The Kansas City Chiefs unexpectedly released Maclin two Fridays ago, and he visited with the Ravens and Buffalo Bills before deciding on Baltimore. Later this week, Maclin will participate in The Raven’s mandatory minicamp. The Pittsburgh Steelers are considered the favorites to win the division title in 2017, but does the Maclin signing change that?
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Maclin, who was recently released by the Kansas City Chiefs after spending the last two seasons with them, also reportedly had the Buffalo Bills and the Philadelphia Eagles interested in his services.
Schefter also notes on Twitter that just because the Ravens signed Maclin doesn’t mean they still won’t try to trade for wide receiver Eric Decker, whom the New York Jets have spoken with the team about. Essentially, he’ll be taking over for Steve Smith Sr., who retired after last season. One of the options that Andy Reid has even mentioned is increasing Tyreek Hill’s reps as a receiver.
The first-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 is enjoying a solid career. He exploded for 1,017 receiving yards and four touchdowns, his first 1,000-yard season since 2011.
For much of his career, Maclin has been an outside receiver and he has thrived in that role. The Ravens also lost Kamar Aiken in free agency and tight end Dennis Pitta was lost with a hip injury.
Maclin has recorded 474 catches for 6,319 yards and 46 touchdowns in seven career National Football League seasons.
Still, Maclin is just one season removed from catching 87 passes for 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns for the Chiefs and two years removed from making 85 catches for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Eagles in 2014. Releasing Maclin created the necessary cap space as well as some breathing room in case of an emergency during the season. All it would take is to play three wide receiver sets, which I’m sure Marty Mornhinweg would be totally fine with.
Mike Wallace had a bounceback year in his first season in Baltimore, though due to his reliance on straightaway speed, he is hardly the most versatile wideout in the NFL.
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Either way Maclin is gone from KC and is now headed to Baltimore.
