When news broke June 30 that the Ravens would be without tight end Darren Waller for at least all of this coming season, I was admittedly among the many whose response offered little substance other than my share of snark.
With Waller suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policy and Dennis Pitta gone after a third hip injury, it is easy to second-guess the Ravens' decision to select Alabama cornerback Marlon Humphrey with the 16th pick instead of his Crimson Tide teammate, tight end O.J. Howard (who went three picks later to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). This is compounded by the various injury issues facing the team's other tight ends, as Ben Watson missed all of last season, Crockett Gillmore dealt with a hamstring injury this offseason and Maxx Williams' knee could be an issue that lingers into the season.
The second-guessing is, of course, completely unfair. The Ravens did not know the extent of the issues -- even if Waller had been suspended before, and Pitta would always be a risk due to his two previous major hip injuries. Plus, the depth Humphrey provides in the secondary should be helpful with cornerback Tavon Young sidelined for the year.
