Clearing cap space

[arnie_uk]

Ok, so we are cutting or trading leach, saving 3mil. Why so late? The money was needed early in the offseason. Of course you could say they've had a close look at juice, but they could still keep both.

Are they planning something, a free agent, a trade possibly. I'm going to throw one name out there even though its unlikely. Someone mentioned it on another bard that victor cruz' deal drops to 600k on the 17th of June. Would he be a potential target, or even his partner he wants a new deal in nicks?

What other free agents are out there, or possible trades they could be clearing these cap dollars for?

[SecretAgentMan]

Why would the Giants trade Cruz for a FB?

 

If we are going to do anything it's most likely going to be....

 

Potential Trade Targets/Teams that would peruse Leach

 

Titans(Johnson)

Jags(To get MJD back on the right track)

Vikings(They already got a good FB, but Leach is better)

Texans(Casey left. Having help from Foster would always be good)

Chiefs(We could prob rib these guys off)

Bears(Maybe this move helps Forte. Leach could also come in on passing downs and block for Cutler)

 

 

I don't think we can get any talent like that unless we include another player/pick.

 

A realistic move is Leach for say a sixth/seventh round pick

[HomeoftheBRAVENS]

My guy is Kenny Britt.Hes in a contract year and the titans arent sure if the want to move forward with him.They also have a plethora of good young wrs that they can fall back on and a need for a blocker like Leach who can help CJ2k return to what he once was.Torrey Smith,Kenny Britt and Jacoby Jones would be 10x more potent than Smith,Boldin and Jones.

[Gordo52]

Yeah I don't get why so late neither. Ozzie usually tries to cut bait early so those players could look for work somewhere else.

Don't get me excited about the dream of having Nicks or Cruz on our team. I can't think of any other big names potentially on the market. Could this help make other possible restructures for say Suggs or Ngata more flexible to do? Maybe something for Pitta or Jones that's front loaded? Don't know.

[CARavensFan]

My guy is Kenny Britt.Hes in a contract year and the titans arent sure if the want to move forward with him.They also have a plethora of good young wrs that they can fall back on and a need for a blocker like Leach who can help CJ2k return to what he once was.Torrey Smith,Kenny Britt and Jacoby Jones would be 10x more potent than Smith,Boldin and Jones.

 

I'd be intrigued by this, but I doubt the Titans would trade a young WR who still has potential despite his issues for a 31 year old FB.

[rmw10]

I don't see this being for anything immediate.  I see it more as cutting Leach so he can find a team before training camp, and saving some money for those future training camp cuts.

[SecretAgentMan]

Yeah I don't get why so late neither. Ozzie usually tries to cut bait early so those players could look for work somewhere else.

Don't get me excited about the dream of having Nicks or Cruz on our team. I can't think of any other big names potentially on the market. Could this help make other possible restructures for say Suggs or Ngata more flexible to do? Maybe something for Pitta or Jones that's front loaded? Don't know.

I'd rather have Nicks over Cruz.. That's just me...

Nicks>>> Boldin. Has better hands too 

[Gordo52]

I'd rather have Nicks over Cruz.. That's just me...
Nicks>>> Boldin. Has better hands too

Agreed completely. Nicks is one of my favorites, if he could only stay heathy he would be a top 4,5 receiver IMO.

[SecretAgentMan]

Agreed completely. Nicks is one of my favorites, if he could only stay heathy he would be a top 4,5 receiver IMO.

Prob is, Jerry Reese is a fine GM, he doesn't make mistakes often.

He's not that stupid.

[HomeoftheBRAVENS]

I'd be intrigued by this, but I doubt the Titans would trade a young WR who still has potential despite his issues for a 31 year old FB.

 

 

Wed probably sweeten the pot with something like a 4th round pick.Were going to have another 11 or 12 picks next year so that wouldnt hurt us.

[hawkprey]

Signing Daryl Smith shrunk our cap space by around $0.6 million, and we are likely trying to sign Pitta to a long term deal. 

 

EDIT: Just to note, the original plan was for Leach to restructure, so it's not that we needed all $3 million for a reason.

[SecretAgentMan]

Then there's my second category. 

 

Stupid Teams we can take advantage of

 

NYJ-Rex seems to love to scoop up our old players. Leach for a first rounder maybe?? ;)

KC- They traded a second round pick for someone who is nothing more than a game manager, cut a great RT, and completely ignored the QB position in the draft, in addition to having a crappy one. 

Miami Dolphins- They're not stupid, but they do enjoy trading away/letting go of they're younger talent.

Bills-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

[IH EART DA RAVENS]

Then there's my second category. 

 

Stupid Teams we can take advantage of

 

NYJ-Rex seems to love to scoop up our old players. Leach for a first rounder maybe?? ;)

KC- They traded a second round pick for someone who is nothing more than a game manager, cut a great RT, and completely ignored the QB position in the draft, in addition to having a crappy one. 

Miami Dolphins- They're not stupid, but they do enjoy trading away/letting go of they're younger talent.

Bills-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

I'd be afraid to take a 1st round pick from the Jets. They draft so poorly I'm frightened even a choice we got from them would turn out terribly, just as a lingering byproduct of that team.

[JO_75]

I'd be afraid to take a 1st round pick from the Jets. They draft so poorly I'm frightened even a choice we got from them would turn out terribly, just as a lingering byproduct of that team.

