Stokley? Really?

The Ravens have recently signed free agent wide receiver Brandon Stokley to a
reported one year contract. My question is, why?

This signing raises more questions than it answers about the Ravens roster, in particular the wide receiver corps.

Are the Ravens more concerned about the younger receivers than they have publicly admitted?

Is the injury to Deonte Thompson more serious than we know?

Does the front office not believe a better option will come available?

This signing feels like a knee jerk reaction to Thursday night's preseason game. Admittedly, Thompson, Jacoby Jones, and Tandon Doss provided very little to be excited about (Doss provided a lot of a little) as the Ravens prepare for the season opener. LaQuan Williams, Aaron Mellette, and Marlon Brown showed some spark against second and third teamers, but I don't believe there are delusions that the Ravens can significantly count on one of them. Did anyone actually believe concrete answers were going to be provided after one preseason game?

But Stokley? He is a 37 year old receiver, who has a history of injuries, who was coaxed by Peyton Manning to come back last year, does not add much to the this team, nor does he seem to be the answer. Yes, he caught 45 passes for 544 yards and five touchdowns last season. Those are respectable numbers, but I do not foresee him approaching anywhere near those numbers in this offense.

I am very curious to see Stokley's salary cap implications. Will his cap hit limit the Ravens options to make a move if another player becomes available?

To me, Stokley muddies the waters more than he makes them clear.

Maybe Stokley provides leadership to the young receivers. Maybe his signing puts the heat on the young receivers in a positive way. Maybe he actually has something left in the tank.



Too many maybes.



The Ravens would be much better served had they focused on the continued development of Thompson, Doss, and possibly Williams, Mellette, or Brown. Or, the Ravens should wait as initial and final roster cuts are made. Either a better option will be made available by virtue of cuts, or a trade could be made because of the surplus of talent on the defensive side of the ball.



This move seems too reactive and out of character for the usual patient Ravens.