Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Baltimore Ravens are in need of help at wide receiver.
Eric DeCosta has used a first-round pick on a wide receiver in three of the last five years with mixed results. Marquise Brown was traded for the pick that landed Tyler Linderbaum. Rashod Bateman enters a crucial season that will help determine his future in Baltimore. Zay Flowers had a fine rookie season, but he needs to continue to build on that success.
Nelson Agholor is back, while Odell Beckham Jr. will not return. Tylan Wallace is the only other receiver on the active roster beyond Agholor, Bateman and Flowers. Baltimore hosted Michael Gallup for a free-agent visit, but he remains unsigned. The Ravens need to add another receiver, and while this draft class isn’t as fruitful as years past, it still has some quality playmakers.
It’s highly unlikely that DeCosta takes another first-round receiver, but there are a handful in the second and third rounds who could make an impact for the Ravens. One of my favorites in the second round is Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson.
It’s hard to ignore the relationship that John Harbaugh has with Michigan after his brother, Jim, led the Wolverines to a national championship. The teams are nearly identical in style of play, relying on the run to open the pass game. Wilson did not produce huge numbers while in Ann Arbor, but he has the tools to be a game-changer at the next level.
How would Wilson fit with the Ravens? Let’s dive deeper into the Michigan pass catcher.
Roman Wilson
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 185 pounds
Strengths: Blistering speed was evident at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.39 40-yard dash; explosive once the ball is in his hands; great route runner with strong hands in traffic; jack-of-all-trades player who can make an impact on jet sweeps; can contribute on special teams.
Weakness: Size is the biggest concern as his slight frame could force him to be a slot receiver only; bigger corners will manhandle him at the line of scrimmage; won’t break many tackles.
NFL Player Comparison: Tyler Lockett
Draft Projection: Top-75 pick
Lamar Jackson does his best work when attacking the middle of the field, and Wilson could be the slot piece the Ravens have been missing. The ties to Michigan make it an ideal pairing, as the Harbaugh brothers run a similar style of offense. Wilson can also handle the return duties with Devin Duvernay now in Jacksonville.
Flowers and Bateman will be the top wide receivers this season, giving Wilson a year of seasoning before taking over in a lead role in 2025. It’s hard to imagine the Ravens giving Bateman a second contract, and the rest of the receiving corps, outside of Flowers, doesn’t have a long-term future with the organization.
Wilson would give Jackson more opportunities in the middle of the field and the Ravens’ offense another lightning-quick chess piece. Drafting Wilson in the second round would be a nice upgrade to the receiving room that needs more depth with starting potential.
Photo Credit: U-M Photography