That said, if Jensen pans out at the center position next offseason could push us over the top. The defense is set for at least the next five seasons, and if we can resign Mike Wallace than I am very confident in the team in 2018. Add a franchise RT in the draft, and then Ozzie could proceed to add strength to strength. I have to agree with Shannon on a few things. Namely, I like a bunch of our moves in the offseason. Maclin has a few seasons left as a legit #1 WR. Woodhead has a season or two left as a legit threat out of the backfield as a receiver. Tony Jefferson helps give the defense an identity. Drafting Tim Williams is probably going to be the best draft pick the team has had in YEARS(and we've had some very good ones) and is instantly going to be an edge rush specialist that is going to give opposing team's offensive coordinators a headache.
I don't think this year is our year, but moving forward I am very excited.
this is what happens when we string together some good drafts - 2012 and 2013 set us back in some places and we are finally reaping the benefits of a couple of good drafts - as long as they continue to pan out then we will continue to improve again - i feel like we have a lot of depth at most positions even if we are missing one or two starters like right tackle and center - but we have decent backup level o line play if we were to find a starter level player - at wr we have good 1,2,3,4 options we are just missing a proper number 1 guy which could be perriman or maclin we dont know yet but we also have wallace and chris moore is promising - at tight end despite everything we still have decent depth but are missing the starter who could be literally any one of the 4 remaining guys
it's great that we can envision the team having not many holes to fill in 2018 which shows you that realistically we are on the up and we're close - so i can see a realistic way that we become a superbowl threat this year and it essentially involves either one of jensen or (a right tackle) or both stepping up, perriman becoming close to or better than a number 1 guy, no injuries at linebacker and one of either carr or humphrey panning out quickly, and most importantly, finding out for sure that joe flacco's play and the offensive calling from last year was an aberration - none of these situations are far fetched at all - they are all hopeful and its likely that some will happen and others wont but if most of them happen (especially on the offensive side of the ball) then we can legitimately consider ourselves a threat in the AFC
but again this all hinges on draft classes continuing to pan out and not being handicapped by the exodus of all-time greats and our inability to find successors - we have some potential/future stars on this team from recent drafts/fa pick ups who legitimately are / can become top 10/5 players at their position:
ronnie stanley, alex lewis (the coaches seem to believe he can be a probowler), marshal yanda, joe flacco (in a good year can be a top 10 guy), breshad perriman (this year i think will be make or break in the case of becoming a top 10 type player), brandon williams, terrell suggs, cj mosley, jimmy smith, eric weddle, tony jefferson
and then the rookies who im more excited about than some previous years who could develop into top guys at their position if all goes right - humphrey (has the impact that if he gets it together he could become dominant - also could become a liability if it goes the other way), tim williams (pure hope but he has burst and bend and a spin that should help him early if he can get on the field and if he is successful then he will be a flashy player) - and there's more guys both rookies and 2nd year guys who could come out of nowhere but these were the most obvious ones
that's a strong core which is why i think we are all quite hopeful, if not for this year then next year
