Bills-Ravens takeaways: Buffalo will likely need to make changes in the AFC Championship game
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The Ravens are clearly a good team, but their loss against the Bills showed that there’s work to be done in the offseason. This team has the defense and quarterback to compete for a Super Bowl, but the offense needs an infusion of talent in the draft and free agency.
Outside of Hollywood Brown, the Ravens don’t really have anyone that scares defenses. Brown is a talented receiver that can be a source of big plays, but having him as a clear-cut top option is hurting Baltimore right now. Brown is the only receiver that the Ravens have heavily invested in, taking him in the first round of the 2019 Draft. Willie Snead, Dez Bryant, Miles Boykin, and Devin Duvernay aren’t really players that defenses have to scheme for.
Even Baltimore’s newly elected mayor noticed that Jackson had few reliable options to throw to:
According to Spotrac, the Ravens are currently projected to have $23.6 million in cap space. With a few more cuts, the Ravens would have enough money to chase one of the big wide receivers about to hit free agency. Will Fuller, Allen Robinson, Kenny Golladay, and Juju Smith-Schuster are among the potential options for the Ravens. They can also burn one of their early picks in the upcoming NFL Draft to beef up Jackson’s targets in the passing game (or maybe they can do both).
Baltimore also needs help along the offensive line. The group upfront did improve a bit throughout the season, but they need an infusion of talent along the interior. Their tackle situation should be fine with Ronnie Stanley returning from injury and Pro Bowler Orlando Brown moving back to the right side full time. As their snapping woes showed against Buffalo, the Ravens could use a new center as well.
Upgrading both wide receiver and interior offensive line won’t be easy, but it’s definitely doable for Baltimore. This is the same organization that managed to fix their run defense in one season and found promising linebackers Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison in the same draft. If any front office is up to this task, it’s the group that the Ravens have assembled.