When Free Agency Finally Begins

[KillaBirdTJ]

Hello fellow Flock;

The draft turned out different than I expected, the jury is out on how these pieces will impact out squad... What concerns me is the lack of attention to the trenches... I trust in OZ so Im expecting him to upgrade some key positions once free agency (God Willing) begins... Id like to hear some feed back about these free agents I would like to see in Black and Purple;

Offensive Tackles;
Tyson Clabo- Falcons
Jammal Brown- Redskins
Doug Free- Cowboys
Jarred Gaither- Ravens (this is my first pick)

Defensive Ends;
Charles Johnson- Panthers
Cullen Jenkins- Packers
Ray Edwards- Vikings
Mathias Kiwanuka- Giants

Linebackers;
Paul Posluzny- Bills
Chad Greenway- (My favorite- he had 92 tackles in 9 games!)
Tamba Hall- Chiefs

[ravenbeast]

[quote name='KillaBirdTJ' timestamp='1304193499' post='677642']
Hello fellow Flock;

The draft turned out different than I expected, the jury is out on how these pieces will impact out squad... What concerns me is the lack of attention to the trenches... I trust in OZ so Im expecting him to upgrade some key positions once free agency (God Willing) begins... Id like to hear some feed back about these free agents I would like to see in Black and Purple;

Offensive Tackles;
Tyson Clabo- Falcons
Jammal Brown- Redskins
Doug Free- Cowboys
Jarred Gaither- Ravens (this is my first pick)

Defensive Ends;
Charles Johnson- Panthers
Cullen Jenkins- Packers
Ray Edwards- Vikings
Mathias Kiwanuka- Giants

Linebackers;
Paul Posluzny- Bills
Chad Greenway- (My favorite- he had 92 tackles in 9 games!)
Tamba Hall- Chiefs
[/quote]
only people we need is gaither and kiwinuka who i think could do jjs job better guy had more sacks in 4 games b4 he got injured than jj did in whole season and he is a hybrid de/olb so he is ok in coverage and against run hes same size as suggs. jj is a horrible 3-4 olb 3.5 sacks when ur not the marked man on the defense get real.

[pittman2052]

Once free agency starts, if it starts, who would you like to see the Ravens go for? I know that most people say Nnamdi and I believe that would be amazing. I believe that we can get Charles Johnson or Cliff Avril.

[T3hRaven]

I'm still saying Matt Light in case Jah Reid can't start right away and Nafahu Tali because McClain will be leaving. If Tali can block for AP, I'm pretty sure he can help open some holes for Ray Rice as a blocking fullback.

[Big Sugar.]

I would love to have Matt Light on RT but i think hes too expensive. Cliff Avril or Kiwanuka would be pretty good.

[Clutch Ravens]

[quote name='T3hRaven' timestamp='1304267853' post='678855']
I'm still saying Matt Light in case Jah Reid can't start right away and Nafahu Tali because McClain will be leaving. If Tali can block for AP, I'm pretty sure he can help open some holes for Ray Rice as a blocking fullback.
[/quote]

Anyone can look good while blocking for AD.

I quite like Cliff Avril. He did a good job rushing the passer for the Lions last year, but is AWFUL against the run.

Some team is going to pay Avril a lot of money because he can get after quarterbacks, but he's just not physical enough to play in the AFC North.

Edit: Oh, and he's a restricted free agent with a 1st and 3rd round tender.

[BloodRaven]

A top flight blocking FB like Vonta Leach or Lawrence Vickers will cost around 4 million a season (also that Vikings FB isn't as good as AD makes you think) and there are good UDFA options like Henry Hynoski out of Pittsburgh.

[ravensfan160]

Whoever the next Cameron Wake is...sign that guy.

[PeRK82]

[quote name='pittman2052' timestamp='1304265165' post='678824']
Once free agency starts, if it starts, who would you like to see the Ravens go for? I know that most people say Nnamdi and I believe that would be amazing. I believe that we can get Charles Johnson or Cliff Avril.
[/quote]

i think first on the to do list is a pass rusher, ozzie said it himself. i dont know who is avalible either. I think we should bring in a non drafted player, i think BROOKES REED didnt get drafted and reminds me of Clay Mathews

[20ravens52]

[quote name='PeRK82' timestamp='1304280932' post='679103']
i think first on the to do list is a pass rusher, ozzie said it himself. i dont know who is avalible either. I think we should bring in a non drafted player, i think BROOKES REED didnt get drafted and reminds me of Clay Mathews
[/quote]

Brooks Reed was drafted in the second rd.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

I'm not convinced that the Ravens drafting Jah Reid means that they have pretty much pulled the plug on Gaither returning. I see it more like they wanted to have much more leverage over the situation. Now that we have Reid, we could maybe get by with him starting at RT and push Yanda back inside to guard, keeping Oher on the left. We're not so desperate to re-sign Gaither, but that doesn't mean we aren't at all interested in doing so.

