Report: LT Eugene Monroe one of Ravens' priorities

[rmw10]

Unless Taylor Lewan fell to us at 17, I don't see a LT that could step in and start from day 1. Factoring in the 2 picks we gave away for Monroe, then the 1 we'd use on another LT. I can't see Ozzie taking that loss on the chin without giving a real effort to keep Eugene. 

 

I wouldn't even consider Lewan a 100% viable alternative.  He has a lot of question marks coming out.  As much as it sucks to invest that much money into a guy that isn't the unquestioned best at his position, we have to do it.

[izvoodoo]

Looking at that chart for LT, I think Monroe fits in nicely at the $8M bracket.

I agree, the franchise tag is about 3 mil more than he's worth.  Which isn't bad.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

Looking at that chart for LT, I think Monroe fits in nicely at the $8M bracket.

been saying exactly this for quite a while now lol; given his age and contracts signed last year, Monroe should fit between what William Beatty and Jake Long got...

[BmoreBird22]

Looking at that chart for LT, I think Monroe fits in nicely at the $8M bracket.

Those numbers were before a $10 million dollar raise in the salary cap.

[rmw10]

Looking at that chart for LT, I think Monroe fits in nicely at the $8M bracket.

 

I'd be okay with giving him $8m. Not thrilled, but wouldn't complain either.

 

That's probably where he should be, but he has all of the leverage.

[BmoreBird22]

been saying exactly this for quite a while now lol; given his age and contracts signed last year, Monroe should fit between what William Beatty and Jake Long got...

  

I agree, the franchise tag is about 3 mil more than he's worth.  Which isn't bad.

Those numbers were done before a $10 million dollar raise in the salary cap

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

Those numbers were before a $10 million dollar raise in the salary cap.

even so, his price shouldn't go over Jake Long's and that is at 8.5 mil / year

also, the 10 mil refers to the whole team, so an increase of approx 200.000 per player

[flynismo]

Those numbers were before a $10 million dollar raise in the salary cap.

That's well and good, but guys like Monroe do not re-establish the market. If he wants paid more than the $8M other comparable players are getting, he'll need to get that elsewhere

[TDubbs]

I wouldn't even consider Lewan a 100% viable alternative.  He has a lot of question marks coming out.  As much as it sucks to invest that much money into a guy that isn't the unquestioned best at his position, we have to do it.

 

He's definitely not, and we need to add a skilled guy at the pick as well. When we have the chance to solidify the LT for the first time in 5 years, we have to. We can't have another year of Flacco taking that kind of beating

[flynismo]

 We can't have another year of Flacco taking that kind of beating

Absolutely right. But one solid LT isn't going to accomplish that goal. Flacco was getting murdered all year WITH Monroe in the lineup.

[rmw10]

Absolutely right. But one solid LT isn't going to accomplish that goal. Flacco was getting murdered all year WITH Monroe in the lineup.

 

But you're best course of action to stop that beating is to invest into Monroe, and take the typically small investments it takes to secure a C and/or RT.  You can find solid Cs and RTs at relatively modest prices/investments.  You can rarely find a LT.

[flynismo]

But can we rely on the draft?  We thought we were getting our future LT in Oher and that didn't work out.  Even the top, sure things at LT sometimes turn out to not be the sure things they were made out to be.  Who in this draft would we even take?  I don't see anyone that is any sure thing.  We could waste a draft pick and be stuck in the same position again next year.  The point still remains that we have a guy that can solidify a position that we've been incredibly weak at for 5+ years now.  We have the opportunity to alleviate that need.  Is it an expensive fix?  Absolutely, but what other choice do we have?  We found a proven commodity.  We can't ignore that and go to a guy that may or may not be the answer.

I understand your point. I got hell for saying that Riley Reiff was going to be a mild bust, despite the popular opinion that he was the  "safest" OT in the draft. Caught hell for my comments on Oher when we took him as well. But between the draft, and FA, Monroe is not our only option, and if he cannot accept a reasonable contract, then he no longer is our best option either.

[rmw10]

I understand your point. I got hell for saying that Riley Reiff was going to be a mild bust, despite the popular opinion that he was the  "safest" OT in the draft. Caught hell for my comments on Oher when we took him as well. But between the draft, and FA, Monroe is not our only option, and if he cannot accept a reasonable contract, then he no longer is our best option either.

 

What are our other options though?  I don't see anyone in the draft that's going to be an improvement at where we pick.  In FA, I don't see anyone that's any better than Monroe that is going to get less money.  There are certainly other options, but they're all risky and not sure things.  We know what we're getting in Monroe.  We don't know what we're getting in anyone else.

[gabefergy]

That's well and good, but guys like Monroe do not re-establish the market. If he wants paid more than the $8M other comparable players are getting, he'll need to get that elsewhere

The market was already set when Jason Peters got 11M per at age 32. Is Monroe that good? No, but he is younger and the next best OT on the market. I think his value is 8-9 per year, but given the market now and the cap increase, if it takes an extra 1-2M I think we have to do it.

[rmw10]

The market was already set when Jason Peters got 11M per at age 32. Is Monroe that good? No, but he is younger and the next best OT on the market. I think his value is 8-9 per year, but given the market now and the cap increase, if it takes an extra 1-2M I think we have to do it.

 

Exactly.  The Peters deal is what did us in.  Peters has the accolades on his side, while Monroe has age on his side.  Do they balance out?  Probably not exactly, but it gives a good baseline as to what Monroe's value is and what we're likely going to have to pay.

