Baltimore Beatdown
The Ravens havene’t been known for having consistent 1,000-yard receivers, but that hasn’t stopped them from having talented players like Derrick Mason and Torrey Smith.
The downside about being a franchise known for running the heck out of the football is that you’re not likely to have the most sterling of lists when it comes to wide receivers who have worn your colors over the years.
While the Ravens haven’t been known for churning out consistent 1,000-yard receivers, that doesn’t mean they haven’t had some talented players catching passes this century.
We’ve got three former Ravens lined up to be voted on for our quarter century team so let’s go ahead and dive in!
Mason joined the Ravens in 2005 as a free agent after eight seasons with the Oilers/Titans. In his first season with Baltimore, Mason recorded 1,073 receiving yards and five touchdowns, immediately becoming the top target on the team.
Over his six seasons with the team, Mason went over the 1,000-yard receiving threshold four times and amassed 5,777 total yards (the most in franchise history) and 29 touchdowns.
Smith was a local product out of the University of Maryland when he was drafted by the Ravens in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He made his presence felt immediately with 841 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. In 2012, he bested his previous receiving total with 855 yards and recorded a career high eight scores. In year three, Smith notched his first 1,000-yard season with a career-best 1,128 yards to go with four more touchdowns.
In his final season with the Ravens, Smith recorded just 767 yards (his worst with the team) but balanced it out with a new career high of 11 touchdown grabs. He is also still second on the Ravens all-time receiving list among wide receivers, behind only Mason.
Clayton was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team after posting 471 yards and a pair of scores in his first year. Clayton’s best season came in 2006 when he record 971 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Over his five seasons with the Ravens, Clayton was a steady contributor as the team’s secondary receiver to Mason with whom he spent his entire tenure with in Baltimore. He ended his time with the Ravens having collected 3,116 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
Despite never recording a 1,000-yard season, Clayton is still fifth all-time in Ravens history for receiving yards and the third wideout in the top five behind both the aforementioned Mason and Smith.
