The Baltimore Ravens have lost yet another one of their pending free agents. After visiting with the Las Vegas Raiders this week, former Ravens wide receiver Willie Snead will stay in the area, signing a one-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and agent Drew Rosenhaus.
For anyone who has been following Baltimore this offseason, Snead’s departure isn’t exactly shocking. Snead was highly critical and outspoken about his lack of opportunities in the Ravens’ offense ahead of free agency. While it could be chalked up to a player looking to boost their value entering the market, Snead was far from the only player to criticize the offense this offseason. Dez Bryant took a shot at the team while defending quarterback Lamar Jackson. Even starter Marquise Brown seemingly agreed with the various disparaging comments, liking his former teammates’ tweets.
Still, while Snead’s departure isn’t surprising, it does leave Baltimore with a hole they need to fill. Over three seasons with the Ravens, Snead caught 126 passes for 1,422 yards and nine touchdowns, though his production dropped significantly after his first year with the team.
While the Ravens could look to second-year players Devin Duvernay and James Proche to fill Snead’s spot in the slot, Baltimore hasn’t been ignoring the position this offseason either. The Ravens have offered contracts to JuJu Smith-Schuster and T.Y. Hilton, had Sammy Watkins in for a visit, and even checked out Kenny Golladay. Unfortunately, they haven’t been successful landing one of those options yet, which has drawn the ire of fans.
Baltimore could also look to the 2021 NFL draft to find wide receiver help. The Ravens have regularly been handed guys like Rashod Bateman and Terrace Marshall Jr. in mock drafts, and they’ve met with Auburn WR Anthony Schwartz ahead of the draft.
Snead will be going from the league’s last-ranked passing offense to the Raiders’ seventh-ranked. Though it’s unclear what Snead’s role and playing time will look like in Las Vegas, he should have an opportunity to make the starting lineup and showcase what he can do.
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