Boldin Will Wait to Choose Where to Play
Coach John Harbaugh was asked recently about the possibility of Anquan Boldin returning to the Ravens.
“I don’t know if Anquan wants to come back,” Harbaugh said. “That would be another thing we’d have to look into. I do believe he can still play at the highest level. His ability and his skills are such that he’s not going to drop off the edge just because of how he plays. I know he loved it in Baltimore, and I loved him in Baltimore. Didn’t want him to have to leave when it happened. That’s just the way things worked out. I’d be for it.”
Boldin says that he plans to play in 2017, but will wait until closer to training camp to make a decision.
For Boldin, it makes sense on couple levels. By the time camp rolls around, most teams have answered a lot of their roster questions. He can assess the landscape and decide which team has the best chances of competing for a championship. It also allows him to avoid locking in with a team that could draft a receiver high and jeopardize his playing time. Selling him on his potential role probably plays just as equal an importance as ability to win. He’ll likely look for the best balance of the two.
Boldin would be a terrific fit for the Ravens. As of right now the only ideal fit they have for the slot receiver position is Michael Campanaro. We know the contested-catch terror he was during the team’s last Super Bowl run. While he’s lost a step as an athlete, he can still do damage between the hashes. As the roster is currently constructed, he’d probably be the best red zone weapon on the team. He’d be a nice fall back option if the Ravens can’t find an immediate contributor at wide receiver in the draft.
For now, we know the Lions and Ravens have interest and as of right now I’d give the Lions the edge. They’ve bolstered their offensive line, have weapons and an established identity offensively. If they don’t draft a wide receiver high, Boldin could slide back into the same role as a slot receiver and feature red zone guy.
The Ravens hold the edge defensively and have been a more stable and consistent team over the years. The familiarity he has with the franchise and with QB Joe Flacco can’t hurt. They still have some work to do on offense but by training camp they could close that gap with a good draft and one or two more complementary pieces in free agency.
The post Boldin Will Wait to Choose Where to Play appeared first on Russell Street Report | Baltimore Ravens News.
Source: http://russellstreetreport.com/2017/04/06/street-talk/anquan-boldin-free-agent-2017/
