ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently named the Chiefs as a team that could be perusing the free agent wide receiver market. In the same SportsCenter segment (h/t Julia Stumbaugh of Bleacher Report), Fowler said the Ravens are another club that may be in the mix for a veteran pass catcher.
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Zay Flowers, whose fifth-year option was recently exercised, will once again represent quarterback Lamar Jackson’s top target among Baltimore’s wide receiver contingent. But current WR2 Rashod Bateman followed up his 45/756/9 showing in 2024 with a pedestrian 19/224/2 line, and he was mentioned as a possible trade candidate earlier this year.
Bateman’s disappointing 2025 was in many ways a byproduct of Jackson’s injury-marred year, so it would be fair to expect him to bounce back if Jackson remains healthy in ‘26. Nonetheless, immediately behind Bateman on the depth chart are former fourth-rounder Devontez Walker – who has just seven catches over his two-year NFL career – and rookies Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, who were selected in the third and fourth round, respectively, of April’s draft.
As such, an FA addition would come as no surprise, even though there has not been much chatter connecting Baltimore to the players that are still on the market (a list that includes Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, and Keenan Allen). Baltimore did homework on some of the top receiver prospects in the draft like Omar Cooper Jr. and Denzel Boston, but the club went in a different direction with its first two picks.
The Ravens were linked to a trade for the Eagles’ A.J. Brown back in March, and while the Patriots have long been seen as the frontrunner to acquire Brown, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe suggests Baltimore is one of the teams that could get back into the mix. Volin also names the Ravens as one of the best fits for Diggs, a Maryland native whose market should start to pick up now that he has been acquitted of assault and strangulation charges.
Baltimore’s offense will once again rely heavily on running back Derrick Henry and Jackson’s dual-threat capabilities. But with over $18MM of available cap space, GM Eric DeCosta has the financial flexibility to add to the club’s WR corps if he believes there is not enough experience and upside behind Flowers at the moment.
Baltimore has shown they liked Deebo when he was with SF. That was a different Deebo.
What will they do with the monetary difference between Crosby and Hendrickson?
Turn Jackson into a wide out and let “Fatboy Slim” Pavia handle the QB slot. He’s better than Lamar, just ask him. Give him a stepladder to see over the offensive line, some Ozembic to get the baby fat off and let him run with it
Why not add Deebo on a one year?