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I don't know if he's being forgotten so much as he's being viewed as a potential lock to make the squad and the conversation tends to circle around the guys that are anticipated to be starters, breakout players, and guys that are on the roster bubble. Tyson doesn't really fit anywhere in those categories. He's not likely to be a starter with the guys we have in front of him. Hes been here a while now so in all likelihood we know who he is and what to expect from him, and between the need for experience and accountable depth along the line I would think Tyson is a near lock to make the team unless Urban, Davis, KLM, Guy, and Bulikidi all out play him in training camp and preseason.

You're also forgetting Bilukudi (sp?) in that group. Another rotational guy who provides depth but limited upside. I think he is who he is at this point but does provide depth you can count on. I truly think Canty is safe since he's really the only guy in the group that has tons of experience, years in the system and can provide the veteran leadership to the position group and in the classroom. IMO Canty, Williams, Jernigan, and Davis are locks to make the 53. Tyson and Urban are pretty close to locks unless something unforeseen like injury or a couple of the bubble players really explode on the scene. That leaves KLM, Guy, Bilukudi and the group of UDFA's battling it out for the remaining spots. Who makes it depends a lot on how many we end up taking, performance in camp/preseason and experience. Right now I think Guy and Bilukidi have the edge since they performed well for us last year. I forget how many we took last year, but is it out of the realm of possibilities to take all 9? That's a lot for one position group especially when you consider that Suggs, Doom, Upshaw and Za'Darius all could see snaps as a DE (or even the interior with Upshaw and Z on passing downs) in 4-3 fronts.

And that statement shows me you've only read analyst projections and not watched the tape. All those analysts say that bc of his athleticism and fluid movement he should be effective in coverage - meaning he has the traits necessary to excel - not that it's a strength in his game currently.

Brent Urban has been my pick for breakout player since the season ended. KLM - loved the potential but those 2 injuries are tough. He did look really good last offseason though so you never know. We say he's been out of football which is true as far as game action goes but we don't know what he's been doing at the facility. Granted there's only so much you can do without pads, contact and other players to create competitive situations - but he could be in absolutely incredible shape. Drafting Davis and with Guy playing well last year it's going to be tough for KLM but I won't count him out.

I hear ya, I'm guilty of it myself pretty often. I guess it's because you're absolutely right - they haven't played a snap so we, really no one, has the slightest clue what they'll be. But if we all just accept that and only talk about what we actually know then there's nothing to discuss. Trying to assess potential or best case vs. worst case scenarios and creating a spectrum of where a player will likely fall is about the best we can do until we have some tape to work with. So it can be fun to look at a guy, his physical traits and skill set and then look back at a group of players who were similar coming out of college and how their careers turned out to give yourself at least a mildly accurate system of prediction. So you look at those guys and say ok the best of the bunch became solid starters but no pro bowlers, and the worst of the bunch played 5 years and were rotational guys but no real busts. While it's still a total crapshoot and complete guesswork, it at least gives you a standard of comparison and something to project on... To say ok most likely at best we landed ourselves a solid starter and at worst a guy who can give us some snaps but doesn't solve your need for a starter. Really it's the same thing that scouts and GMs have to do because they don't know anything either.

