Ravens Expected to Contend for Veteran WR

The Baltimore Ravens have spent much of the Lamar Jackson era toiling away at building out his options at wide receiver.

His ability to play like an MVP candidate between his historic quarterback wheels and the impressive strides he's taken as a passer have elevated those around him to repeatedly spin winning records, and things may be coming together with arguably the most impressive batch of receivers he's had to throw to in Baltimore.

What the Ravens lack in a superstar pass-catcher, they've made up for in depth. Newcomer DeAndre Hopkins may not be the All-Pro receiver he once was, but he'll be an above average supplementary piece behind ascending prospects in Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, who in turn have Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely to lean on as heads-up options at tight end.

With the Ravens' season standing just days away, one more bench piece looks like he's been made suddenly available. Kalif Raymond's time with the Detroit Lions is believed to be running out, and he'd get more run in a potential trade to Baltimore while remaining in a winning situation.

Raymond's in a tough spot at his current stop. He's not good enough to contend with the clear starters in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jamison Williams, and the 31-year-old's lack of upside compared to Detroit's batch of up-and-comers makes him less of a desirable long-term asset, as former teammate Tim Patrick found out last week. Raymond may be soon moving on to his fifth team, and the Ravens may not say no to another win-now receiver if the trade price were right.

He'd be on a similar timetable wherever he landed next, removing any chance of a potential suitor valuing him like they would a receiver with 10 fewer years of miles on their odometer. Flowers continues to ooze production from behind scrimmage and as a chemistry piece alongside Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, while Bateman's come along as an end zone magnet.