The Baltimore Ravens secured the upgrade at wide receiver they desperately needed after acquiring Anquan Boldin from the Arizona Cardinals.
Pro Bowler moves to Baltimore after trade with Cardinals
The Baltimore Ravens secured the upgrade at wide receiver they desperately needed after acquiring Anquan Boldin from the Arizona Cardinals.
The Ravens traded for Boldin by sending a third and fourth round draft pick to the Cardinals and handing the player a new contract reportedly worth $25 million over three years.
29-year-old Boldin had 84 catches for 1,024 yards last season - the fifth time in his seven-year NFL career that he has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for receiving yards.
Although he is Arizona's record holder for receptions with 586, the Cards were ready to trade him as he entered the last year of his contract and was due $3 million in salary.
Baltimore badly need a star receiver, with only the ageing Derrick Mason a stand-out performer as running back Ray Rice led the team in receptions last season - and the team believe Pro Bowler Boldin is a significant signing.
Improvement
"The Ravens just got better," coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. "Anquan is a significant addition for us. He fits the personality of our team with the hard-nosed, physical way he plays.
"We love the way he competes. Our fans will enjoy watching him compete, and his team-mates will be excited to have him with us."
Injuries have hampered Boldin's career, but despite that he believes he will play a full part in helping the Ravens and feels the style of football suits him perfectly.
"I'm definitely excited. For me, I've been hoping for this for a year since I first heard that the Ravens might be interested in me," Boldin said.
"The Ravens play a certain way. They play as hard and as physical as any team in the league, and I want to add to that. I think I play the way they play."
Boldin joins free agent Donte Stallworth, who was signed last month, in the revamped Ravens receiving ranks for the new season.