However, I think it almost certainly means that the biggest deal Gaither will get here is the two year, incentive based deal that seems to be the best option. That way if the team disagrees with Gaither on how much money he's to earn when he's next due a new contract, they simply show him the door because they should be comfortable with Reid at RT.

[DrMoonTooth]

I think we should look into the pass rushers available and definitely consider bringing someone in. Other than that, I think we're pretty set so long as not too many of our free/restricted agents leave. We should attempt to keep Gaither at a reasonable price. Also, if McClain decides to walk, we should look into a fullback via undrafted free agents or free agency as well.

[wayne]

[quote name='PWNEDbyDEANO' timestamp='1304281527' post='679117']
I'm not convinced that the Ravens drafting Jah Reid means that they have pretty much pulled the plug on Gaither returning. I see it more like they wanted to have much more leverage over the situation. Now that we have Reid, we could maybe get by with him starting at RT and push Yanda back inside to guard, keeping Oher on the left. We're not so desperate to re-sign Gaither, but that doesn't mean we aren't at all interested in doing so.

However, I think it almost certainly means that the biggest deal Gaither will get here is the two year, incentive based deal that seems to be the best option. That way if the team disagrees with Gaither on how much money he's to earn when he's next due a new contract, they simply show him the door because they should be comfortable with Reid at RT.
[/quote]
Exactly the way I see it which was a smart move by Ozzie!

[Ed_Reed20]

[b]Manny Lawson[/b].

He isn't a prolific pass rusher but he's athletic, has 3-4 experience and turns 27 this year.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1304287314' post='679197']
[b]Manny Lawson[/b].

He isn't a prolific pass rusher but he has 3-4 experience and turns 27 this year.
[/quote]

Good shout. Won't be expensive, and would be an upgrade over our current OLB depth, which, even assuming Kindle returns, is poor.

[Defence_Is_Salvation]

Matt Light (2-3 year contract)
D'Qwell Jackson (3-5 year contract)
Mathias Kiwanuka (3-5 year contract)

All have various questions (age, current ability and health respectively) but I believe these three would be solid upgrades. I think corner and receiver are set now.

Any thoughts?

[raylewislapsu]

I don't believe that the Ravens sign any high-profile, high-priced guys this year. I know everyone wants Nnamdi but its not going to happen, especially after drafting Jimmy Smith. We have our own players (Haloti, McClain, Flacco, Rice)that are going to be expensive to retain, and I believe that is where the FA money will go. We are probably only going to sign 1 DB between Fabian, Carr, and Wilson and I believe it will be Wilson. I would be pumped if we got Kiwanuka but I seriously doubt it.

[raylewislapsu]

[quote name='Defence_Is_Salvation' timestamp='1304289217' post='679215']
Matt Light (2-3 year contract)
D'Qwell Jackson (3-5 year contract)
Mathias Kiwanuka (3-5 year contract)

All have various questions (age, current ability and health respectively) but I believe these three would be solid upgrades. I think corner and receiver are set now.

Any thoughts?
[/quote]

Matt Light will cost to much and will inevitably go to a team like the Redskins if the Pats don't resign him. I hadn't thought about D'Qwell Jackson as an option, but I'm not even sure that his talent would warrant a mid-tier contract over the less-expenisve contracts of McClain, Phillips, Gooden. I would love to sign Kiwanuka, he is my favorite in this FA class. However, he will not be cheap and would have to adjust to the 3-4, but I am down.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Defence_Is_Salvation' timestamp='1304289217' post='679215']
[b]Matt Light (2-3 year contract)[/b]
[b]D'Qwell Jackson (3-5 year contract)[/b]
Mathias Kiwanuka (3-5 year contract)

All have various questions (age, current ability and health respectively) but I believe these three would be solid upgrades. I think corner and receiver are set now.

