Baltimore Ravens Sign Deonte Harty, Stay Ahead of Roster Curve

Deonte Harty provides a new wrinkle to the Ravens in 2024, and one that several teams are scrambling to copy.

Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Deonte Harty (11) returns a / Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

On the surface, the Baltimore Ravens' signing of former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Deonte Harty to a free agent deal late Wednesday won't push the needle much in the race for AFC supremacy.

In reality, though, Harty's emergence on Baltimore's roster could shift the entire balance of power in the conference, and get the Ravens to where they want to be. Harty has only caught 17 combined passes in each of the last two seasons, and just went over 1,000 total yards from scrimmage last season for his career.

Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Deonte Harty (11) returns a / Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

It's his value as a return specialist, though, that gives Harty an edge in the final roster decisions.

Harty led the league last season with the longest returned punt of 2023 with a 96-yard touchdown, and led the league in punt return yards his rookie season. He has never returned a kick-off back for a score, but the NFL's latest rule changes could alter that career number.

With the NFL's adoption of the previous XFL's kick-off rules in which players can only chase the returner AFTER a recovery of the ball is made, the league is expecting the return game to be prominent once again.

That leaves some teams scrambling to find quality returners on the open market. Baltimore's chief rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, moved quickly to sign Cordarrelle Patterson in free agency hours after the rule was adopted. Now, it's the Ravens' turn to try and find a player who can alter a football game quickly.

Harty certainly fits that bill for Baltimore.