The Baltimore Ravens looked at what they had at wide receiver headed into 2026 and decided to use a pair of 2026 NFL draft picks at the position — not exactly a vote of confidence.
There could be more additions in the near future.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Ravens are 1 of 2 contenders exploring the free-agent market for wide receivers before training camp, with the best fit seeming to be 6-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen.
“A lot of free agent receivers available,” Fowler said on Saturday. “You’ve got Keenan Allen, you’ve got Stefon Diggs, you’ve got Tyreek Hill, and you have a lot of teams that need help. Kansas City Chiefs are a little thin at receiver. Baltimore Ravens a little thin … so teams are sort of seeing what they have at OTAs and minicamp, if they have enough from their young players, they could go and try to make a move.”
The Ravens currently have a starting wide receiver trio of Pro Bowler Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Devontez Walker.
Allen, who has approximately $139.2 million in career earnings, played in 2025 with the Los Angeles Chargers on a 1-year, $3 million contract and finished with 81 receptions for 777 yards and 4 touchdowns in 17 games.
Decade of Dominance for WR Keenan Allen
Allen, 6-foot-2 and 211 pounds, has been 1 of the NFL’s elite wide receivers since the Chargers drafted him out of Cal in the 3rd round (No. 76 overall) of the 2013 NFL draft.
The 34-year-old had 6 seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards before he was traded to the Bears in March 2024 for a 4th-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
One popular school of thought is that the Chargers won’t let Allen go elsewhere again and will cut a deal to bring him back for what could be his final NFL season in 2026.
“I have a strong feeling that the Bolts front office and Keenan Allen have mutually agreed for him to return for one last season—not to be the main guy, but to be the veteran presence in a young WR room,” Boltz Galaxy wrote on its official X account on May 12. “My guess is he’s just skipping training camp, and then it’ll be announced.”
Pair of Rookies Could Shift Ravens Offense
The Ravens sent a pretty clear message by drafting USC wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane in the 3rd round (No. 80 overall) and Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt (No. 115 overall) with consecutive picks.
“The Ravens loading up on offense at WR,” The Ball Junkie wrote on its official X account after the picks came in. “Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt in the 3rd and 4th rounds. I was getting sick of drafting Rashod Batement in BAL stacks … so I can take shots at these guys.”
Bateman seems like the most likely odd man out at this point. He signed a 3-year, $36.75 million contract before the 2025 season and delivered 19 receptions for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns in 13 games.
That contract now represents a semi-disastrous investment for the Ravens, as they don’t have a voidable year in Bateman’s contract until 2028. If they could convince another wide receiver-needy team to take him in a trade for a Day 3 pick, that might be the best move.
Ravens Predicted to Add $139 Million Pro Bowl WR