During the first year of the Lamar Jackson era in Baltimore, the Ravens tried to build a middle-of-the-field passing attack. Former GM Ozzie Newsome took tight ends Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews in the first few rounds of the 2018 draft as part of the organization’s plan to build an offense around the running game and play-action. And it seemed as though Baltimore’s success with that approach—a 10-6 record, an AFC North title, and the team’s first playoff appearance since the 2014 season—might inform its choices in 2019. That didn’t happen.
Baltimore’s skill position additions indicate that the simplistic approach the team took during Jackson’s first season won’t continue this year.