Dennis Pitta has been one of Joe Flacco’s favorite targets and a focal point of the Baltimore offense for years. Why on earth would he be out the door? Two years consecutively now, he’s had his season cut short by his right hip fracturing and becoming dislocated. Multiple surgeries have both his 2015 status and career in the air, despite his peak performance in 2012, with 94 targets and a Target NEP ranking 14th among tight ends with at least 25 targets. Since then, he’s only played in seven out of a possible 32 games.

Enter the Ravens’ 2015 draft class, consisting of second-round (55th overall) tight end Maxx Williams and fifth-round (171st overall) tight end Nick Boyle. There is no stronger signal than this one. The Ravens are preparing for the worst by taking both a pass-catching tight end that can block in Williams and a blocking tight end that can catch in Boyle. Pair these two with 2014 draftee Crockett Gillmore and there is a passable and young tight end group in Baltimore that will be ready to go when -- not if -- called into action in Pitta’s absence.