All season McPhee was rated in the top 5 for OLB by PFF and I believe had the top pass rush efficiency grade. No he wasn't a full time player but if you can get that out of another 4th round pick that's a steal Saying his ceiling is McPhee as if that's some sort of knock on him seems kind of silly with that in mind. With Suggs and Doom both likely having another 2-3 good years left in them that's all he really needs to be and that's 2-3 years more to draft the guy that's going to become our dominant every down edge rusher. And I don't think I or anyone else has said that Za'Darius will be better than Dupree. Just that he's a safer bet to contribute early on since he already has the pass rushing repertoire and technique necessary to win at this level. He doesn't have elite athleticism which keeps his ceiling relatively low but his floor is much higher Tackles in the NFL aren't going to regularly be beat off the edge with speed alone which Dupree seems to solely rely on right now. He is THAT athletic where he'll still make splash plays early on but until he learns some moves and refines technique he won't be a consistent threat. Not saying he can't or won't learn but even if he does it will take time, so I think early on Za'Darius is the safer bet to make an impact. Dupree can become an elite pass rusher where Smith likely won't. But there have been plenty of athletic freaks who have washed out of the league bc they rely solely on their athleticism. Plus in Pitts defense he's probably going to be asked to drop into coverage and play the run effectively in order to see regular snaps - 2 things he's barely been asked to do at all. Jarvis and Worlids - two pretty highly rated olb's coming out that have failed to amount to anything at all there. I like Dupree better than I liked either, but like them if he can't develop a well rounded game he'll find it tough to get on the field consistently. And if he doesn't, we'll then he's a situational pass rusher, and if that's the case than being Pernell McPhee is about as good as it gets (from an efficiency and pressure standpoint) so then were talking about 2 players that end up having a similar impact - just one who does it with freak athleticism and one who does it with technique. And if I'm a betting man I tend to side with the players who are technicians coming out over the athletic freaks bc they don't have as far to go.

Plus with Jernigan becoming a full time player we should generate a more consistent inside rush which will help offset the loss of McPhee. Urban and KLM also looked explosive rushing the passer in preseason before injuries hit so we can't really count on their contributions but I wouldn't count them out either. And you never know, Ozzie may yet have another trick up his sleeve to add another pass rusher before the season hits. Nothing blockbuster but another Arrington like signing.

Look I think that we are a top team and have as good a shot at winning a Super Bowl this year as anyone else... We have young talent and potential just pouring out of the depth chart. If our picks and stashed/injured returning projects pan out we will have the deepest, most complete team in the NFL and will have achieved that status with youth everywhere. Sets up well for another 5 years of constant contention. BUT we do have to be honest with ourselves and admit that a lot of this is contingent upon unproven commodities achieving their potential. In theory Maxx, Breshad and Waller should really upgrade the offense. But if none are ready to contribute or even worse if they don't pan out then were actually pretty devoid of talent at TE and receiver. Our dline could be a monster... Or it could be average if Jernigan hits a sophomore slump and Urban, KLM, Davis and Za'Darius aren't ready. If Webb and Jimmy don't make full recoveries our secondary is still a mess. We have yet to see if the Oline last year can replicate their success without Kubiak and his system here. Forsett has had one good NFL season. So a lot of questions have to be answered positively for us to be what has us all salivating. A LOT if I'm honest. So it's not exactly a foregone conclusion. But I am confident that most of these question marks won't be issues. I believe we have the coaching staff to develop the insane amount of talent we've stockpiled. I believe Ozzie and co have done a great job of selecting talented players with the right DNA to limit the possibility of failing or busting. They're guys with the right mindset and work ethic to reach their ceiling. And I believe we have the right veteran leadership to pull it all together and take us deep. So I'm on board and I believe. Just think some are anointing Breshad and Maxx as pro bowlers out the gate and ignoring the fact that we lost the best OC we've ever had.

And even the d-line, we lost Ngata and McPhee rotating in but Jernigan and Williams will be a year better, Canty will hopefully be healthy, Brent Urban and KLM who both looked explosive and powerful last year before injury will be returning, and we added young talents in Carl Davis and Za'Darius. Yes we lost 2 proven and productive contributors but we still have one of the best line backing corps and an improved secondary which both improve the D-Line and have young talent just bursting at the seams. Sure they're question marks at this point but by having 4-5 of them who have flashed serious potential 1 or 2 at least are bound to reach that potential. If Jernigan can do what he did last year as a full time player and just 1 of Urban, Davis, KLM and Za'Darius can have a big impact I think we'll be far better overall. I'm glad we lost starters on the dline bc if we hadn't then Urban, KLM and Davis likely wouldn't get a real shot. Now they'll be forced on the field and I think they explode. We're going to have an embarrassment of riches on the line after this season.

