Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Baltimore Ravens need upgrades at wide receiver.
It seems to be the storyline of just about every offseason. Since the inception of the franchise, the Ravens have failed to develop their own receivers. They’ve tried and tried again in the first round, dating back to the 2000 NFL Draft where they took Travis Taylor. Since, they’ve used first-round selections on Mark Clayton, Breshad Perriman, Marquise Brown and Rashod Bateman.
Let’s take it one step further. They’ve drafted an abundance of receivers throughout the franchise’s history. Patrick Johnson, Brandon Stokley, Devard Darling, Yamon Figurs, Torrey Smith and Miles Boykin were all high draft picks for Baltimore.
The one thing each of these receivers has in common? Not one has gotten a second contract from Baltimore.
The jury is still out on Bateman. He has battled injuries in his first two seasons. But the truth is Ravens wideouts finished dead last in receiving yards in 2022. The unit accounted for just 1,517 yards and seven touchdowns.
Outside Bateman and Devin Duvernay, Baltimore needs to gut its current group of wide receivers. No Ravens fan wants to see another game where Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, James Proche and Andy Isabella are the only receiving options. It’s probably safe to say no one wants any of them on the roster, period.
Whether Lamar Jackson is back in purple or not, the Ravens’ receiving corps needs an influx of talent. Free agency is upon us and Baltimore needs to find a veteran to add to the mix. They should double dip and grab another pass catcher in the draft as well.
Ohio State receiving product Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of the top pass-catchers in this year’s class. He only hauled in four passes in 2022 because of a hamstring injury, but in case you forgot, he was one of, if not the best receiver in college football in 2021.
Smith-Njigba broke the Big Ten receiving record with 1,606 yards and set an FBS bowl game record with 347 yards and three touchdowns in an epic Rose Bowl performance. He accomplished those feats with Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, first-round picks in last year’s draft, and Marvin Harrison Jr., another future first-round selection, all in the same receiver room.
How would Smith-Njigba fit with the Ravens? Let’s dive deeper into the Buckeyes’ record-breaker.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 196 pounds
Strengths: There might not be a better route-runner in this draft class. He always seems to find the open space and does an exceptional job creating separation. He’s the ideal slot receiver in today’s passing game with soft hands and willing to make contested catches in the middle of the field. Once the ball is in his hands, he has the change-of-direction ability to make defenders miss. That was evident at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 6.57-second three-cone drill and a 3.93-second 20-yard shuttle, both the fastest at the position.
Weakness: The biggest knock on Smith-Njigba entering the combine was his top-end speed. He didn’t run the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis, but there is reason for optimism that he might fare better than expected following the impressive times noted above. Depending on how he runs at Ohio State’s Pro Day, he could be viewed as strictly a slot receiver. Ravens fans are sure have concerns about Smith-Njigba’s hamstring after Perriman, Brown and Bateman all started their professional careers with injuries.
NFL Player Comparison: Christian Kirk
Draft Projection: Top-25 pick
Lamar Jackson’s contract is Priority No. 1 this offseason. The second-most important task is surrounding him with more talent at receiver. We saw last year how A.J. Brown and Tyreek Hill made a huge impact for Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, respectively. The Ravens’ front office needs to do the same, whether it’s Jackson or anyone else at the helm.
The Ravens were reportedly one of several teams at Odell Beckham Jr.’s recent workout, and fans would be ecstatic with the move. That’s the type of alpha talent they need on the outside. Now, imagine a dream scenario in which Jackson has a receiving group that includes Bateman, Beckham and Smith-Njigba, in addition to Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely.
It’s no secret that Jackson is better at attacking the middle of the field than the boundaries. Smith-Njigba would thrive as the slot receiver, as new offensive coordinator Todd Monken finds ways to get his playmakers the ball in space. His route running, great hands and separation are some of the best in this draft class. That’s the kind of boost the offense needs.
Smith-Njigba is my No. 2 receiver in my preliminary prospect rankings, and an impressive 40 could put him out of the Ravens’ range, but if he’s available in the first round, it’s a move Baltimore absolutely needs to consider.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics