ravens have signed Willie Snead to an offer sheet and, with the Saints not planning to match, his arrival puts more pressure on Joe Flacco.

Weapons were in short supply as it pertained to the Baltimore Ravens offense last season. Say what you will about Joe Flacco (and the forever carrying on “ELITE or not” debate), but he didn’t have a great deal of help in the wide receiver corps last season. And while the Ravens haven’t added superstars this offseason, they have given Flacco some help.

Earlier in the offseason, the Ravens added John Brown (formerly of the Cardinals) and Michael Crabtree (formerly of the Raiders) in free agency. While neither player is a superstar, they provide solid depth, veteran ability and options for Flacco in the passing game.

Most recently, the Ravens signed wide receiver Willie Snead to an offer sheet. Given his status as a restricted free agent, the New Orleans Saints had five days to match the offer. However, on Saturday, Jason La Canfora reported that the Saints do not plan to match, meaning that Snead will be heading to Baltimore for the 2018 season:

Snead’s 2017 campaign was ultimately forgettable in New Orleans. After opening the season with a three-game suspension due to a DUI arrest, Snead was unable to carve out a role in the offense. This was surprising considering the Brandin Cooks trade in the previous offseason, in addition to the fact that Snead caught 141 passes over his first two seasons in the league.

If he’s able to keep his nose clean and acclimate himself in Baltimore, he’s proven to be a capable receiving option in this league, and a young one at that. Thus, he gives more stability in terms of weapons for the Ravens offense.

In turn, however, the pressure is now on Flacco to get the job done. Because of the lack of bodies at wide receiver in recent years, he’s had a built-in excuse as to why he’s not been anywhere close to a top quarterback in this league as of late. Though his receiving corps still isn’t elite, that excuse will become thinner this season, especially if the Ravens use premium draft capital to take another wideout in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Flacco’s deal with the Ravens, according to Spotrac, isn’t feasible to get out of until after the 2019 season. Cutting him in the 2019 offseason would mean $16 million in dead cap, which no front office in their right mind would incur for a player who is at least serviceable.

However, with the out after 2019 (an $8 million dead cap hit that’s much easier to swallow), the Ravens could be more likely to put a contingency plan into place in the 2019 NFL Draft by taking a quarterback. Heck, they could even do so in the 2018 draft. And if Flacco struggles with more weapons around him now, that will make the transition away from him that much easier.

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Snead’s arrival, when combined with Brown and Crabtree also coming to Baltimore, puts pressure on Flacco. He’s being paid like he’s the guy, but hasn’t performed at that level of late. The excuses that were once there aren’t going to fly moving forward, and how he performs could ultimately determine his future with the Ravens.