So you would be afraid of adding a Franchise Left Tackle like Jake Matthews or Taylor Lewan with that pick? 

[rmw10]

According to Aaron Wilson, we'll be $6.6M under the cap with the release/trade of Leach.  However, we still need approximately $1.2M to sign Elam.  Once the rule of 51 is up, knock off about another ~$2M in various contracts for IR guys and such.  We really don't have that much to make a move.

[Yatagarasu]

Yeah I don't get why so late neither. Ozzie usually tries to cut bait early so those players could look for work somewhere else.

Don't get me excited about the dream of having Nicks or Cruz on our team. I can't think of any other big names potentially on the market. Could this help make other possible restructures for say Suggs or Ngata more flexible to do? Maybe something for Pitta or Jones that's front loaded? Don't know.

Answer is Kyle Juzszcyk. Once we drafted him, Leach's name was in the wall.

[Gordo52]

Answer is Kyle Juzszcyk. Once we drafted him, Leach's name was in the wall.

He won't give us any where near the power blocking Leach did. I think we wanted to keep him but just not at this price obviously. I'm excited to see what Juice's role will be next year, I think he's gonna be huge for us. I felt that way even before Leach got cut.

[The Raven]

He won't give us any where near the power blocking Leach did. I think we wanted to keep him but just not at this price obviously. I'm excited to see what Juice's role will be next year, I think he's gonna be huge for us. I felt that way even before Leach got cut.

 

Don't say that too soon. Juice's reputation came from his ability as a receiving fullback, but he could make some huge blocks too. I think we might see more 21 personnel looks with Juice here. He can be used in the slot, on the line, and in the backfield. We could easily have the most versatile and least predictable I-formation in the league.

 

I think we're either eyeing a FA, or more likely, planning an extension for Pitta. 

[Grendelwulf21]

Remember when everyone was freaking out before? Let's just trust the Ravens here :)

[Gordo52]

Don't say that too soon. Juice's reputation came from his ability as a receiving fullback, but he could make some huge blocks too. I think we might see more 21 personnel looks with Juice here. He can be used in the slot, on the line, and in the backfield. We could easily have the most versatile and least predictable I-formation in the league.

I think we're either eyeing a FA, or more likely, planning an extension for Pitta.

From the YouTube videos I've seen of him he does make some good blocks. The level of competition he blocked against is what has me a little concerned. Leach has been the best blocking FB in the league by far for awhile IMO. I just don't see him being close his first couple years. Hopefully I'm wrong. I agree about most versatile part though, gonna be fun to watch.

[Alexir]

They drafted Juice pretty high for a FB, so the writing was on the wall. They probably were going to wait 1 more year but I guess Kyle showed them a lot in OTAs

[GrimCoconut]

I'm not sure if this was done for a specific reason. I think we did it because number one we like to have room. You never know when someone could get injured or if a player isn't ready we might need to sign or trade for someone.

It certainly is possible we did this because we wanted to sign, trade for, or extend a certain player but I think this was done more to protect ourselves for this year.

Remember that you can carry over cap space into 2014. I realize he helped our run game significantly but his role was a bit limited even if he was or is the best blocking fullback in the NFL. Cutting him isn't a wasted move. Don't forget if we keep him who is cut? That's two spots for a FB.

I can see the team use this money perhaps to extend one of its own. I would love to use this to extend Pitta. We'll probably just use it on something I would never expect lol.

[IH EART DA RAVENS]

So you would be afraid of adding a Franchise Left Tackle like Jake Matthews or Taylor Lewan with that pick? 

Nah I was just kidding, probably like he was kidding about getting a 1st rounder for Leach. Just picking the low hanging fruit that is the Jets.

[Alexir]

We should be 7 Million under right?

[SecretAgentMan]

We should be 7 Million under right?

6.8ish

[rmw10]

We should be 7 Million under right?

 

$6.6M, $5.4M when Elam signs.

[K-Dog]

Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaach.

 

:(

[The Raven]

From the YouTube videos I've seen of him he does make some good blocks. The level of competition he blocked against is what has me a little concerned. Leach has been the best blocking FB in the league by far for awhile IMO. I just don't see him being close his first couple years. Hopefully I'm wrong. I agree about most versatile part though, gonna be fun to watch.

 

He's athletic and strong, as well as tough. There might be a learning curve, but I expect him to be a more than capable blocker. He'll never reach Leach's ability as a pure blocker, but he'll surpass the average FB.

[Gordo52]

If the writing was on the wall that Leach would be released because of drafting Juice so high than why'd we try restructuring and why did Ozzie wait so long?

I guarantee it was a difficult move that Ozzie and friends didn't want to make but had too. Maybe we drafted Juice so high for insurance incase Leach didn't agree to a restructure?
I think they would have preferred having Juice be mentored by Leach for next year (or maybe two, depends on restructured offer they offered) and would've had no problem keeping two FB's for a year or two...
Especially since Juice is so versatile and can do a lot more than just play FB.

[gabefergy]

According to Aaron Wilson, we'll be $6.6M under the cap with the release/trade of Leach. However, we still need approximately $1.2M to sign Elam. Once the rule of 51 is up, knock off about another ~$2M in various contracts for IR guys and such. We really don't have that much to make a move.

This. We really needed the cap space just to operate. PS and such.