Dennis Pitta: Baltimore’s Answer at Receiver

The lack of depth at wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens is apparent to just about anyone that is not part of that squad. Joe Flacco is not worried about the depth, as he stated in an interview.

Baltimore Ravens | Full Presser: Joe Flacco Doesn’t Think He Needs More WRs https://t.co/8MdbOaqhCI

— Joe Flacco (@JoeFlacco) April 19, 2017

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What if Flacco is right though?
On the surface, Steve Smith’s retirement and the free-agency departure of Kamar Aiken leaves much to be desired among the receiving corp.

The Ravens looked likely look to add at least one receiver in this year’s draft to supplement an aging Mike Wallace and an inexperienced Breshad Perriman. In fact, all three of the top receivers in this years draft; Mike Williams, John Ross, and Corey Davis, had been mocked to go to the Ravens in the first round.

There has even been considerable talk about the Ravens adding a free agent wide receiver.

None of that materialized however, perhaps proving Flacco right.

What has been overlooked in all this hullabaloo, is the Ravens incredible depth at tight end, with Dennis Pitta, Benjamin Watson, Crockett Gilmore, Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle.

The depth at tight end would allow the Ravens to bump out Pitta into the slot, almost his natural position. For his entire career, Pitta has been called “essentially a wide receiver”. This season is his chance to prove them right.

However, this move would come with some preliminary hurdles. In this scenario, the Ravens would use two tight ends, counting Pita, and another in a more conventional sense.

The regular tight end could be Benjamin Watson if he comes back to full health. It could be Crockett Gilmore who has been a productive tight end in the past, and could get reps if he is healthy. Lest we forget, Maxx Williams who hopes to prove correct the rule of three for tight ends who typically take three years to break out (see Greg Olsen, Travis Kelce, and Jordan Reed). It could even be Nick Boyle, despite his PED shenanigans. Clearly, the Ravens have options.

So maybe Flacco is right. Maybe the Ravens have their answer in Dennis Pitta.

— Patrick Backlas covers the Baltimore Ravens as a managing editor for cover32 Ravens. Connect and follow on Twitter @PatrickBacklas and @Cover32_bal