Ravens Give Joe Some Young Talent

After Torrey Smith was signed away by the San Francisco 49ers, there was a constant chorus about the Baltimore Ravens offense going around in the media.

Mainly that the Ravens offense lacked youth. The Ravens' leading wide receiver would be 36 year old Steve Smith, the leading tight end would be 30 year old Dennis Pitta, if he was healthy, and the leading running back would be 30 year old Justin Forsett.

Marlon Brown, Crockett Gillmore, Kamar Aiken, Michael Campanaro, and Lorenzo Taliaferro would provide youth, but none of them had fully shown the potential to create big plays, something that is a large part of the Ravens offense, seeing as Joe Flacco has what may be the strongest arm in the league.

Needless to say, the Ravens had needs at the offensive skill positions heading into the draft.

And this year, the Ravens attacked them like never before in their history. The Ravens selected offensive skill position players back to back in the first two rounds for the first time since drafting Joe Flacco and Ray Rice in 2008. By the time the draft was over, the Ravens would spend six of their nine picks on offensive players, five of them on offensive skill players.

The Ravens drafted, tall, fast players that can create mismatches and nightmares for defenses.

Breshad Perriman has the speed to stretch the field, and his ability to fight for the ball and catch it with his hands will give Joe Flacco a weapon like those which other quarterbacks have gotten.

Maxx Williams has the potential to be the long term replacement for Todd Heap that Ravens fans have always wanted. His height and athleticism will be used in Marc Trestmans' offense to create mismatches all day. Add in Crockett Gillmore and Nick Boyle, two tight ends that can both block and catch, and the Ravens could have the best trio of tight ends in the league, something that Joe Flacco will love on gameday.

Javorius Allen possesses the speed and vision that will lead to him breaking off big runs in the zone blocking scheme, and his ability to play as a pass catcher and a pass blocker gives the Ravens a three down back similar to the ones found in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

Darren Waller has the potential to be deadly. With a height of 6'6" and a 4.42 40, this receiver has the physical tools that NFL teams lust after. Combined with his soft hands and fearless nature, and the Ravens have the potential to defeat teams with the deep ball all day. If Waller can master the NFL game, the Ravens should have one of the deadliest wide receiver tandems in the league with him and Perriman.

The Ravens 2015 Draft took an area of need and filled it with guys that can be stars for years. Joe Flacco should finally have a young nucleus on offense. If he does the Ravens will have a top offense and a top defense, which should be enough to win another Super Bowl or two.