Anquan Boldin returning to the Baltimore Ravens in 2016 would create a nice bridge at wide receiver

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin is 35 years old and is on the last year of his contract with the team which is technically a five year deal but voided out upon signing. The Baltimore Ravens originally traded him away for a 2013 sixth round draft pick  in 2013 after the Ravens won the Super Bowl against the 49ers. Boldin returning to Baltimore would be a quick fix to a position that will need to be addressed high in the draft within the next two years with the second year being the preferred choice in this scenario.

Boldin, during this season, has 51 receptions for 617 yards an two touchdowns. Not bad at for a veteran who will be 36 years old next season. I think adding Boldin to the Ravens roster once again would be a good move regardless if Steve Smith Sr. returns. His familiarity with Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco would be refreshing as Flacco has had to learn to play with new receivers every year since the start of the 2010 season.

Boldin would be a nice bridge for the Ravens as acquiring him would allow Ravens rookie wide receiver Breshad Perriman to learn the game at his own pace as he was unable to see the field this season due to a PCL sprain he suffered on the first day of training camp this season.

In the short term, adding Boldin would allow the Ravens to focus on other areas on the team like adding multiple pass rushers, cornerbacks, safties, inside linebackers, left tackles and possibly a left guard. The Ravens in this scenario would have two veterans in Boldin and Smith Sr. (I believe Smith Sr. will return for one more season) who know how to run routes in the middle of the field and would install even more toughness at the wide receiver position.

To add to that, young players like Perriman and Chris Givens would be a nice compliment to both Boldin and Smith Sr. due to their speed on the outside. You also certainly can't forget about Kamar Aiken either. That would make five wide receivers on the Ravens roster for next season with Kaelin Clay being the punt and kick returner for the team.

If the Ravens were to keep seven wide receivers next season, the battle between Jeremy Butler, Michael Campanaro, Daniel Brown and Chris Matthews would be very interesting. With the suggestion of adding Boldin to the Ravens roster next season means that I don't think that a future potential star wide receiver outside of Perriman is on this roster at the moment.

I'm not going into next season thinking that Givens, Butler, Campanaro, Matthews or Aiken are going to break out and have a good year. I'm not doing that and I've read that story with this team long enough about how the young receivers look good in training camp but leave a lot to be desired during the regular season.

Adding Boldin next year would buy the Ravens some time for one more season to get everything in order and not feel like they have to address every flawed spot on the team. A young wide receiver can be drafted high in 2017. Right now, this team has serious issues on defense.