Last week, LeSean McCoy publicly tried to recruit Jeremy Maclin to come play for the Buffalo Bills. However, the former Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver changed course this week and made his decision. Just a week after the Kansas City Chiefs unexpectedly made Maclin a post-June 1 cut, the receiver signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore gave Maclin a two-year contract and delivered quarterback Joe Flacco a much-needed offensive weapon.
Jeremy Maclin’s new role
While LeSean McCoy had an edge on bringing in Jeremy Maclin due to their relationship when they both played for the Philadelphia Eagles, it was the Baltimore Ravens who won out when it came to signing the speedy receiver.
ESPN reported the deal for the 29-year-old will make Maclin the clear-cut number one wide receiver in Baltimore for Flacco this season. According to Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, the post-June 1 cut was due to money issues.
In 2016, Jeremy Maclin struggled through injuries but still finished with 44 receptions for 536 yards with Alex Smith throwing the ball. With a quarterback like Joe Flacco, one has to wonder if Maclin will rebound to his prior numbers. He had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons before his 2016 injury problems.
His best season came in 2014 with the Philadelphia Eagles but Chip Kelly cleaned house after that season and sent names like Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy on their way. Maclin rejoined former Eagles head coach Andy Reid with the Kansas City Chiefs and played two seasons there before the team cut him last week.
The Baltimore Ravens receivers
Jeremy Maclin is one of many big free agent signings by the Baltimore Ravens this offseason but is the first major offensive weapon. The Ravens also signed former Arizona Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson, former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr, and third down running back specialist Danny Woodhead.
It was Tony Jefferson and Steve Smith Sr. who helped convince Maclin to join the Ravens.
Only two wide receivers who caught more than 30 passes returned from the 2016 NFL season where the Baltimore Ravens struggled to finish 8-8 on the season. Those receivers are former superstar Mike Wallace, who is in the later stages of his career, and Breshad Perriman. In his first season in Baltimore, Wallace caught 72 passes for 1,017 yards, his first 1,000-yard season since 2011. Perriman finished 2016 with 33 receptions for 499 yards.
