Yesterday, the New York Giants released veteran wide receiver Victor Cruz, a move that surprised much of the football world. Cruz was a fan favorite in New York, and helped lead the Giants to a Super Bowl title in the 2011 season. Cruz was one of the best receivers in the league for a few seasons until he got injured in 2014. He made an unexpected comeback in 2016, but had a minimally productive season with 39 receptions for 586 yards and just one touchdown.
With Cruz now released, it puts his future in the NFL into question, especially coming off the injury that hurt his career. His return to the NFL in 2016 did not produce the same numbers Cruz previously accumulated, however, the whole Giants offense in 2016 was not where it needed to be. Cruz is only 30 years old, but his injuries in the past and lack of recent production does cast doubt on his ability to contribute to a team going forward.
If the Ravens want to pick up Cruz to bolster the wide receiver corps, they would be adding a veteran receiver at a minimal cost. However, the risk is very high with Cruz, as the best days of his career could already be behind him. If the Ravens do decide to pick up Cruz, he would be a great addition to the locker room, as well. The Ravens adding Cruz to the roster might be a good choice, but it is a risk. There is a lot of upside in taking Cruz, but the Ravens will have to decide whether or not they wish to take the risk. With all the risk it seems unlikely right now, but Baltimore is in the market for a cheap option at receiver, and Cruz may be that option.