Any thoughts?
[/quote]

Light's reported struggles in pass protection make me weary.

I doubt the Ravens sign Jackson, especially for that big of a contract. Here's what DeCosta had to say about the team's ILBs.

[quote]
"DeCosta said that inside linebacker wasn't a high priority for the Ravens in the draft. "Quite honestly, we like our guys," he said. "We've like our inside backers. We think they're getting better. They're young players on the come."

[url="http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/sports/ravens/ravens-pleased-with-draft-class/article_bdb2dcd4-73a1-11e0-8ac5-001cc4c03286.html"]Link[/url]
[/quote]

[ed.s52]

I'd love to have Manny Lawson and a veteran tackle that isnt Matt Light.

Also, even if we resign Landry, there is a good number or UDFA SS's that I would LOVE to have over Naka.

[joey.clark]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1304287314' post='679197']
[b]Manny Lawson[/b].

He isn't a prolific pass rusher but he's athletic, has 3-4 experience and turns 27 this year.
[/quote]
How bout pittsburghs woodley or the other lb/de free agent?

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='joey.clark' timestamp='1304311226' post='679548']
How bout pittsburghs woodley or the other lb/de free agent?
[/quote]

Once a new CBA is reached, the Steelers will likely lock up Woodley for a long time.

Lawson aside, the only other rush LB I see worth signing is [b]Matt Roth[/b].

[Alexir]

UDFA:
Pierre Allen
Steven Friday
Alex Linnenkohl
DeAndre McDaniel
Stanley Havili
Kristopher o'dowd
Eddie Jones

[SuRihtanil]

OLB (KC) Tamba Hali, ILB (TEN) Stephen Tulloch, OL (NE)Logan Mankins those are some names I see that I like in the free agent pool.

If I had to pick just one it would be Tamba Hali, the guy is pretty great at pass rushing.

[Free Agent]

Antwan Barnes is a free agent. We never shouldve traded him.

[Shammy]

Travis LaBoy underated pass rusher Jonathan Fanene DE marcus Spears DE

[JO_75]

Donte Whitner!

[big hits and ball hawks]

[quote name='Free Agent' timestamp='1304353311' post='679809']
Antwan Barnes is a free agent. We never shouldve traded him.
[/quote]

Do you think we would pick him back up?

I wouldn't be against it. He already knows the system and could easily be the guy opposite Suggs bringing the pass rush.

[ken_j]

[quote name='PWNEDbyDEANO' timestamp='1304281527' post='679117']
I'm not convinced that the Ravens drafting Jah Reid means that they have pretty much pulled the plug on Gaither returning. I see it more like they wanted to have much more leverage over the situation. Now that we have Reid, we could maybe get by with him starting at RT and push Yanda back inside to guard, keeping Oher on the left. We're not so desperate to re-sign Gaither, but that doesn't mean we aren't at all interested in doing so.

However, I think it almost certainly means that the biggest deal Gaither will get here is the two year, incentive based deal that seems to be the best option. That way if the team disagrees with Gaither on how much money he's to earn when he's next due a new contract, they simply show him the door because they should be comfortable with Reid at RT.
[/quote]

I agree with much of what you said but I do think Gaither is gone for the following reasons: (1) I think Gaither's desire and passion for the game is being questioned by the front office and his teammates, (2) the return of Harewood and (3) the signing this past March of Vanden Heuvel. I believe the team will offer Gaither the kind of contract you suggest and he will refuse the offer because he wants 4-5 years and more guaranteed money. In the unlikely event he signs the contract, he will be traded, cut or on the disabled list before mid-season. I will be very surprised if Gaither becomes the Ravens' long term solution at either right or left tackle.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='ken_j' timestamp='1304485767' post='681220']
I agree with much of what you said but I do think Gaither is gone for the following reasons: (1) I think Gaither's desire and passion for the game is being questioned by the front office and his teammates, (2) the return of Harewood and (3) the signing this past March of Vanden Heuvel. I believe the team will offer Gaither the kind of contract you suggest and he will refuse the offer because he wants 4-5 years and more guaranteed money. In the unlikely event he signs the contract, he will be traded, cut or on the disabled list before mid-season. I will be very surprised if Gaither becomes the Ravens' long term solution at either right or left tackle.
[/quote]

As much as it certainly isn't to my liking, I think that could well be the way the situation plays out.