hawkprey

Just to add, Steve Smith was cut, meaning he doesn't count against compensatory picks for 2015's draft.

Right now we have 4 FAs that have signed with other teams (Oher, Graham, McClain and Jones) with Ihedigbo likely to add to that list, so we can sign someone's free agent and still reach the maximum of 4 comp picks.

A motivated Steve Smith is a great asset. How could anyone question this? He's the best, realistic upgrade to our receiving group we could've hoped for.

Our receiving corps still isn't very good adding Jacoby and Steve Smith. It's the same one from last year(one of the worst in the league) with the addition of a 35-year old chain mover. Smith is okay, but he's only getting worse and doesn't make our offense that much more dynamic IMO. 

Steve Smith would be an instant starter. Adding that would be huge. It gives us much better depth and would be a great complement to our other receivers. Smith knows how to get open and we need that badly. 

Now sure, after all the quality WRs of this draft join their teams, assuming we didn't draft any of them, we'd still have a relatively unspectacular group, but that's all we'd need. 

Do you really think we're gonna let our first decent LT in 5 years walk away after all those hits Joe took last year? No way. Not without a great contingency plan. Monroe will almost definitely be a Raven, and if by chance he isn't, the FO will put a premium on a quality replacement. Don't worry about this position.

Agreed! that report was over a year ago but he is credited with being in the neighborhood of a top 10. The question is, what is he worth to the offense? I hope the tag isn't used but it remains an option.

Neighborhood of top 10 is "above average starter". Monroe will get good money because we don't undershoot our top guys to save some change. But he won't get a mega-deal either because he's not that kind of player. 

Pitta shouldn't get a huge contract. He's pretty average for a starting TE. Doesn't block well, isn't a matchup problem, and won't command a lot of defensive attention. His hands are normally very good but not perfect. He's also a tight end, and they don't get as much money as most other positions.

Why would we want to spend a high draft pick on a LT when we have a young, proven one waiting to be resigned? Obviously Monroe would be priority #1 this offseason, especially after all the hits Joe took.

If he goes, we get maybe a 3rd round comp pick, so it wouldnt be a waste of a 4th and 5th either way.

3rd straight Super Bowl with a safety. I blame Goodell. Thats all he cares about.

I hate scared quarterbacks. Just throw it and take the hit.

The Broncos are winning this and everyone will see that Wilson is overrated. Cue the "is Peyton the best ever" talk, only two years after the "Is Eli the better Manning" nonsense.

2 years ago I hated that we signed him. I thought he would be a drain on offense and we'd waste pass attempts throwing to him. Jacoby hasn't been incredible but I'm starting to think I don't want him gone. He exceeded my expectations. He's still a capable player (and good return guy). If we can afford to keep him, we should. We can't risk another setback with this group of WRs.

I think you're reaching here on a couple of these guys, and also on Doss's talent, but I agree that our WRs are above average at best, average is more like it. 

Honestly, I really like Doss and don't think he's getting a fair chance. He's the only one who can make a contested catch on our roster. Joe targets him at a higher rate than any of our WRs.

But our receiving corp as "average"? As in 16-17th best? No way. Average as in a bunch of average guys? Yes, which is well below being the 16th best group. I can't go through every team in depth to make a point, but here's the fact: there is a lot of talent on other teams that we overlook. 

I'd say Torrey is better than the players in bold. However, guys like Amendola, Kerley, Washington and Johnson definitely run better routes. And Smith, Blackmon and Bowe are better at contested grabs. Love Torrey and I think he'll get better but he's barely a top-30 WR at this point. 

 

Not sure whether you intentionally left him or just forget but Keenan Allen is an interesting  name to consider. Not to derail the thread but is he already a comparable WR to Torrey at this point?

I forgot to put San Diego because I really struggled with Oakland. They have a vast wasteland at QB, so none of their receivers are even on the map. But yes, I'd probably say Keenan Allen is already better than Torrey. He might be the OROY.

The point is (and thanks to everyone who replied and understood that I was just making an observation and not a declaration) that it's easy to overestimate how good our receivers are. If anyone but Torrey was cut, he'd have a hard time seeing significant playing time on almost any other team, and Torrey himself would probably be the #2 or #3 (or #4) on most teams as well. What Torrey does well at this point is... being fast. Same as Jacoby. He's not a great catcher or route-runner, or blocker. He's not elusive, physical, or veteran savvy. I love the guy, personally, and wouldn't want him on any other team, but let's not get carried overboard. He needs help. 

Myth: Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones, and Marlon Brown form an above average group of receivers.

