2020 NFL Draft: Ravens much more likely to pick receiver early than sign Antonio Brown

Former Steelers, Raiders (even though he never played a game for them) and Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown was in the news again this week. Brown was shown on social media working out with Baltimore Ravens quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson as well as Ravens wideout Marquise "Hollywood" Brown in South Florida.

Naturally, that led to speculation the Ravens might take a flier on Brown for the 2020 season. It needs to be noted that all three guys are from South Florida and Marquise Brown is a cousin of Antonio Brown's. So, this could be nothing.

There is also the fact that Antonio Brown has many legal hurdles to clear before it's remotely possible he could play in the NFL again. The 31-year-old played in just one game last season, a Patriots Week 2 win in Miami, before off-field issues led to his release. Several of those legal problems remain in the courts, and Brown surely would be placed on the commissioner's exempt list upon being signed.

Do the Ravens need receiving help? Marquise Brown had a solid rookie season as a first-round pick, but the pickings are thin after him. Baltimore's wideouts combined for 115 catches last season, by far the fewest in the NFL. To be fair, the Ravens did run a ton.

It's much, much more likely that the Ravens will select a receiver fairly early in this month's NFL Draft than sign Antonio Brown. Baltimore's first-round pick is at No. 28 overall, and it has No. 55 (via trade of Hayden Hurst to Atlanta) and No. 60 in Round 2.

It's a deep class of receivers for this draft, and William Hill sportsbook gives an Over-Under of 5.5 picked in Round 1, with the Over a -150 favorite (wager +150 to return $100). Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb and Henry Ruggs will not be available at No. 28, but Tee Higgins could be. The former Clemson star is given an Over-Under draft position of 32.5.

The SportsLine Projection Model did run simulations on the Ravens signing Antonio Brown, but on the condition that he didn't miss any games due to suspension, etc. Baltimore was given a 22.4 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl before adding Brown, second-best behind Kansas City, but a league-high percentage of 25.9 with the four-time first-team All-Pro in the fold.\

RAVENS               WIN       WIN%   DIVISION             PLAYOFF              CONF    CHAMP

Current 11.7        73.10%  80.30%  97.80%  35.20%  22.40%

w/AB     12.1        75.60%  84.90%  99.20%  40.50%  25.90%

Diff.       0.4          2.50%    4.60%    1.40%    5.30%    3.50%