The Ravens, if you look on paper, aren’t a weak team. They have an established quarterback, a playmaking running back, a great offensive line, and a notoriously good defense. However, and while I got sick of the pundits saying this, I will admit they need to get some receivers to aid the development of a young Joe Flacco. While I like Derrick Mason, he’s 36. Mark Clayton can be very good, but he’s incredibly inconsistent. You could call him a consistently inconsistent receiver. Kelley Washington is solid, but let’s be honest, he’s not a No. 1. Overall, I want a guy who can grow with the offense. A guy who can grow like Flacco and Ray Rice and Jared Gaither have. Here are some names the Ravens should consider:

Arrelious Benn, Illinois: In his first two years at Illinois, Arrelious Benn was very productive, combining for over 1,700 receiving yards. At 6′2″, 220, he’s a big target. He’s always been a well-known guy, whether it be as a very talented receiver out of Dunbar High in Washington, or as a consistent target at Illinois. Folks may be concerned that he had a considerable drop off this year (67 rec., 1,055 yards as sophomore, 38 rec., 490 yards as junior). In ‘08, he combined for 1,156 yards of offense, as opposed to just over 513 this year, but that has a lot to do with the departure of QB Isaiah “Juice” Williams. But it in perspective. In ‘08, he had a quarterback who finished with 3,173 yards and 22 touchdowns. In ‘09, Benn had a quarterback who finished with 1,632 yards and 12 touchdowns throwing passes. So, honestly, can you expect a receiver to put up gaudy numbers? By college standards, Illinois quarterbacks finished with a rating of 122.1, but by the stringent NFL demands, it was a pedestrian 77.6. The Ravens should give him a look, that’s for sure.

A valid comparison… Cowboys’ Roy Williams. Similar sizes. Roy is 6′3″, 215, Benn is 6′2″, 220, and extremely difficult to bring down and get a ton of YAC (yards after catch, and/or contact).

Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State: Going into this year, Bryant was one of the hot prospects in the draft, and probably the best wide receiving prospect. And early in the year, he did nothing to hurt his stock. In his third game, against Rice, a 41-24 victory, he turned in a dominant performance, with nine receptions, 161 yards, and two touchdowns. But soon after that, he was ruled ineligible because “he failed to fully disclose his interaction with former NFL player Deion Sanders”. It certainly draws some suspicion, but the fact of the matter is, Bryant is a play-maker. Last year, he was one of the premier receivers in college, with 87 catches, 1,480 yards, and 19 touchdowns. My only concern: his agent, Eugene Parker. Parker has a relationship with Deion Sanders, who has a relationship with Michael Crabtree, the best receiving prospect in the 2008 draft. Eventually, Crabtree signed, but it only took him until October 7th, when his 49ers had already played five games. That’s my concern. Granted, Crabtree has played relatively well, but I prefer a Jeremy Maclin (one who signs in time and plays well) as opposed to a Crabtree (one who signs nearly halfway through the season and plays well).

A valid comparison…. Cardinals’ Anquan Boldin. Both are similar in size, tough to bring down, tenacious, etc.

Brandon LaFell, LSU: LaFell is the ultimate possession receiver. In college, he didn’t post numbers comparable to Crabtree, Bryant, or even Benn, but he was consistent. After JaMarcus Russell departed for the NFL, he was a guy who played in a run-first offense, but has still managed to consistently catch the ball. He had his best year as a junior, with 63 catches, 929 yards, and eight touchdowns, and has had a good year in ‘09, with 52 catches, 705 yards, and ten touchdowns (a career high) - and remember, he has one game left, the Capital Bowl against Penn State. One author on bullgator.blogspot.com puts it very well: “Although his stats might not amaze you, LaFell has great size for an NFL receiver and possesses good hands. He has the ability to make the tough catch and could turn into a #1 receiver in the NFL.” That’s certainly a valid observation. He’s never posted 1,000 yards in a season, and unless he has 295 yards against PSU - which seems unlikely - he never will. But he’s a consistent receiver who could grow with Joe. That rhymed..I like that.

