Preparing for the draft following a free agent period in which several starters departed, the Ravens are in need of multiple rookies capable of providing an impact in 2024. The team’s front office and coaches are obviously central figures in the ongoing scouting process, but they are not alone in that regard. 
Quarterback Lamar Jackson has provided head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCosta with his input on receiver and tight end prospects in the 2024 class, as detailed by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. This marks the second straight offseason in which the reigning MVP has done so.
“He is looking at guys now,” Harbaugh said at the league meetings (via Hensley). “He and I agree on a few guys. We haven’t disagreed on anybody yet. We’re sharing our vision together.”
Specifically, Jackson – a native of Pompano Beach, Florida – has given his thoughts on local pass-catching prospects. In the case of last year’s draft, that meant supporting the selection of Zay Flowers in the first round. The latter (who grew up in Fort Lauderdale) enjoyed the most productive rookie season in franchise history with a 77-855-5 statline. South Florida Ravens connections at the position also date back to Marquise Brown, Baltimore’s top pick in 2019.
The Ravens own pick No. 30 in 2024. After losing three starters along the offensive line this offseason, a selection aimed at providing reinforcements up front would come as little surprise. Edge rush and cornerback have also been named as potential positional targets for the team’s top selection. Still, there will be a number of wideouts available late on Day 1, and Jackson’s thoughts on those from his backyard will be taken into account.
Other franchise passers, of course, have varying degrees of input in roster-making decisions around the NFL. In the case of the Ravens, Jackson is being given sway in the overall direction of the team’s offense. As such, it comes as little surprise his perspective on local pass-catching options will receive consideration. In need of at least a depth addition at the receiver spot, it will be interesting to see if Baltimore makes a move influenced in part by Jackson’s recommendations.
Sounds good in theory, not in practice. Players are generally not good evaluators of talent and fit. If the GM listens, he can end up taking less talented players or less of a team fit. If he doesn’t listen, you can end up with a disgruntled person who is giving the advice.
Stay in your lane.
To your point, it was widely reported that Lamar demand OBJ last year. $15m for 35 receptions, 565 yards and a whopping 3 TD’s.
Stay in your lane is correct!
Players are generally not good evaluators of talent and fit? Given that you are very likely not inside any NFL locker room, it would seem that you are making it up as you go. Simple logic would seem to say that sports teams regularly consult their players when considering bringing in players – who has better insight than those who have played against them?
@dog….Your take may be too humbling for majority of fans’ opinion of their own takes/opinions.
No one is a SME here, but players are much closer to that level than vast majority of fans. (Albeit, fans here are likelier more knowledgeable than casual fans).
Making it up? We’ve had many reports of players being involved in personnel decisions. They often go poorly. Another member here noted Lamar wanting OBJ. Complete waste of resources. Aaron Rodgers? Good grief. He wanted Dalvin Cook, Reggie Cobb, and Allan Lazard. Money down the crapper. Letting players have a say in personnel is like taking a 4 year old to the grocery store. I want this! I want that! If you listened to them you’d have a cart full of candy bars, potato chips, and Twinkies.
IMO, signing OBJ was a big factor in getting Lamar signed. So, to me, not a waste of resources.
It doesn’t appear Rashee Rice and some other NFL players with too much off season time on their hands can “stay in the lane”. They probably couldn’t offer much as talent evaluators but keeping them involved in such a process would be better than having them endanger lives behind the wheel of high speed vehicles.
It’s just an optics move to say he was apart of the process. I guarantee the draft will ultimately look exactly the same with or without him in the room
Keeping your franchise QB in the loop is generally good for business. It’s not like he’ll be calling the shots. Even if he did, I doubt he’d do worse than Mahomes asking for CEH.
3 quality TEs plus Bateman , Flowers and Ahgolar makes a pretty healthy core . Focus on o line and/or edge early rounds. Maybe grab a kick return specialist/receiver later round.
Did he tell them or did they ask him?
That’s the key distinction between ego management and utilizing every available resource.
Exactly. To keep your franchise QB in the loop is a positive. To let him dictate decisions is not at all what’s going on here. Somewhere in the middle is a front office that is wise enough to ask Lamar’s opinion. This is empowerment of influential leadership/locker room presence. Seems like a win-win to me.