Don't Forget About Aaron Mellette

Posted Jan 14, 2014

Garrett DowningBaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer@Ravens All Garrett Downing Articles



The rookie wide receiver could make an impact once he returns from a knee injury.


The Ravens have their sights set on adding a wide receiver over the next few months.

Finding quarterback Joe Flacco another reliable pass catcher is one of the top offseason priorities, especiallyconsidering wide receiver Jacoby Jones and tight end Dennis Pitta are both unrestricted free agents. General Manager Ozzie Newsome made it clear that the Ravens will explore all options to bring in another target.



As the Ravens go through their search to add another receiver, fans shouldn’t forget about a young player already on the roster: Aaron Mellette.

“Aaron is going to be a guy who’s going to be in the mix,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said last week.

Mellette, a seventh-round pick from college football subdivision school Elon, initially made the 53-man roster out of training camp after a strong preseason. He spent one week on the active roster before a knee injury ended his season and forced him to injured reserve.

Mellette had torn cartilage in his knee, but is expected to be full strength when the Ravens begin voluntary workouts in April. He will have a full offseason to develop and compete for a significant role within the offense.

Mellette, 6-foot-2, 217 pounds, showed tremendous potential during his limited opportunities in the preseason. Harbaugh said that Mellette “showed a lot as a deep ball wide receiver and a red-zone threat,” and he had nine catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

The red zone and deep passing game were two areas where the Ravens struggled during the regular season, and getting Mellette back in action could be one element to help fix the issues in the passing game.