Welcome back, Derrick

What a difference a week makes!

Over the past week, the Baltimore Ravens have significantly upgraded their wide receiving corps.

First, they traded for Anquan Boldin and subsequently signed him to a long-term deal.  Today, they brought back Derrick Mason, who was last year’s top option by a landslide.  The Ravens and Mason agreed to a two-year deal worth $8 million, of which Mason will receive $3.5 million this year, per Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun.

“We know exactly what we’re getting with Derrick, and that’s production,” general manager Ozzie Newsome said. “Every Ravens fan knows what Derrick brings to this team. It’s reliability, toughness, leadership, the fight to win and the want of the ball in the clutch times. He has a two-year history with Joe that says, ‘We know how to produce together.’ They are on the same page.”

Heading into the off-season, the most likely scenario was Mason’s return to Baltimore.  However, the Patriots and Dolphins had some interest in Mason’s services as well.

Mason, who turned 36 in January, is neither the flashiest nor the fastest receiver in the league.  But he is as consistent as they come and one of the league’s best route-runners.  Over the past three seasons, he’s finished with 1,087 yards (2007), 1,037 yards (2008) and 1,028 yards (2009).

In addition, the Ravens signed Donte’ Stallworth and tendered Mark Clayton this off-season.  Collectively, those four receivers are much better than the foursome the Ravens had in 2009: Mason, Clayton, Kelley Washington and Demetrius Williams.

With a legitimate group of receivers and the league’s receiving leader among running backs, quarterback Joe Flacco will have several viable weapons in the passing game.  (In early-February, I made an early 2010 fantasy football projection for Flacco.)

Yes, the running game is still the team’s offensive strength as the Ravens have finished in the top five rushing offenses in both of the past two seasons.

But the difference it and the aerial attack much narrower, which will force defenses to play them honestly.  For an offense that finished ninth in scoring (24.4 points per game) and 13th in total offense (351.2 yards per game) in 2009, the upgrades at receiver could vault this team into an overall top five offense in 2010.

Tags: Anquan Boldin, Demetrius Williams, Derrick Mason, Donte Stallworth, Joe Flacco, Kelley Washington, Mark Clayton, Ozzie Newsome, Ray Rice