He carried a $4.5 mill cap hit, and they just won a Super Bowl. Just like the Ravens did they won't hang onto good players if they aren't the right value. They have young players at the position they want to give more snaps that are cheaper - they need to get these guys on the field so they can contribute for the next Super Bowl run and while Arrington makes them better now, $4.5 mill is just too much for a rotational nickle corner. Besides they didn't want to get rid of him just wanted him at a lesser number. They tried to resign him, we just made a better offer.

Guess he was the best player on the board. He has definite upside and is a mammoth of a man especially for the position. You're right though that if/when Pitta is healthy and active there just won't be enough room for him. If Pittas IRed to start the season Boyle will make the team as the 3rd TE if they feel Maxx and he are ready. If not they pick up a scrap heap vet from cuts. If Pitta is healthy to start the season I imagine Boyle with either mysteriously get an ankle or knee injury in the 4th preseason game and go on IR for the season to stash him or he hits the PS. He'll basically take the role of what Supernaw did last year. (Side note - sad to see Supernaw go. LOVE that name!).

Upshaw has sledge hammers for hands! My goodness if the guy could learn some pass rush moves and get some quickness and flexibility in those hips he really could be an effective pass rusher. Unfortunately I just don't think it's ever going to happen. He's the next (or current?) JJ. He'll never be a household name with gaudy stats or probowls but his value to the team and organization is huge. Play Like a Raven.

Agreed, I think smith is the better football player by far. Dupree is a far better athlete and for that reason alone may have a higher ceiling. If Dupree can learn football he has the potential to be a dominant pass rusher though I don't think he'll ever become well rounded because he's not patient or disciplined enough to play the run at an elite level. Smith is new to football (I think senior year of HS was his first time playing) so developmentally we may only be seeing the tip of the ice berg. And to be that new to the game, his arsenal of pass rush moves is really impressive. His hands and footwork are top notch. It's clear he understands how to win 1-on-1 with technique even when his athleticism doesn't allow him to win right away. He re-establishes himself and takes the appropriate angle to attack the QB even when he's blocked past the play or the QB scrambles. He understands his role within a scheme or even a certain play and was partially responsible on some if not many of Dupree's big plays. For the guy to be as polished as he is in his technique and understanding of the game this early on in his development is really really impressive. It's exciting that he'll get to continue that development in black and purple. If I was betting on which of the 2 has a longer, more successful career when all is said and done I honestly believe Smith is the safer bet. IMO his floor is to be a solid rotational pro that will always have a market as that 2nd or 3rd situational pass rusher. Dupree has the requisite athleticism and raw ability but has much further to go when it comes to learning the game and the detailed technique necessary to succeed at the pro level. Much more likely to completely bust.

Did you guys see the rookie camp video and the bit with Harbaugh talking to Waller? I like it. Catching the coaches eye already.

Exactly my thoughts. With guys like Maxwell getting $10+mill it was an over inflated market. What'd Cary Williams get, like $4mill? I know an outside corner is worth more but Cary is just good in the outside, and not exceptional at any one thing. Arrington is an elite slot corner capable of completely shutting down that absolute best slot receivers. I'll take a specialist that is top notch in that one area even if he is weak otherwise over guys that are just good overall. This move highlights Ozzies brilliance, as you mentioned the only reason we can land a player of this caliber especially at this price is because all the teams with a combination of need and cap space either exhausted their resources or adequately filled their need. And Ozzie ends up basically bidding against himself for a more highly coveted player than what was originally available. And the more I think about it the more I love this move. Jimmy has shown the ability to shut down big fast outside receivers. Webb is versatile. But we've struggled against crafty, slot receivers. Welker used to kill us. We couldn't stop Edelman at all in the playoffs. If I recall TY Hilton did pretty darn well against us. Sanu is another one. Arrington gives us the ability to really be aggressive and play straight up man coverage even in 3-4 wide sets. We now have the size and length on the outside and the technique and quickness on the inside the shut down whatever the offense throws at us. Really really excited. Getting the same kind of buzz and feeling I had going into 2012.