A valid comparison… Seahawks’ T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Both never post elite statistics, but are very hard-working guys who can be referred to as a “coaches dream”, and are solid possession receivers. Housh has made a living off of it.

Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas: Over the years, with Todd Reesing at quarterback, Briscoe really has shown that he can be a No. 1 receiver anywhere. As a freshman, he had 42 catches, and seven of them went for touchdowns. He had a more vital role in the offense as a sophomore, and his numbers proved it, as he had 92 catches, 1,407 yards, and 15 touchdowns. He didn’t exactly stink the place up as a junior, with 1,337 yards. Last week, he told reports he “doesn’t feel he has anything to prove in college”, so he’ll be entering the 2009 draft. And it’s hard to argue with that assessment. At 6′3″, 200, he has good size, and that will help Flacco a lot. Some have said Flacco throws high, but that tends to happen when Joe is 6′6″ and his two top receivers are under six feet tall. With Briscoe, that wouldn’t happen.

A valid comparison… Former Giants star Plaxico Burress. Hopefully, it’s not because he shoots himself in the leg at 3 AM in New York nightclubs. They both are playmaking, go-up-and-get-it receivers, and similar in size.

Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati: This year, the Cincinnati Bearcats have had a tremendous year, led by quarterback Tony Pike, but also, dynamic receiver Mardy Gilyard. Cincinnati is 12-0, much due to the never-ending contributions of Gilyard. At 6′1″, 180, he’s not the biggest receiver, but he’s athletic, and he makes plays. This year, he had 80 receptions, 1,150 yards, and 11 touchdowns, and still has one game left, a Bowl Game. Over the last couple of years, he’s been one of the best receivers in college football. Hopefully for him, and for the Ravens and Joe Flacco if he lands in Baltimore, it keeps up at the highest level. Bullgator.blogspot.com put it very nicely once again: “He doesn’t have a lot of size, but Gilyard is a tough receiver who isn’t afraid to go after the ball.”

A valid comparison.. Broncos’ Eddie Royal. Both are underdog stories, of sorts, both not very big, but not afraid to go up and get the ball. Gilyard could end up like Royal, a guy who can catch 80-90 passes a year.

Jordan Shipley, Texas: At Texas, quarterback Colt McCoy has dominated, but that doesn’t overshadow what Shipley has managed to do. In his first two seasons, Jordan combined for just 43 catches and 646 yards, but with Limas Sweed now in the NFL, Shipley has become an elite receiver. Last season, he had 89 catches and 1,060 yards for the 12-1 ‘Horns. This year, for the 13-0 ‘Horns, he has gotten even better, with 106 receptions, 1,363 yards, and 11 touchdowns, and it’s surprising, considering McCoy started much slower than he did last year. He averaged over eight catches a game, and while it’d be tough for him to do that in the NFL even if the Ravens tried (he’d average about 130 catches a year), he could be a solid possession receiver.

A valid comparison.. Eagles’ Kevin Curtis. Being that he’s a small, caucasian receiver, the first comparisons he’ll get will be Wes Welker and Brandon Stokley, but I find Curtis to be more valid. Both are very fast, and similar in stature.

Golden Tate, Notre Dame: Just hours after his quarterback, Jimmy Clausen, declared for the draft, star receiver Golden Tate also declared. Coincidence? I think not. I like Tate. He’s a playmaker; no getting around that. As a junior, he had gaudy statistics, with 93 catches, 1,496 yards, and 15 touchdowns, but at 5′11″, scouts may overlook him - unfair, maybe so. He has the potential to be a No. 1, but he faces many questions regarding size, the competition he faced with the Irish, and whether forgoing his senior year was really a good idea.

A valid comparison… Panthers’ Steve Smith. Both are athletic, small receivers who have/will get discriminated because of their size. Smith is just 5′9″, but a dominant player. In Tate, I see the same player, in some ways. Despite his size, he was able to dominate under a lot of pressure at Notre Dame.