berad

Generally, I believe I do. Some teams do it in different ways but, for the Ravens, they have area scouts across the country looking into prospects and collecting personal reference information from college sources (coaches, trainers, admin, etc) while comparing that with their own opinions of the players talent and personality. Throughout the year (or years) of research, they write reports and determine whether a prospect is worthwhile, 'draftable' is a word I've heard them use. Eventually, all of these scouts (and guys like DeCosta, Hortiz, etc) reconvene and compile these players into a list. From there, I believe they go about grading and ranking these players with input from the coaches. I'm sure a few players get bumped off the list after further review. The 'final' product is the mythical big board. From there, it's time for the draft where they weigh value with their selections, play the matching game of guessing who teams will pick, and turning their selections in. They also have processes for self-scouting and scouting players on other teams but I know less about that because they discuss it less. Am I ignorant to something with the scouting? I would like to know - because I am interested - and don't want to be clueless about it

Didn't see any specifics as top players the Ravens did not sign in FA because they wanted comp picks instead. The author just says they could've had a number one WR or lockdown CB - that's nice to say but, without an example, it's baseless. The Ravens rarely shell out big money at those spots in FA but that has less to do with comp picks and more to do with team philosophy. Only specifics in the article were bemoaning that some of the comp picks didn't turn out to be good players. That's more of a comment on our scouting, drafting, and development than it is the accumulation of picks. And, at the end of the day, that's a different complaint.

Probably just a time-grab before they can work out a long-term deal.

The first two were home-grown guys who 'made good' and produced. Mid-round picks, too, you want to reward those guys. It generates a positive culture, imo. The Ravens aren't alone in overpaying certain players. I think the current issue is the lack of some top-drafted talent from the 2012 and 2013 drafts not producing and that's come home to roost. Another one, like usmc mentioned, is that our defensive system has faltered. Darian Stewart was pedestrian here but is beasting in Denver on a great defense. We used to be that

They became more valuable recently because they've been freed up to be traded. I'd still like the Ravens to consider it when hunting the FA market. They're not afraid to go at a player who isn't that, though - Weddle and Watson.

Danny Amendola aka Vanillatron available for interested teams with the right offer

That's one way to look at it. The other way is the fact that the heavy-lifting of contract negotiations usually takes place during the combine week, where the FO and agents are in the same place at the same time. Combine starts tomorrow. The clock is ticking, though.

Matt's only decent year was 2013 when he was FS. The rest of the time, he put the stank on the field as whatever his SS/nickel role turned into. He regressed. If he was limited in coverage, we could probably deal with that. Not all safeties can do that. But he lost his ability to tackle consistently, it is inexplicable. Still, he'll have that game-sealing pick vs the Lions on MNF... after he had made some regrettable comments about Calvin Johnson during the week

He's got a nice, shiny Pro Bowl to his name now - he's a hot commodity

Now that Mangold is a FA... sign him and trade Zuttah to the Jets for Sheldon Richardson lol

Will be announced soon. The league year (and salary cap compliance for 2017) starts on March 9th.

Boldin was horribly misused in a Cam Cameron offense. Running him on verticals was a waste of his talents. That was less on Joe, more on the inflexible system and coordinator. We saw the shift when Caldwell came in. They ran posts, slants, etc that emphasized his skill set and size at the position more often. Then, after that, he was traded away. A move I still don't like and was surprised to hear about. Oh well... You could probably say the same for Housh, although he was not the same caliber of player.

Is Elam now one of those 'bad-boy' players that the Ravens so desperately need?

Ty Nsekhe might only be an ERFA based off this article - http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/washington-redskins/need-know-redskins-ot-ty-nsekhe-unlikely-go-anywhere Weird circumstance

New England Patriots OG Brandon Fusco 0.5 stars

Got a few invalids in the middle. Let me know if you see anymore.

All of this is definitely true. Something they can hopefully improve on with a better running game and more commitment to it

I was looking for quarter-by-quarter TOP and 3-and-out stats but had no luck. Same too for strings of games. Outside of tallying it yourself, there might be nothing out there.

Yeah, that's a pitfall of mock drafts. Tough to project.

It's just tough to match those picks to players. If you wait until round 5 to take a player, can you really expect them to be a difference maker? It happens, obviously, but no GM would bank on that. It's why I'm a proponent of trading down... of course, dependent upon who's available then and what we have done in FA.

Yeah did some googling and can't find anything glaring. He came from a rough Florida area - Liberty City. He had to go to a junior college because he didn't meet academic requirements but that seems to be the extent of it. Attitude thing, maybe? No tangible arrests, suspensions, or anything like that. He seems totally fine. No clue, maybe that is overstated. They said Jimmy Smith had character issues, too. The worst thing he's done since being here is get thrown out of an Ocean City bar lol. As a prospect, he's a little older because of his time at junior college and Illinois. Does that detract at all? As to the rest of the draft, I like it. Like getting those two DBs. The one thing is that there are no OL players - at all. The only time the Ravens haven't drafted along the OL was in 2002. I still think it makes the most sense for the Ravens to trade down in the first round, accumulate some 2nd or mid-round picks, and make legitimate selections at DB, OL, WR, and pass rusher.

I've heard Phillips has some character issues - what are those, exactly?

Yup, you got it

You can ignore the dead money on a player and save the 'stars' in the base salary So... If I wanted to release/trade Brady under that rule, this is his salary cap details: He's got a $14M cap hit, $27M dead money, and $1M base salary. Using this rule, I ignore the dead money ramifications and can release/trade him with a 1 star savings rather than a 13 star gain from the dead money. Otherwise, a player like him is unmovable. And, before anyone gets wise, he's not up for trade lol

Is it too late to predict that both Kyle Shanahan AND John Lynch will not last the length of their 6-year contracts? I'd give it, at most, 3 years. Maybe 4 if Jeddy boy is hemorrhaging money on his bad front office contracts. Remember, 'You can't fire owners'.