The only analysis provided in his post was that he thought Waller looked smooth in his routes in the rookie camp vids. So unless you saw some video of him tripping over his own feet while running routes I don't know why you're ripping the guy. He didn't say that according to his evaluation he thinks Waller projects to be as good as Calvin Johnson which is clearly what you're insinuating with your overly sarcastic post (the use of sarcasm was poor by the way, and my "astute" analysis of sarcasm comes with my honorary title of "Astute Judge of 3rd Grade Level Use of Sarcasm and Vocabulary"). Your reading comprehension is off the charts. It's obvious that you thoroughly read his post and have a clear understanding that the phrase "I hope he's Calvin Johnson" is not the same as "according to my evaluation he will be similar to Calvin Johnson." /Sarcasm Thank you for taking the time to completely misunderstand one of our Flock member's innocent and enthusiastic post which included minimal analysis which actually was "astute" followed by an optimistic wish that you misconstrued as player evaluation; and then make a failed attempt to make fun of the poster which only backfired by highlighting your own "astute" reading comprehension. We all appreciate your contributions to the conversation. I know that I personally will turn to you when in need of some comprehensive, in depth player analysis or evaluation since you've clearly crowned yourself an authority on the matter. Never again will I recommend anyone post even minor conclusions about a players ability or their optimistic preseason dreams of what a player could be without first getting the seal of approval from you, sir. Danny D. I now know what the "D" stands for.

With the transformation of the TE position and specialization where you now typically have 2 TE's, one who's a pass catcher and one who's a blocking specialist, does it really matter what you call him? Is there really any difference between a humongous WR that is an exceptional blocker and a lightning fast TE that's slightly undersized (weight-wise), a decent blocker and with really good hands as a pass catching weapon? I mean at that point you're describing the exact same thing, just throwing a different label on it. Forget titles - he is what he is - a dangerous receiving threat with exceptional athleticism for his size who uses that size well to block the outside in the run game and is a matchup nightmare in the passing game... Who is raw in his technique and route running. TE/WR? Who cares. He's another potential weapon.

I wonder - if Arrington had been a FA at the beginning of the offseason where would he have ranked among the available corners on the market?? With that in mind what size deal would he have likely received early on in free agency? And how does that number compare to what we got him for? Well played, Ozzie. Well played. Check and mate.

Man I love our front office. Having Ozzie at the helm is such a luxury - even with all the praise the majority of Ravens fans and football fans in general heap on Ozzie I still think he's taken for granted. He's mastered the offseason roster building game. While everyone else races to overpay the biggest names on the FA market, Ozzie only signs players that he truly covets at a fair price... Anything else he doesn't knowing well that with patience eventually a bargain will surface. And here we go - our biggest weakness from last season... CB depth... Where most teams and fans would reason that since it's the biggest and most glaring weakness you should aggressively address it as soon as possible. Meanwhile Ozzie keeps cool waiting for the perfect time to pounce. Waiting for another team to cut bait with a solid veteran piece that he'll get well below market value because the demand is no longer there to drive price up. Enter Arrington stage left. Contract presented by Ozzie. Roster needs filled, talent replenished. Deep playoff run. End scene.

Yea and Bryn Renner is taking Flacco's.

I sincerely doubt it. They traded back into last years draft to get him, he showed serious potential in limited snaps last year, is the only receiver on the roster that provides his unique size/quickness/route running, and is one of the few guys on the roster being considered as our full time returner. And I don't think a couple nagging injuries in his 1 and only season so far constitutes "durability issues." That's quite a leap. And before you say anything yes I know about his injuries in college and no I don't care. Nothing serious. Camp is as near a lock to make the team as any receiver. SSS and Perriman are the only two that I think are more guaranteed a spot than Camp.