Fact: I can name a receiver from every team who is better than Torrey. (Yes these names are debatable, I'm just trying to make a point)

AFCE: Mike Wallace, Jeremy Kerley, Stevie Johnson, Danny Amendola

AFCN: AJ Green, Antonio Brown, Josh Gordon

AFCS: Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Nate Washington, Justin Blackmon

AFCW: Demarius Thomas, Dwayne Bowe, Denarius Moore

NFCE: Victor Cruz, Desean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Dez Bryant

NFCN: Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall

NFCS: Julio Jones, Marques Colston, Steve Smith, Vincent Jackson

NFCW: Golden Tate, Michael Crabtree, Larry Fitzgerald, Tavon Austin

I like our guys, but let's be honest. There's a LOT of overlooked talent on the other 31 teams. Tandon Doss did not make Green Bay's roster, and I think he's actually our 2nd best receiver. Add a true #1 WR to our group and THEN we have a nice cast.

It's hilarious that people drone on and on about how Flacco needs more weapons, they don't have enough receivers.... and this is WITH Jacoby currently on the team.

And yet, people are saying he's replaceable.... they don't need him, and he's not that important.

They need Jacoby Jones more than they need Dennis Pitta back. 

bottom line is, Jacoby Jones was the real MVP of the Super Bowl and he'd probably have better numbers than Torrey Smith by a large margin this year if he wasn't taken out by his own player in the first game of the season.

The guy is a good receiver, but nobody knew it because Matt Schaub was absolutely terrible in Houston.  He's been able to showcase more of his talents than kick returning here in Baltimore because Flacco is better than Scaub.

You have to pay someone besides Flacco.  If Jacoby Jones isn't back, the Ravens better have something better planned than bringing in another Brandon Stokely like they replaced Boldin with.

Absolutely terrible? Schaub was good for a while. He lost his confidence this year but had a number of good ones prior.

Jacoby Jones has some drop problems, can get beat out for the ball, and hasn't proven to be a good YAC runner (despite return-man prowess). What he can do is get open deep and that's where he's useful. But in a year or so, or maybe even now, Deonte Thompson or Tandon Doss could fill that role at a much slimmer price.

There are many WRs on this roster that I like and want to see get playing time, but Jacoby is now one of them. He's caught the ball much better as of late and he's quite the character. Somebody will want to pay him in FA (giving us a nice comp pick) but other than that, I'd be happy to have him on the roster.

I know he's had some big plays, but he's really not a guy who can climb the ladder or fight for position on the ball. He has to be open, and that doesn't happen all that often. Plus we have other good returners. I think he'll cost too much for what he's worth, especially after this year's playoffs.

I haven't watched much, but the more I watch of Manziel, the more I think he shouldn't even be drafted.

Nah... I'm in the top 5, as is gabe, Ravens_, Ray The Day, and ravensdan.

 

I picked in the bottom half of the first round lol.

The other four on the other hand picked in the upper half...

 

 

That means my draft was the best

No, seems more like vote tampering. Your team isn't very good. First you start out with Josh Freeman, who isn't good. Then Demarco Murray at runningback. It's an awful last name that I would be ashamed to have on my jersey. Who is he, an old piani-playing bar rat from the 50's? Your corners are Slay and Shields, which are complete opposites. No consistency there with the defense. And I don't like placing of the letter E in Edelman's name at all. Nope, not a good team.

The people who picked first are all at the top of the rankings. We could've ended this after 1 round. 

ST goes into the intangibles, but I said from the beginning it was not a requirement in this draft. Many teams completely avoided ST and frankly they are not that important compared to the players that play 60% + of snaps.

Pass rush and pass coverage are two completely different things.

I know not everyone drafted ST, okay. I must've missed you saying ST was not a requirement, because it was my understanding that we did 25 rounds so it would be 22 starters  + 3 special teamers. But if you're factoring it in, then ok.

I know pass rush and coverage are different, but that means you're giving it twice the weight of run D. I don't know if I agree about that. Unless you just called it pass rush and "secondary", since secondary players also affect the run D.

SAM wants me to post my power rankings so he can get into his analysis so I will do that now, with a little bit of my thoughts. Also I would like to explain my methodology here. I ranked each team according to 7 categories: Offensive Line, Offensive weapons, QB, Pass-Rush, Run-Defense, Pass-Defense, Age/Injury/Intangibles. Each Category was rated on a 1-10 scale and totaled. The highest total equals my #1 team.

 

I'm just wondering why you have pass rush and pass defense as two categories and why there's no consideration for special teams. (I happen to think my special teams is very good.)

Nooo, tyrod over tim!!!?? I'm so disapointed. I was ready for tebowmania to run wild. Taylormania just doesn't have the same ring.

Sorry, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. 

Tyrod is from VA and scrambles...

 

So he's a logical option

Good call! I actually pegged Taylor as my QB weeks ago, but obviously I knew I could take him as late as I wanted. At this point I'll take my chances with a guy who isn't a great passer because my O-line is very good and my receivers are elusive and are dangerous without having to launch the ball deep.