According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Baltimore Ravens tried out wide receiver Michael Floyd. Floyd, a former member of the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, and Minnesota Vikings, is an unrestricted free agent. The 28-year-old receiver is a former first-round pick in 2012, spending most his first five seasons in Arizona. During his time with the Cardinals, Floyd was part of a prolific receiving corps trio, made up of Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, and himself. With quarterback Carson Palmer at the helm, the trio was one of the best in the business, commanding respect through the air. Floyd was very successful with the Cardinals, totaling over 800 receiving yards in 2014 and 2015, and over 1,000 receiving yards in 2013. Floyd’s time in Arizona would abruptly end, however, in 2016.
In December of 2016, Michael Floyd was arrested on a DUI charge in Arizona. The Cardinals had had enough of Floyd, as this was his second DUI arrest. After the Cardinals released him, Floyd joined the New England Patriots for the rest of the 2016 season. Floyd played in 2 games, only catching four passes from Tom Brady for 42 yards and one touchdown. After the conclusion of the season, the Patriots opted not to re-sign Michael Floyd, instead trading for Brandin Cooks. Floyd went on to sign with the Vikings in 2017 but only played in 11 games, catching 10 passes for 78 yards.
The Baltimore Ravens need to add more wide receivers to the depth chart, but is Michael Floyd really the answer? I have never met Michael Floyd, and I don’t know how he is now, but the DUI arrests are troubling. He’s going to be a risk for the franchise if the team decides to offer him a spot. There’s also the fact that his production has significantly dropped off since his time with the Cardinals. Floyd was already underperforming before he got cut in 2016. He had caught just 33 of 71 passes, for 446 yards, and four touchdowns. The 33 to 71 ratio isn’t even that much of an irregularity for him. In 2012 Floyd caught 45 of 86 targets, in 2013 he caught 65 of 112, in 2014 he caught 47 of 99, and in 2015 he caught 52 of 89. In all honesty, Floyd is not what the Ravens need right now. There are better, younger, and less risky receivers still on the market like Jordan Matthews and Brandon Coleman. The Ravens also have the option to draft one of the many wide options this spring, in a very receiver deep 2018 draft class.
