WR Worth $69 Million Is Listed as a Possible Trade Target for Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens’ offensive display against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game was mediocre at best. Only rookie Zay Flowers caught more than four passes among wide receivers.
With Alex Ballentine scouting the Ravens, Bleacher Report published their “Complete NFL Offseason Trade Guide for Every NFL Team.” He put wide receiver on the Ravens’ “Biggest Positions of Need” list.
Ballentine speculated that in order to strengthen the Ravens’ wide receiver corps in the 2024 offseason, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett might be a “Top Trade Target.”
The Ravens should consider taking a closer look at a more seasoned receiver. They need a receiver other than Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely to pair with Zay Flowers, who is an electric option, according to Ballentine.
Lockett is slipping down the depth chart in Seattle, and now that Mike Macdonald, a former defensive coordinator for the Ravens, is the head coach, he might try to move on from Lockett.
“Tyler Lockett is 31 years old, and the Seahawks just drafted Jaxon Smith-Njigba,” noted Ballentine. Trading him before June 1st would save them $8 million, or $18 million after. The dynamic DK Metcalf is another player Seattle has, so the Seahawks might look to unload Lockett to save money.
Tyler Lockett is among the league’s most reliable wide receivers.
Lockett will be in his tenth NFL season in 2024. In the third round of the 2015 draft, the Seahawks selected the wide receiver.
In his few seasons with the Seahawks, Lockett was a reliable number three receiver. He was selected twice for the All-Pro Second Team and once for the All-Pro First Team KR.
After settling into a starting role in 2018, he enjoyed a breakout year as a wide receiver with 965 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Before only managing 894 yards this season, Lockett ripped off four consecutive seasons with 1000 yards or more with the Seahawks (would have led 2023 Ravens pass catchers).
Ravens receivers haven’t demonstrated a nose for the end zone recently, but the veteran has one. Since making his breakthrough in 2018, Lockett has amassed 50 receiving touchdowns and has scored in double figures thrice.
TE Despite only playing in 10 games this season, Andrews led the Ravens in touchdown catches with six. Flowers has five receiving touchdowns, making her the top receiver.
Lockett’s field availability is a vital aspect of his game that is sometimes overlooked. With the exception of 2016, the wide receiver has participated in at least 16 games each season since joining the league.
Maybe a Thin WR Corps for the Ravens
Right now, the Ravens wide receiver corps is incredibly thin and lifeless. Tylan Wallace and Rashod Bateman might be the only players with contracts other than wide receiver Flowers.
“With Bateman reaching official bust status and Odell Beckham headed toward free agency,” writes Ballentine, the Ravens must reload.
This summer, WR Nelson Agholor will also be available as a free agency. Baltimore might benefit from Lockett’s seasoned presence and locker room experience, since Beckham might decide not to rejoin the Ravens.
Just as many touchdowns as the team’s top wide out, Lockett had more receiving yards than any other Ravens receiver. His ability to find the end zone would be a pleasant addition for quarterback Lamar Jackson, and he would be a reliable contributor.
But the Ravens’ cap problem is the big issue that needs to be addressed.
Baltimore’s cap space is limited to $5.7 million, and they still need to deal with their own free agents. The Ravens can make a few moves to free up cap space, but general manager Eric DeCosta will have to negotiate a deal with Seattle in order to keep the receiver under the cap.
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