bioLarzen

The picture is clear: Claiborne: better talent, higher star-factor, more potential for highlight reel plays - Carr: much higher consistency, and extreme durability. Claiborne will likely show you eye-popping stuff... when he's on the field, which is not really often. Carr won't make too many of those - but he won't be burned either.

If you take a look around 'Boys fans opinion on Carr, well, it's not the best things they say about him - but there's one fact for you: last season he played a total of 5 games covering Odell Beckham, AJ Green, Mike Evans and Golden Tate, and a gave up a total number of... (drumroll) 1 TD in these games - and even that wasn't really his fault. His last 5 games v the Giants he routinely covered Beckham - and OBJ never had a +100-yard game in this stretch.

Well, guys... if he puts up anything like this in purple & black, that's definitely OK with me.

Oh, and one more thing: many people think that the fact that he contemplated retirement means his heart is not there anymore. Well, I've got six words about what you can expect of guys who publically contemplated retirement then stayed or un-retired:
- Anquan
- Boldin
- Steve
- Smith
- James
- Harrison...

I wonder with this signing do we still go CB first round, or do we go for a ILB/pass rusher

Since Ozzie takes the BPA, if it is a CB when we're on the board, I guess Ozzie will take the guy, regardless of this signing.

10 games of Claiborne > Malcolm Butler...

Add in that Claiborne will likely be cheaper than Butler as well here in 2 years... Plus you get to keep the draft pick. 

... and at this point he's likely going to be a Jet.

Seems like Brandon Carr will be wearing purple and black instead this year.

And now it's official.
The least that can be said is that it definitely has the potential to turn out as a good signing.Less talent than Claiborne, but definitely more consistency and extreme durability.

TWO safeties who can't stay healthy, earning tons of dough!!?....no thanks.

Weddle and Jefferson???

Man, I just hope they're not indeed planning to replace him with Urschel... When a player isn't famous for his on-the-field performance, and also gets outplayed by a rookie, it's seldom encouraging...

I have a Gradkowski v2.0 feeling about having Urschel as our starting C...

1 hour ago, 757RavensFan said:

- If Zuttah was THAT bad, how/why does he go to the Probowl (even as an alternate)?

Tyrod Taylor is a Pro Bowl QB. That should put Zuttah's appearance in perspective.

The tenders for Huff and Rolle have been withdrawn. Seems like the move to create the cap space for Claiborne?

  47 minutes ago, bigcatfrank1 said:

Don't agree, you make it seem like there cannot be players, of similar level in competing positions, that are absolutely more important to add to a given roster. for that matter the Claibourne signing, if it happens, absolutely would have an effect on "priority". What it would not change is the choice of players who will be available for the Ravens at #16.

Why do teams trade positions if they didn't want to improve an immediate need? (of course as Romo shows still can bite you I=A)
Most teams don't trade up for the #1 QB or RB, why because they have solid filled positions. Not because he is the most talented player in the Draft, its a position decision.
It happens all the time.
So the 2 go hand in hand, one plus the other makes the best choice for the team. It s the most logical and the most historically.

Also you say on "our board" so " position need" plays into that decision.

Now sure one can argue which position is of the larger need, this seems to be the stronger of the argument that the post is referring to.

All being said, no one expects the Ravens or any team to take a 2nd round prospect over a 1st round prospect just because of position. Not that it probably hasn't happened, I would say is a rarity

When it comes to the draft the ravens will always go with the guy highest on their board.  Which is the BPA.  If they think they can trade back and still get that player then that is when they will make a trade. Whoever that guy is they are going to go with regardless of what position which is what he is saying.  The board is already set up so it doesn't matter what position the player is if he is the BPA then he is getting selected.  I don't think he is arguing with how the board is put together he is simply saying come draft time it doesn't matter because that whole hypothetical situation of these players are close, but this position is more of a priority. 

 

For example say this is our board and we are on the clock: (think of this list as how we are viewing actual players in the draft and not like they are the actual players)

1. Ed Reed 2. Todd Heap 3. Ben Grubbs 4. Anquan Boldin

Now we need a Guard since Alex Lewis might be kicking out to tackle and this Ben Grubbs type of guard would be a great addition. We also need a receiver and this Boldin type of player would really benefit Joe.   We don't really need a free safety, but we aren't going to pass on this Ed Reed type of player when we think he is the best player on the board.

