Even after big day of signings, Ravens still looking to fill holes

Team still has to upgrade offensive line, add to pash rush

Add another down-field threat: The Ravens were never going to be in play for some of the top free agent wide receivers because they didn’t have enough cap room. So they knew all along that their best chance at upgrading their wide receiving core would come in April’s draft. Ideally, they’d like to get quicker on the outside opposite Torrey Smith, and move Anquan Boldin, in certain situations, into the slot. If a guy like Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill is available when the Ravens pick at 29, he could be very hard for them to pass up. Even if it’s not in the first round, it would be surprising if the Ravens didn’t take a wide receiver at some point relatively early in the draft. They still have high hopes for LaQuan Williams and Tandon Doss, but they want to add one more guy. And with the free agent wide receiver market down to either career underachievers or questionable character guys like Plaxico Burress and Braylon Edwards, the draft is pretty much the only place they can do it.

Get a return man: There were a couple of choices for this fourth and last item. I pondered the need for another running back behind Rice, but the team seems to really like Anthony Allen and with how ball carriers are struggling to find jobs this offseason, the Ravens should be able to add a veteran running back on the cheap in a couple of weeks. I contemplated including finding competition for kicker Billy Cundiff but that’s another thing that they could hold off on until after the draft or during training camp. I also considered the need for another run stuffer, but I think the Ravens feel good about McPhee and Arthur Jones. So I focused instead on the need to address their return game, which they got very little out of last season. They obviously think it’s a need, bringing in the explosive Ted Ginn Jr. for a visit before he re-signed with the San Francisco 49ers. With David Reed expected to begin the season on the physically unable to perform list and the team preferring to not risk injury to Webb by putting him back on returns, there is no obvious solution on the Ravens’ roster. After addressing the coverage units in a big way with yesterday’s signings, it’s probably time for the Ravens to find a solid return man who will not only protect the ball, but has the ability to break one from time-to-time.