Baltimore Ravens' Top Free-Agency Targets at Wide Receiver

The Baltimore Ravens could be in dire need of another wide receiver. There's a possibility that one or both of Steve Smith Sr. and Torrey Smith won't be on the roster come the start of the 2015 NFL season.

Smith Sr., who turns 36 in May, is at the age where retirement is a possibility every year going forward. In fact, Smith said his plan was to retire following the 2014 season before the Carolina Panthers cut him.

As for Torrey, he's set to hit free agency for the first time in his five-year career. He could be in for a big payday, and Baltimore doesn't have much salary-cap space to offer him a big deal.

After those two, the rest of the Baltimore receivers combined for just 64 catches and four scores last year. Needless to say, wideout is already a thin position that could become barren this offseason.

Here's a look at some of the top receivers Baltimore should keep an eye on if it were to lose one or both of the Smiths.

Kenny Britt

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Since trading away Anquan Boldin in 2013, the Ravens have lacked a big receiver who could outmuscle defenders for contested passes.

Though he's no Boldin, Kenny Britt could serve in that same role.  At 6'3" and 215 pounds, Britt has the combination of size and speed that would make him a quality deep threat with quarterback Joe Flacco's arm while also being a big red-zone target.

In 2014, Britt caught 48 passes for 748 yards and three touchdowns. It is worth noting he posted those numbers with second- and third-string quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Austin Davis replacing the injured Sam Bradford.

Britt will turn 27 in September, so he's still fairly young with some potential perhaps not having yet been reached.

After earning a mere $1.37 million with St. Louis last year, he shouldn't command much more on the open market. That could allow Baltimore to swoop in and sign Britt if it pursues him.

Brandon Lloyd

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The best veteran deep-threat receiver available might just be Brandon Lloyd. Though he doesn't represent the long-term depth Baltimore would like to get, Lloyd would provide the team with someone who can stretch the field and take advantage of Flacco's big arm.

The 33-year-old caught just 14 passes for 294 yards and one touchdown in 2014. It's worth noting this came in a run-heavy San Francisco 49ers offense that featured Michael Crabtree and Boldin as the primary pass-catchers when Colin Kaepernick did throw.

Still, his average of 21 yards per catch shows he still has the ability to be a deep threat, which the Ravens need to allow Flacco to utilize his cannon arm.

Lloyd made $1 million in 2014 after sitting out from football the prior year, so Baltimore could easily sign him to a manageable contract.

Cecil Shorts

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The Ravens routinely find value players in free agency who go on to become impact players in Baltimore. Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts may end up being the best value at wide receiver to hit the market this offseason.

After catching 122 passes for 1,756 yards and 10 scores from 2012-2013, Shorts recorded just 53 receptions for 557 yards and one score for the Jaguars in 2014.

It didn't help matters that various injuries cost the 27-year-old three games while he also played with rookie quarterback Blake Bortles.

The four-year wideout earned just $1.54 million this past year, and he'll try to get a nice payday this offseason. If the market doesn't develop for him, the Ravens may be able to get him signed to a cheap contract while he becomes a primary pass-catcher for Flacco.

Michael Crabtree

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It's actually possible that Michael Crabtree will sign a bigger contract than Torrey Smith's. Both receivers have shown flashes of being Pro Bowl-caliber receivers but haven't been consistent enough to warrant that kind of salary.

Crabtree's only 1,000-yard receiving season came in 2012, but since then, his numbers have gone down in San Francisco's run-heavy offense.

He caught just 68 passes for 698 yards and four scores this past year after an Achilles injury limited him to just five games and 19 catches in 2013.

Crabtree has a lot of potential, but his inconsistent production will make for an interesting market for his services. The Ravens should target the 27-year-old if they lose either of Steve Smith Sr. or Torrey Smith.

Though Crabtree won't come cheap, he's one of the few young, quality receivers that Baltimore has a shot at signing.

Salary-cap and contract information courtesy of Spotrac.