The trick with the "BPA" ohilosophy is that we don't know what factors in for the evaluation. For example: how much the guy's position is a need position for us - does that factor in? We don't know.

Lawrence Guy's gone to New England.

Can't help thinking it's gonna hurt us more than it would seem...

Per Zrebiec on twitter:

Ravens sign special teams ace Anthony Levine to three-year deal

Great news. Another under-the-radar guy we needed to retain.

  5 hours ago, bioLarzen said:

Per La Canfora on twitter:

Ravens free agent DL Lawrence Guy is visiting the Patriots today.

I don't want to sound like someone who can only be grumpy (my avatar notwithstanding :D) - but losing Guy would IMHO be a much bigger loss than most people would think... He was one of the true unsung heroes of our D last season.

Agreed, but at some point we have to expect guys like Urban, Kuafusi and Davis to step up.  I think Ozzie will find a veteran, Chris Canty-type guy later in FA to plug any remaining voids on the D Line.  Edge rusher and CB are the biggest concerns, IMO.

Sure - but as long as Guy is better, it would be a mistake to let him go - and once Urban or Kaufusi outplays him, they'll start anyway.
Also, our linebacker corps is rather devoid of vested veteran presence of whom our young guns can learn a lot.

  1 hour ago, stixfix69 said:

Keep Webb as J.Smith is made of glass, and much rather have a veteran who can play CB, then throw a rookie CB into the fire....

If we don't sign Claibourne or Amukamoura (I will learn the spelling if they sign like I did Juszczyk) we will draft a rookie corner to start opposite J Smith and even if we do sign one of them, they all, including Smith, have injury issues and so one or both won't even finish the year so we may have two rookie cb and a first year guy (in Young) as corners.

Amukamara is now off the list. He's signed with the Bears.

  31 minutes ago, bioLarzen said:

There seems to be no realistic scenario at this point where at least one of the top 3 corners is not available at #16 - and any of them have the potential to be day#1 starters.

My gut tells me though that if Ozzie picks at #16 it's gonna be a pass rusher.

But if anything, yesterday I learned I should not trust my gut about Ozzie's moves

I know, right?  I wouldn't be surprised if Ozzie went WR at #16.  

I say not surprised because that would be surprising, which I should come to expect from Ozzie, therefore it shouldn't be surprising.

Wr would be a totally legit pick at #16, if Williams or rather Corey Davis is still on the board. I'm not buying the John Ross at #16 hype for a moment.
My guess is though, Cooper Kupp, no earlier than round #2. I think he'll still be on the board by then.

15 minutes ago, fusuymada said:

If we don't sign Claibourne or Amukamoura (I will learn the spelling if they sign like I did Juszczyk) we will draft a rookie corner to start opposite J Smith and even if we do sign one of them, they all, including Smith, have injury issues and so one or both won't even finish the year so we may have two rookie cb and a first year guy (in Young) as corners.

There seems to be no realistic scenario at this point where at least one of the top 3 corners is not available at #16 - and any of them have the potential to be day#1 starters.

My gut tells me though that if Ozzie picks at #16 it's gonna be a pass rusher.

But if anything, yesterday I learned I should not trust my gut about Ozzie's moves

30 minutes ago, stixfix69 said:

Keep Webb as J.Smith is made of glass, and much rather have a veteran who can play CB, then throw a rookie CB into the fire....

Webb's just been cut "per sources".

The writing was pretty much on the wall with the Jefferson deal - but the last 24 hours were all about wiping writings off the wall, as far as Ravens free agency moves, weren't they?

Per La Canfora on twitter:

Ravens free agent DL Lawrence Guy is visiting the Patriots today.

I don't want to sound like someone who can only be grumpy (my avatar notwithstanding :D) - but losing Guy would IMHO be a much bigger loss than most people would think... He was one of the true unsung heroes of our D last season.

