Report: LT Eugene Monroe one of Ravens' priorities

[cursona pirate]

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one. Pitta is 28, Monroe is 26. Top level LTs are a lot harder to find than TEs. Like someone else said, Mathews and Robinson won't be there for us, so we won't be able to replace Monroe's production in the draft. Even worse, this could lead to us keep Oher out of necessity... That's a terrible thought.

Tag him

By the way to fellow posters this is how a NICE discussion should look like.

[izvoodoo]

That pick wouldn't come this year,  would it ?

nah, next year. 

[Jokerraven]

Well I'm relieved !

[BloodRaven]

If Monroe has a brain and a family he'll test free agency, just saying. I hope we have a plan B in place if he walks.

[izvoodoo]

If Monroe has a brain and a family he'll test free agency, just saying. I hope we have a plan B in place if he

I can't really think who has a ton of cap space and needs an LT...

[thieverycorporation]

Thanks. Now i really understand why dealing draft picks is deadly to future growth. Puts us in a quandary if he and Pitta walk. But then we rebuild. And it really should start now imho.

nah, next year. 

[Mt. Crushmore]

Got scared there for a minute.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

I would think that given Ozzie's reluctance to part with draft picks there is something in Monroe's game that the Ravens like. Age is definitely in his favor, hope we can work something out with him, need a LT or Joe's gonna take a beating (again).

[izvoodoo]

Thanks. Now i really understand why dealing draft picks is deadly to future growth. Puts us in a quandary if he and Pitta walk. But then we rebuild. And it really should start now imho.

If he and Pitta walk we'll have the cap space.  Really it's about drafting well and spending money well.  ideally you want to solve all problems in the draft, but structurally nothing is as important as drafting well.

[T3hRaven]

If Monroe has a brain and a family he'll test free agency, just saying. I hope we have a plan B in place if he walks.

 

Actually his family is from the area.  It's been reported that his wife wants him to stay.

[Bravens292]

I can't really think who has a ton of cap space and needs an LT...

 

Dont know their cap space but the phins were listed as an option.

[redrum52]

I can't really think who has a ton of cap space and needs an LT...

Giants, Raiders, Broncos could go after him, Rams, Dolphins and maybe the Bills, just off the top.  There's also the Jags... hahaha

 

Teams need tackles.  I'm not even going to stress this.  What happens happens and I know a decent team will be fielded by the time the season starts.

[hawkprey]

If he goes, we get maybe a 3rd round comp pick, so it wouldnt be a waste of a 4th and 5th either way.

[izvoodoo]

Giants, Raiders, Broncos could go after him, Rams, Dolphins and maybe the Bills, just off the top.  There's also the Jags... hahaha

 

Teams need tackles.  I'm not even going to stress this.  What happens happens and I know a decent team will be fielded by the time the season starts.

Cap space is the caveat.  Broncos are tight on cap.  So are Rams.

Miami and Green Bay are the only ones with tons of Cap to throw around who need an LT I can find.  Miami is the likely the one to spend foolishly.  Can see GB spending more than they have to.

[52520Andrew]

Actually his family is from the area.  It's been reported that his wife wants him to stay.

 

And you know what they say about a happy wife

[52520Andrew]

Cap space is the caveat.  Broncos are tight on cap.  So are Rams.

Miami and Green Bay are the only ones with tons of Cap to throw around.

 

The Broncos also wouldn't invest that kind of money into a RT either since they have Clady. And the Raiders have their own guy who they like and will probably re-sign.

[izvoodoo]

The Broncos also wouldn't invest that kind of money into a RT either since they have Clady. And the Raiders have their own guy who they like and will probably re-sign.

Yeah, Green Bay and Miami are the only teams that fit.  So between Monroe and Albert hopefully we can sign one of them.  Ideally Monroe.

[52520Andrew]

Yeah, Green Bay and Miami are the only teams that fit.  So between Monroe and Albert hopefully we can sign one of them.  Ideally Monroe.

 

I think we keep Monroe. We will tag him if we have to. I think the Raider's guy is fairly decent as well if by some chance he hits the market and we lose Monroe.

[izvoodoo]

I think we keep Monroe. We will tag him if we have to. I think the Raider's guy is fairly decent as well if by some chance he hits the market and we lose Monroe.

He's not hitting the Market.  Raiders have 70 Million dollar in capspace.  They can tage him 3 times and it'd hardly make a dent

[52520Andrew]

He's not hitting the Market.  Raiders have 70 Million dollar in capspace.  They can tage him 3 times and it'd hardly make a dent

 

True they like him a lot

[CapoRocky]

Honestly, I didn't know who Monroe was before the Ravens got him.  I'm ready to get a few more wide bodies in there after watching all those hurries and sacks on Jojo last year.

[Purple_ICE 81]

WNST ‏@WNST

Matt Zenitz: "No discussions between Eugene Monroe and the #Ravens. Will test the free agent market."

Well, that's no good. He's a guy we should be prioritizing during our exclusive negotiating period. I fear if we let him test the open market, some team will offer him a deal that we can't afford to match. I'd like to think he wants to stay here, but I don't think that's something we can count on. Monroe is the most important FA we have. If we don't re-sign him, the whole scope of our offseason has to change.

Mod note: this has been retracted. Jump to page 2.

