Ravens 'One Move Away' From Being AFC 'Big Dogs'?

The Baltimore Ravens have had a great offseason, but former NFL cornerback Jason McCourty thinks Lamar Jackson's team isn't at the level of the AFC big dogs.

The Baltimore Ravens have undergone some changes this offseason, especially on offense. Greg Roman is no longer the offensive coordinator, with Todd Monken now the leading man.

With Monken's more vertical style offense and with two new weapons in Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers to complement the likes of Mark Andrews, Devin Duvernay, free agent Nelson Agholor, and the returning Rashod Bateman, many believe the Ravens can match it with any team in the NFL.

However, former NFL cornerback Jason McCourty isn't as sold on the Ravens just yet. 

On "Good Morning Football,'' the crew placed AFC teams into categories of Big Dogs (Tier 1), Hovering (Tier 2), To Be Determined (Tier 3) and Shock the World (Tier 4), with McCourty placing the Ravens in Tier 2.

"For the Baltimore Ravens, they're hovering, Lamar Jackson has his contract, he's back, he'll be healthy," McCourty said on Good Morning Football. "I think they're a step away from rocking with the big dogs."

What "step''? Maybe a "move''? Or ... while McCourty might not be ready to put the Ravens in Tier 1, Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith sees something "special" in this team heading into training camp.

Let's not forget that before Jackson's injury last year, he had the Ravens leading the AFC North with an 8-3 record which included a win over the Cincinnati Bengals and a narrow loss to the Buffalo Bills. Baltimore was giving as good as it got.

With a defense that was ranked third in points allowed last season (averaged 18.5) and an offense that last year with Jackson healthy, put up totals of 27 or more points five times, there were signs that a deep playoff run was coming.

Now, we add in OBJ, Flowers, Agholor, Bateman and an offense designed around what Jackson likes, and ... Baltimore might start the season in the "Hovering" tier, but it has all the capabilities to become a member of the AFC "Big Dog" club come season's end.

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