Let me know if you’ve heard this one before . . . The Baltimore Ravens enter the offseason needing help at wide receiver. Though Baltimore has made some strides at the position, there’s a clear lack of top talent to help the Ravens get over their playoff hump. While it’s far from the only problem the passing offense has, it has continuously been an issue for the franchise over the last decade.
So when Bryan Perez of Bears Wire pointed out that Baltimore should hand Chicago wide receiver Allen Robinson a blank check this offseason, it was well-received by fans. And apparently, Robinson himself, who was among the more than 2,000 people who liked the tweet.
The Ravens should just hand Allen Robinson a blank check. He’s everything Lamar needs in 2021.
— Bryan Perez (@BryanPerezNFL) January 17, 2021
Robinson is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and is my top choice for Baltimore to target when free agency begins. As Perez noted, Robinson is everything quarterback Lamar Jackson needs and could completely transform the Ravens’ 32nd-ranked passing offense overnight.
Robinson should be considered one of the top wide receivers in the league by most metrics. He can play both outside and in the slot, and is an impressive route runner who uses his 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame to make contested catches. Robinson would be a great compliment to Marquise Brown, who came on strong at the end of the season and has great deep speed as well as the shiftiness to make quick completions big plays.
Indeed, that sure-handed possession receiver was exactly what the Ravens’ offense was missing this season. It was hoped Miles Boykin would develop into that role but it never really materialized. Baltimore signed Dez Bryant to help out and while the veteran receiver certainly made some big plays, it was little more than a band-aid on a much bigger problem.
Robinson has often performed under less than ideal circumstances. Having played for both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears over his seven years in the league, Robinson hasn’t ever had a top quarterback throwing him passes. Yet, despite often being the lone weapon on offense, Robinson has broken the 1,000-yard mark three times, including the 2015 season where he caught 80 passes for 1,400 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdown receptions. Even this past season on the Bears’ awful offense, Robinson 1,250 receiving yards and six touchdown catches, earning his quarterback a 92.3 passer rating when targeting Robinson.
The Ravens already have a dominant rushing attack and a defense that, even when not playing at their best, is among the top in the league. Adding another weapon for Jackson and improving the passing scheme might be all it takes to turn Baltimore from a playoff team into Super Bowl champions. At the very least, Robinson appears to be open to the idea.
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