[BloodRaven]

Gabe is right, Monroe isn't going to be paid what he's worth, he's going to be paid according to his market demand. Right now his value is massive, he's an emerging top 5 blindside tackle whos combination of youth, upside and proven talent is unmatched in the FA or draft class.

[cursona pirate]

I have a feeling we won't hear anything till like 3:45 lol. Last minute franchise tag

[BmoreBird22]

I have a feeling we won't hear anything till like 3:45 lol. Last minute franchise tag

Which could mean the two sides have been in the Castle from very early this morning trying to actively work out a deal

[TDubbs]

Absolutely right. But one solid LT isn't going to accomplish that goal. Flacco was getting murdered all year WITH Monroe in the lineup.

 

Monroe was thrown into a very dysfunctional offensive line though. We can agree they had zero chemistry. We'll have Monroe and Osemele solidify that left side, and build chemistry through training camp. That could be a dominating force, especially under  a new and improved scheme. 

[Tank 92]

That's well and good, but guys like Monroe do not re-establish the market. If he wants paid more than the $8M other comparable players are getting, he'll need to get that elsewhere

 

 

Isn't that what folks were saying about Joe?  

 

I think we end up paying Monroe a little more than he might be worth. Considering the state of the O line last year, I can't see the Ravens taking a chance at finding a suitable replacement via the draft or FA. 

[Willbacker]

Just cuz Oz gave up a couple draft picks for Monroe does not make this reason as to why we should keep him. He was trying to turn the season around for last year and knew he was getting comp picks to replace them. Monroe is just an average LT who right now is looking to make it big on his 2nd contract. He's not worth a big signing bonus and 10 mil a year. You never know a good player could be released later from another team. You just have to play the hand and let him walk. 8 mil? Maybe. 10 mil? Hell no!! 

[BmoreBird22]

Just cuz Oz gave up a couple draft picks for Monroe does not make this reason as to why we should keep him. He was trying to turn the season around for last year and knew he was getting comp picks to replace them. Monroe is just an average LT who right now is looking to make it big on his 2nd contract. He's not worth a big signing bonus and 10 mil a year. You never know a good player could be released later from another team. You just have to play the hand and let him walk. 8 mil? Maybe. 10 mil? Hell no!!

Average left tackle? I'm curious as to who you think are the great tackles....

And what better player do you think realistically gets released or has a chance of getting released? Please, enlighten me

[Willbacker]

Average left tackle? I'm curious as to who you think are the great tackles....

And what better player do you think realistically gets released or has a chance of getting released? Please, enlighten me

Is he a top 5 LT and should be paid as such. Just in our own division Joe Thomas and Andrew Whitwort are better and yes there is more.

 

I'm not saying somebody gets released is better but somebody servicable could get released which would release more money for somebody else plus you may to bite the bullet and take a lineman with the 1st pick.

[bravensfan52]

Just tag him and lets move on to D Smith

[rmw10]

Is he a top 5 LT and should be paid as such. Just in our own division Joe Thomas and Andrew Whitwort are better and yes there is more.

 

I'm not saying somebody gets released is better but somebody servicable could get released which would release more money for somebody else plus you may to bite the bullet and take a lineman with the 1st pick.

 

No one is going to release a LT that is going to be the answer for us.  Even if we find a serviceable player, that's not a long term fix.  We have the opportunity in front of us to lock up a borderline top 10 LT that is a long term solution, not the stop gap that we've been using for the past 7 years.

[bMore Heathen]

Just cuz Oz gave up a couple draft picks for Monroe does not make this reason as to why we should keep him. He was trying to turn the season around for last year and knew he was getting comp picks to replace them. Monroe is just an average LT who right now is looking to make it big on his 2nd contract. He's not worth a big signing bonus and 10 mil a year. You never know a good player could be released later from another team. You just have to play the hand and let him walk. 8 mil? Maybe. 10 mil? Hell no!!

You sound pretty crazy. Good, starting LTs don't get cut. There is nobody outside of Robinson that is better then Monroe in the draft, and he's going top 4 without a doubt. If we try to replace him in the draft, there will be a drastic fall in production.

And people on here seem to fail to realize the most important aspect of this whole equation; if Monroe walks, Oher stays... Regardless. If you want Michael Oher to be our LT, then you should be happy. We will not let both starting Ts walk in the same offseason.

[Willbacker]

You sound pretty crazy. Good, starting LTs don't get cut. There is nobody outside of Robinson that is better then Monroe in the draft, and he's going top 4 without a doubt. If we try to replace him in the draft, there will be a drastic fall in production.

And people on here seem to fail to realize the most important aspect of this whole equation; if Monroe walks, Oher stays... Regardless. If you want Michael Oher to be our LT, then you should be happy. We will not let both starting Ts walk in the same offseason.

I think its very possible both could walk. Regardless we'll find out around 4:00clock. KO or Wagner imo could start at RT.

[mg90]

Oher at LT....

[JO_75]

Just slap the tag on him and move on to finish Daryl Smith. At least then we'll have him for the off-season mini camps, training camp in July before the regular season. That way we'll know if he is worth bringing back or not for 2015. If he plays well, try to get an extension done in the middle of the season.

[bMore Heathen]

I think its very possible both could walk. Regardless we'll find out around 4:00clock. KO or Wagner imo could start at RT.

If KO goes to RT and Monroe and Oher walk, then the entire left side of the line needs to be replaced. And with questions at C, that would lead to HUGE problems for Joe.

Wagner has shown nothing to make anyone think he could be a viable option to start. Even still, we would have absolutely no depth, and would have to use 3 of our picks on Oline. That's not a good option either. It's all contingent on keeping Monroe, it's that simple.