The first hours of free agency have made it rather clear that we have holes at
- RT
- CB
- pass rush
- a possession WR

Also, C could do with some upgrade. Luckily, the draft seems to offer a VERY rich talent pool at CB, good options at puss rusher in rounds #1-2 - and our draft squad is always capable of picking up a good RT in the mid-rounds. As for WR - sadly, the Ravens always seemed to be pretty pathetic at identifying and evaluating WR talent, and usully likes to pick WR's on day 3. That would seem to clear up our draft strategy for this year preatty nealy:

Round 1: pass rusher
Round 2: CB
Round 3 (2 picks): RT / C / WR(?)

We can also expect an ILB, a RB and a DT picked up in the mid/later rounds.

... so, this is how it is NOT gonna shake out, naturally :)

This is the point where I officially give up trying to be wise about Ozzie's free agency moves in advance... If there was one thing I was utterly, completely sure about, it was that Brandon Williams would walk. To quote the classic Mink-quip: "ZERO percent chance!" retaining him - that's what I was absolutely sure about.

The only thing I hope now that the FO didn't push the "Win Now" button, trying to assemble a team that has alegit shot the next 1-2 seasons, but will clog the cap situation up helplessly in 3-4 years. The past 24 hours we made many more acquisitions I though would be realistically (a.k.a. cap-wise) possible. Jefferson, Woodhead, Mallett and now Brandon Williams... And I also hope we can still get Guy back... He's the epithome of the under-the-radar guy (no pun intended), but one we would surely/sorely miss...

But, for sure, this free agency is starting out really well for us. Congrats to the FO - and congrats to myself looking like an idiot in retrospect :)

Could somebody tell me why we aint lookin at terrelle pryor

There's no way of knowing whether we are. Thjere have been no rumours about it - b ut there were no rumours about the Woodhead signing either, practically up to the point where the agreement was in principle reached...

And anyway, he has suitors who can easily outbid us - and not every player leaves money on the table - like Jefferson did - to go to a more legit contender.

The Jefferson deal is official.

Tony Jefferson might turn out but I'm not a big fan of bringing in guys from the NFC especially for the secondary. Ravens tried that before and it failed. Weddell (AFC) worked out I believe because he has seen the other teams and QB’s many times. How many times do you think Jefferson has played against Brady or Ben?

Playing against Drew Brees and Rodgers isn't a walk in the park either :D

Jokes aside, what you're saying makes sense - time will tell.

  5 minutes ago, rossihunter2 said:

  17 minutes ago, bioLarzen said:

Oh my - just read the Browns traded for Brock Osweiler...

That alone has made my day - regardless of the Jefferson and Williams-situation

Brock Osweiler... LOOOOOOL

 

  11 minutes ago, Smoke0121 said:

Bio...RIGHT??? There's another year in the books that we don't have to worry about Cleveland getting into the mix. I like Hugh Jackson, but sometimes he leaves me scratching my head. RGIII? Osweiler? C'mon man.

he wont play for them - hell probably be cut pretty soon - they literally just paid to get a 2nd round pick which is kind of clever...

But at what price? the $16 million owed to Osweiler? Would they still be on the hook for his salary? If so, they merely inherited Houston's Horses rearery.

They easily have the money.

  17 minutes ago, bioLarzen said:

Oh my - just read the Browns traded for Brock Osweiler...

That alone has made my day - regardless of the Jefferson and Williams-situation

Brock Osweiler... LOOOOOOL

 

  11 minutes ago, Smoke0121 said:

Bio...RIGHT??? There's another year in the books that we don't have to worry about Cleveland getting into the mix. I like Hugh Jackson, but sometimes he leaves me scratching my head. RGIII? Osweiler? C'mon man.

he wont play for them - hell probably be cut pretty soon - they literally just paid to get a 2nd round pick which is kind of clever...

Yep.
They've got 26 picks the next two drafts... and, being the Browns, I guess they'll blow most of them :D

Oh my - just read the Browns traded for Brock Osweiler...

That alone has made my day - regardless of the Jefferson and Williams-situation :D

Brock Osweiler... LOOOOOOL :)