Throughout Lamar Jackson's career with the Baltimore Ravens, the team had just one 1,000-yard wide receiver for the superstar quarterback to throw to. Marquise Brown has been the only wide receiver to have 1,000 yards since Jackson arrived in Baltimore, recording 1,008 yards in 2021.
Jackson hasn't had the best wide receivers at his disposal, and is making a push for the franchise to acquire one of the top wideouts in the game. DK Metcalf may be available to acquire in a trade and Jackson -- who hasn't signed his massive contract extension -- wants him in Baltimore.
@dkm14 slide 🚀 We got them Guyz but you can slide to we welcome everyone here with open arms you definitely one of them Guyz as well💜🖤 https://t.co/mdN0jUtLw4
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) April 3, 2022
Metcalf would easily be the top wideout in Baltimore if he would join the Ravens, having 216 catches for 3,170 yards and 29 touchdowns in his first three seasons -- averaging 14.7 yards per catch. He's one of only eight players in NFL history to have 200 catches, 3,000 yards, 25 receiving touchdowns, and average over 14 yards per catch after his first three seasons -- joining the likes of Randy Moss, Jerry Rice, Tyreek Hill and others.
Metcalf finished with 75 catches for 967 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, averaging a career-low 12.9 yards per catch. He also finished with a career-best drop percentage of 3.1. If the Seahawks were to actually move Metcalf, they could get a nice package of draft picks for him -- should they find a suitor willing to give them a nice price.
Jackson isn't done recruiting players to the Ravens, also asking the team to select Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner -- one of the top players in the draft. Baltimore has the No. 14 pick, so it's no guarantee Gardner will even get there. Pairing Gardner with Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters would be dangerous for opposing pass-catchers going forward.
Come to the ravenz 😈 https://t.co/p8X9ZTD9DK
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) April 4, 2022
Jackson is showing the signs he wants to be with the Ravens for a long time, trying to get talent to join him in Baltimore. That may not be Metcalf and Gardner, but Jackson is sure trying to make it happen.
The Ravens don't prioritize spending big in free agency, instead adding talent to surround Jackson naturally. This is why Metcalf to Baltimore can be a hard sell to the front office.
"When you draft a rookie, you know what he's going to cost," Ravens EVP/GM Eric DeCosta said this week. "You're not paying irrational market prices in free agency that some teams like to do. So, for us, I really think it speaks to the culture that we've established over the years.
"We weren't a big team. I was here, we weren't a big spender in free agency back in 1996 and back in 1997. We didn't have the funds to do that, so the draft really became our lifeblood. I had a chance to watch Ozzie and [former director of player personnel] Phil Savage before me and see how those guys operated and see the value of the draft and what that does for a franchise, what that does for a community and how that also allows you to be competitive every single year, regardless of the salary cap.
"So, for us, it works. There are a lot of different ways to do it, certainly. [I have] tremendous respect for teams that have a way of doing it differently and can succeed, but for us, the draft will always be. … As long as I'm here, [the draft] will always be the foundation of what we do and what we believe in, and we think it works for us."
