Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey has said that he believes that the team will have “at least two 1,000-yard receivers” in 2023.
Humphrey did not name which receivers he believed would eclipse 1,000 yards but re-emphasised his excitement for the Ravens’ new offense and revamped receiving group.
"I see us having at least two 1,000 yard receivers this year." @marlon_humphrey: pic.twitter.com/0tWvmQ3rBK
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 15, 2023
In 2022, the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Cincinnati Bengals all had 1,000-yard receiving duos.
The last team to have three 1,000-yard receivers was the 2008 Arizona Cardinals, who went to the Super Bowl. The trio consisted of three wideouts: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.
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Marlon Humphrey Believes Ravens Have “At Least Two” 1,000-Yard Receivers
Baltimore Ravens Off-Season Revamp of Offense
Last year, Baltimore’s top receiver was Mark Andrews, who managed 847 yards and five touchdowns. Baltimore’s best wideout was Demarcus Robinson with 458 yards and two touchdowns.
Robinson recently signed with the Los Angeles Rams. The Ravens were comfortable letting him go thanks to the new offensive weaponry they accrued this off-season.
Odell Beckham Jr. was Baltimore’s marquee free agent signing. He joins after a major injury but figures to be Baltimore’s top wideout to start the year. He was not the only notable receiver signing though. Nelson Agholor’s arrival certainly went under the radar this off-season. The 30-year-old veteran has impressed in camp and figures to play a significant rotational role in Todd Monken’s new offense.
Meanwhile, rookie Zay Flowers has also been turning heads during camp. The 2023 first-round selection is a dynamic playmaker who has impressed coaches with his explosiveness and polished route-running.
Sign OBJ
Sign Lamar to an extension
Draft Zay FlowersGood couple weeks, @ravens fans? pic.twitter.com/kaUh8j1o2Z
— NFL (@NFL) April 28, 2023
Will Baltimore Ravens Have At Least Two 1,000-Yard Receivers?
To determine whether the Ravens will have at least two 1,000-yard receivers, it is necessary to consider Baltimore’s quality at receiver coupled with their offensive scheme.
The Candidates
The top candidates to hit 1,000 yards receiving for Baltimore in 2023 are Beckham, Flowers and Andrews. Andrews has been an All-Pro tight end for a few seasons now and has flashed the ability to comfortably be a 1,000-yard receiver yearly. Andrews is currently valued at [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbp/nfl_most_receiving_yards” query=”nfl/mark_andrews/player_89522″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”] to have the most receiving yards in the league. Leading the NFL in receiving yards is unlikely for Andrews. However, he could certainly hit 1,000 yards.
In 2021, Beckham only managed 537 yards and five touchdowns in 14 regular season games. However, should he rediscover some of his magic with the New York Giants, he will be a 1,000-yard receiver. The hype has said that Beckham has impressed at camp, but it remains to be seen whether that will translate into a 1,000-yard year.
Flowers, meanwhile, is another who has drawn a lot of attention during camp. First-round rookie receivers have often found a lot of success in their first year in the league and Flowers could be no different. If used correctly, it is easy to see how Flowers could hit 1,000 receiving yards.
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Behind those frontrunners, there are two dark horses. Rashod Bateman has yet to have a fully healthy year in the NFL. He was drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft but has had two injury-riddled years.
However, Bateman has certainly passed the eye test. When healthy, he seems like an excellent receiver. If Bateman can stay available, he could be a dark horse candidate to catch for 1,000 yards. It also helps that Bateman will be motivated by his upcoming fifth-year option.
Agholor is the other name to watch. Agholor has never been a prolific receiver in the NFL. However, Baltimore are offering him a chance to change that reputation. Agholor has shone in camp and figures to be an important figure in Baltimore’s offense. If he establishes a concrete role and continues on his upward trajectory, he could be a breakout candidate.
The Scheme
The talent seems to be there despite some question marks. However, many pundits have reservations about the scheme. While quarterback Lamar Jackson has emphasised his support of Monken’s offense, it is unclear how much passing there really will be.
Jackson had previously declared that he wants to pass for “6,000” yards in 2023: a bold claim to say the least. The numbers also suggest there will be significant passing.
Todd Monken Offenses (4 seasons)
36.7 Pass Attempts per gameGreg Roman Offenses (9 seasons)
28.9 Pass Attempts per gameLamar is going to pass way more in 2023
— Alex Caruso (@AlexCaruso) August 15, 2023
However, how much Baltimore really changes is uncertain. Despite the praise for Monken’s pass-heavy offense, the Ravens had built their roster around a run-heavy system. Monken himself has also said that the scheme will still be run-first. If this is the case, it does not seem that there will be enough passing opportunities for the team to have more than one 1,000-yard receiver (if any).
It is also true that Monken will look to spread the receiving burdens out. Tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar will catch many passes. As will running backs J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. If the offense is balanced in terms of spreading receptions, it is unlikely that two receivers will have significant enough opportunities to both hit 1,000 receiving yards.
Main Photo: Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports
