Baltimore Ravens need Hayden Hurst healthy to succeed in 2019
The Baltimore Ravens took a pair of tight ends in the 2018 NFL Draft, selecting Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews. The results were mixed.
Andrews caught 34 passes for 552 yards and three touchdowns, looking like a potential star in the making. However, as a third-round pick, he was supposed to play second-fiddle to Hurst. Hurst went off the board in the first. Unfortunately, Hurst only notched 13 receptions for 161 yards and a single touchdown after being limited to nine regular-season games.
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Entering his second season, Hurst believes he’s healthy for the start of training camp, per NFL.com.
“Kind of felt it all last year, was never really at 100 percent,” Hurst said. “Obviously, you kind of have the aches and pains of a screw being in my foot. But I’m good to go now, all healthy, don’t feel it and feel 100 percent.”
For the Baltimore Ravens to successfully defend its AFC North crown, Hurst will need to be more of a factor. The Ravens rely on their tight ends more than any team in the league. That will remain the case with second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson still trying to develop the throwing aspect of his game. Baltimore signed Nick Boyle to a three-year, $18 million deal this offseason, despite the youngster never having caught a touchdown pass. That said, word around the league is Boyle would have had at least a half-dozen serious suitors. Some even believe he’s the best blocking tight end in the league.
Translation? Look for the Ravens to play a ton of 12 and 12 personnel this year.
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Baltimore is going to remain a run-first team, but the play-action passing will feature the trio of Hurst, Andrews and Boyle plenty. The Ravens took University of Oklahoma wide receiver Hollywood Brown with their first-round pick in April, but the receiver corps remains barren. Michael Crabtree was released from the team this offseason and John Brown was allowed to hit free agency as well. Baltimore is clearly trying to build a power run team that can move the chains through the air if need be. Enter Hurst, who was brought in to be the main cog in that machine.
If he doesn’t stay healthy, Baltimore is suddenly down to a two tight-end system with one of them being a blocker only. Hurst’s game can change the way teams have to defend the Ravens, but if he can’t make good on his draft stock, head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman will have their work made that much more difficult.
