Last season, the Baltimore Ravens had a record of 10-6 finishing first in the AFC North division. Just nine games into the season, their franchise quarterback Joe Flacco went down with an injury. However, rookie Lamar Jackson did a fine job of taking over the reins under center.

Flacco started nine games and threw for 2,465 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. He didn't have a great year by any means, and his lack of production is what led to the team sending him away to Denver.

Jackson, on the other hand, threw for 1,201 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions. His completion percentage sat at 58.2 percent from the field and a quarterback rating of 48.7. He also ran for 695 yards with six rushing touchdowns.

His ability to scramble and freelance outside of the pocket makes him one of the scariest offensive weapons in the league. The only thing that matches his speed is his arm strength, and he didn't even utilize that to the fullest.

The Ravens offense overall was mediocre. Nothing against Jackson, but he was a rookie that was thrown into the mix without much experience. The team averaged 24.3 points per game, which ranked 13th overall in the entire league.

Outside of Gus Edwards and John Brown, the team didn't have any offensive playmakers. Edwards was the team’s best running back last year, as he ran for 718 yards with two touchdowns. John Brown was their best wideout, and he’s now a free agent as well. He corralled 42 receptions for 715 yards along with five touchdowns.
Not one other player had more than 40 receptions or 600 yards from scrimmage. This lack of talent led to the inevitable downfall of Flacco, and is partly why the team brought in Jackson. He's now their quarterback of the future, and they're committed to building around him.

Jackson does scramble a ton, however, he still needs reliable offensive players around him to succeed. Someone that can be consistent in shorter routes. Somebody who can consistently be his dink and dunk wideout.

Demaryius Thomas fits that role perfectly. The nine-year NFL veteran is one of the most respected wideouts in the entire league. From 2012-2016 he corralled in 90+ passes and over 1,000 receiving yards. His consistency is what makes him so special. Until last season, he started 111 straight regular season games.

Through 15 games started last season, Thomas grabbed 59 receptions for 677 yards and four touchdowns. The Broncos traded him midseason to the Houston Texans, which is partly why his overall production was so low. With time to acclimate to a new offensive system, he can once again thrive like he has in the past.

The Ravens have about $24.6 million in cap space this offseason, per Over the Cap. That leaves them with plenty of room if they go after Thomas. Financially, the move makes a lot of sense as well.

As they continue to look for talent in the upcoming draft and free agency, the Ravens need to focus on adding depth to their offense. Thomas just makes too much sense for the team moving forward.