Wait until around the combine...I believe talks will heat up around then and we will make our move for him. Im sure our front office is weighing out potential scenarios right now such as whether to sign Monroe or Pitta, evaluating the FA market for other potential targets such as Branden Albert, Andrew Whitworth, or Eric Winston. And if all else fails we could always try and target a top LT in the draft could always trade up.

 

I think we will retain Monroe, like everyone else mentioned it would be a major disappointment to have "rented" Monroe for 1 season for multiple picks so hopefully our guys are doing everything possible to make sure to lock em up. I do feel that we might have to compromise Dennis Pitta in order to sign Monroe though. If we were to sign both  it would be 2 big contracts worth alot of $.

[The Raven]

Haha of course.  I would usually never quote WNST, but since it was Zenitz, I believed them.  Shame on me!

 

Zenitz is even more unreliable if you ask me. WNST is pretty bad though. When you read the transcripts of the pressers, they always ask the fewest or stupidest questions. I think the WNST guy that caused this is a newbie, too. Maybe an intern. Like you said, Aaron Wilson is the golden standard. He is the gospel. Vensel isn't bad for a younger guy. 

 

And yes, this is fantastic news. Glad to hear we are in contact with him. Maybe we'll get some contract news relatively soon. Monroe is the first player I want to be locked up, followed by Pitta. 

[TDubbs]

Monroe is crucial to this offense, and overall team success. We simply can't afford to lose him. Giving Oher franchise Lt $$ would never be worth it, regardless how much I do love the guy. 

 

We need Monroe as our Franchise LT in so many ways, that it truly affects everything this off-season. Signing him to a long-term deal gives us stability at LT that we haven't had since Ogden. I'm not saying he is JO, but he is a LT that is consistent, and durable that will stay in the lineup and play at a high level. 

 

IF we can't retain him, it changes the entire draft philosophy. And I think, everyone here knows that we need a 1st round caliber pass catcher to move forward successfully. 

 

PS. Not sure why everyone thinks Pitta will expect some massive contract? When you dissect his numbers, it simply doesn't warrant big time money. And trust me, I love, and want to keep Pitta as much as anyone. But we need to be reasonable. 

[jdynamite]

If Monroe has a brain and a family he'll test free agency, just saying. I hope we have a plan B in place if he walks.

While I get what you saying a player must maximize their earning potential with limited time in their career.

Monroe was drafted under the old draft rules when rookies got big rookie contracts and he was a top 10 pick so his first contract was a solid payday.

Problem is he's actually still young enough to sign another lucrative deal, before he becomes desperate to win a title like so many veterans.

[jdynamite]

Monroe is crucial to this offense, and overall team success. We simply can't afford to lose him. Giving Oher franchise Lt $$ would never be worth it, regardless how much I do love the guy.

We need Monroe as our Franchise LT in so many ways, that it truly affects everything this off-season. Signing him to a long-term deal gives us stability at LT that we haven't had since Ogden. I'm not saying he is JO, but he is a LT that is consistent, and durable that will stay in the lineup and play at a high level.

IF we can't retain him, it changes the entire draft philosophy. And I think, everyone here knows that we need a 1st round caliber pass catcher to move forward successfully.

PS. Not sure why everyone thinks Pitta will expect some massive contract? When you dissect his numbers, it simply doesn't warrant big time money. And trust me, I love, and want to keep Pitta as much as anyone. But we need to be reasonable.

Couple things I want to hit on:

First, the thought of overpaying Oher because of losing Monroe is a nightmare. Now I shall completely erase this thought from my memory. I'm hoping Oher walks and takes the first deal he gets. I feel like he has regressed in his run blocking which was his strong suit, and he just can't stop the penalties.

Now Pitta, you are correct that his stats thus far don't warrant a huge deal, but the previous season he became a valuable asset and a dependable target for Flacco.

Playoff run = leverage Pitta , Hip Injury = leverage Ravens..

Pitta returns from injury gets 20 catches in 4 games only 5 catches less than Dickson had for the entire season. Thus proving the need for him in the offense in some way.

If pitta wouldn't have returned from injury then I believed he would have had a one year tender.

[Robbo15]

Apparently this has since been deleted and is not true

that was close

[balfan23]

I agree with those who say that Monroe is the lynch pin of the off season. What happens with him will drive all else that follows, but it starts with him. 

 

It is as simple as this: If he walks, LT is a very difficult slot to fill and we are talking about a team whose #1 item to fix is the O line. To start the off season with a huge step backwards in an area of priority would be a challenge to put it mildly. 

 

Of course, it is a delicate balance - because we can't  go with the philosophy of "just pay the man", because we have other areas to address. If Monroe eats all available space, we have other issues that won't be able to be dealt with and those issues are shoring up the rest of the O line and hopefully getting Pitta to return. 

 

Given that is the case, I'm anxious to see us get down to business with negotiations and seeing where this is heading pretty quickly. 

[BloodRaven]

I can't really think who has a ton of cap space and needs an LT...

 

Dolphins, Falcons, Cards probably a few more, it's a deep draft at tackle but Monroe is a proven commodity.

 

Actually his family is from the area.  It's been reported that his wife wants him to stay.

 

Link? I hope thats true.

[T3hRaven]

Link? I hope thats true.

 

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-12-12/sports/bs-sp-ravens-eugene-monroe-1213-20131212_1_eugene-monroe-marshal-yanda-joe-flacco

 

I can't find recent stuff specifically, but it's implied by a lot of articles like this.