Hand picking negative plays is easy to do. You could do the same for plays where he ran great routes and got great position on the DB and shows great body control in the air to pluck the ball at the high point. Neither is fair or shows what he actually he is as a player on a consistent basis. Plus, route running can be improved. His father was a speedster coming out of college and a poor route runner, and didn't have anywhere near the size and strength Breshad does. Yet he worked tirelessly to become a technician and great route runner on his way to a solid career. That bodes well for the possibility that Breshad can do the same. Kids develop and turn out a lot like their parents in many ways. Breshad has more than just straight line speed. He's fast, tall, strong, has great body control, tracks the ball well, works back to the ball when plays break down, attacks the ball in the air and highpoints it, and contrary to reports has great hands just needs to work on concentration and securing the ball before worrying about taking off up field. It doesn't matter at all what any analyst says or how anyone can hand pick plays and break them down to show how good or bad Breshad will be as a pro. College is over and what he did there has no bearing on what he'll do going forward. It can help to project, but ultimately it comes down to how hard he works to perfect his craft. He's got a great support system, environment to learn, and all the natural tools/ability to be a good-to-great NFL receiver. You can be down on him all you want... But based on the number of guys you've been down on that have turned out to be really good, or your prediction of how bad we were going to be going into last season I'm inclined to think that the opposite is much more likely to happen. I'll go out on a limb right now and say Breshad winds up with 50-60 catches, 800-1100 yards and at least 6 TDs. He'll be our starting X receiver by week 3. -- BTW who are these guys from "RSP." Looks like some dude in his man cave whose wife bought him a webcam for Xmas so she could have the TV to herself on weekends. Does he/they have any credentials or level of expertise? Coached or played at any level? Any reason to take their word as more credible than any other casual fan? JW bc anyone can make a YouTube video and come up with an acronym to try and sound official.

This kid COULD be a steal where we got him. In the tape I've watched he has legit 1st round ability. At times he just completely manhandles lineman; literally just like minor speed bumps in his way. He can crush a pocket and totally take a game over. For stretches of games his contribution would equate to basically eliminating an entire offensive possession from the other team. I like the comparison I saw on here to being a Haloti Ngata-Lite or "poor man's" as the cliche goes... But imo it's accurate - both the good and the bad. His upside is similar though not as consistent or explosive. Unfortunately from what I've seen he has the same concerns in that he doesn't have a high motor or if he does he chooses to take plays off. It looked to me like when he wanted to dominate he did. If the game was in hand, seemingly out of reach, or for one reason or another not worth it to him he looked like he was just going through the motions... Satisfied to just occupy a blocker or force the play outside. His pursuit when he wasn't immediately involved in a play was lackluster more often than not. And if he didn't win early when rushing I didn't see many counter moves or an ability/desire to disengage. So, my evaluation is that the talent is there. His potential is off the charts and if he commits to working hard and staying motivated we absolutely got a steal in the third round. I wouldn't be at all surprised for him to become a well above-average starter with a long career to possibly a pro-bowl level player. But I could also see him not becoming more than a rotational player who frustrates everyone because he'll occasionally make splash plays that just make your jaw drop but then entirely disappear the rest of the game. He reminds me a bit of Nick Fairley as far as the spectrum of what he could become as an NFL player when he was coming out. Not saying our guy will pan out the way he did, but to me he's got similar upside/potential and concerns with consistent effort and willingness to put the extra work in to achieve his potential. Here's hoping we get the best of him... Bc if we do him, Williams, and Jernigan will give us one of the most dominant, young d-lines in football within the next couple years and one we could keep in place for the better part of a decade.

I'm really excited about Za'Darius. He's only been playing football for 5 years yet already looks like a savvy pass rusher with multiple moves and ability to counter when he doesn't win immediately. Even when he's pushed outside he shows patience, keeps his eyes locked on the ball carrier and re-establishes an angle to attack. He doesn't have the pure athleticism that his bookend has... Doesn't have the greatest burst, hips or closing speed but he wins with intelligence and technique. So his ceiling might not be as high as a guy like Dupree but because of how he achieves success I think his floor is far higher than most. He should have success immediately as a rotational guy. Really like him to fill in McPhees role.

Excited for this. I live in Bucks County, PA just north of Philly so I'll finally have an opportunity to see a Ravens training camp practice!