LT Eugene Monroe or TE Dennis Pitta?

[Gordo52]

I don't think so. Both are about equally valuable to the team, but Jones will likely get overpaid elsewhere.

I agree. I'd like to keep Pitta, but we have guys who can replace him. The same cannot be said for Monroe. As for Dickson, I don't think there's anybody here who seriously thinks he will be back.

That's what I'm saying. It would make for a better debate. Choosing between Monroe & Pitta is a no brainer for me and the poll is lopsided in Monroe's favor.

It's really hard for me to decide between Jones & Pitta. I'd favor Jones I guess but that's tough.

[Ravenslifer]

Just curious who everyone thinks is more important to the team if only one can be re-signed.  I personally feel a lineman is more essential due to his effect on the run on pass game and adding some stability to the o line.  The upcoming draft is also deep at TE and WR.  A LT will who can perform at Monroes level at his age will difficult to find as well.  I'm not sure if the team would be able to afford both and think Pitta is out for a payday, which I feel he deserves.

 

If we're talking fair value for both players, it has to be Monroe.  Obviously if one guy is about to be grossly overpaid by another team than it doesn't matter, but just look at how many tight ends have been coming into the league from almost every round in the last few years and making an impact, and then look at how long we took after JO retired to get a guy even at Monroe's level.

[Ravenslifer]

That's what I'm saying. It would make for a better debate. Choosing between Monroe & Pitta is a no brainer for me and the poll is lopsided in Monroe's favor.

It's really hard for me to decide between Jones & Pitta. I'd favor Jones I guess but that's tough.

 

Yeah the same for me.  I kind of look at it this way - if I'm talking fair value for any of these guys, I'll take the left tackle and the game-changing return guy, but the fact is the one guy we should get back easily is Daryl, and the hardest guy to replace is Monroe.  So then it may come down to either overpaying a starting tight end vs. overpaying a 3rd receiver/return man, and just how much we'd have to overpay for either.

[Gordo52]

Yeah the same for me. I kind of look at it this way - if I'm talking fair value for any of these guys, I'll take the left tackle and the game-changing return guy, but the fact is the one guy we should get back easily is Daryl, and the hardest guy to replace is Monroe. So then it may come down to either overpaying a starting tight end vs. overpaying a 3rd receiver/return man, and just how much we'd have to overpay for either.

Meant Art vs Dennis

[display name]

That's what I'm saying. It would make for a better debate. Choosing between Monroe & Pitta is a no brainer for me and the poll is lopsided in Monroe's favor.

It's really hard for me to decide between Jones & Pitta. I'd favor Jones I guess but that's tough.

JJ or Art Jones? I would also take JJ over Pitta, just because I think such an explosive returner would be more difficult to replace.

Art Jones is probably gone. Somebody will overpay him

[Wisdom]

No-brainer, the answer is Monroe.   

[Ravenslifer]

I dont know, do you guys think Pitta is overrated a bit just because he's a safety valve and the ravens receivers can't get open often?  I know he has decent hands, but I wouldn't put him in the elite tight end category in the league...I think he's just a guy benefiting from the system/personnel in place.   Am I off here?

 

I would say he's overrated in the sense that certain people talk about him like he can't be replaced with some good drafting - the fact that he has been so vital to the offense in the past is more of a reflection on the lack of other quality targets than on Pitta's ability.  Really this season Joe had 2 known options - Torrey and Dennis when he got back.  Marlon is still learning the game, Clark and Stoke are done, Doss is a good ST player with some receiving ability but not great, Thompson is never healthy.  So when looking at it, Dennis is important because there really is nobody else, just like when Mase and Heap were here, they were so vital to Joe because he had nobody else to throw to - when he got some pieces in 2010, both of their reception totals dropped.  If we were to actually draft a few pieces to spread the ball out a bit more (in Joe's tenure we've spent exactly 1 second and 1 third round pick on a receiver and TE, that's 2/18 picks) I think the story would be different.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Monroe for obvious reasons. But I think we find a way to keep both.

Maybe Joe can throw some money Pittas way to keep his buddy around. If not, I personally would let Pitta designate himself as a WR and then negotiate on the basis of his production as a WR. He'd essentially have the value of a Jacoby Jones without the return ability.

[ravens533]

Monroe no doubt. But I would also say that Daryl Smith ranks above Pitta. Daryl has been awesome in the middle of our defense. Then worry about Pitta.

[admartian]

Sorry Dennis, but it's harder to find good LTs than TEs like you.

So it's Monroe.

[DefensiveMind]

A top 5 LT will always be more important than a top 15 TE

[jdynamite]

Curious why Art Jones couldn't be in the title as well.

[redrum52]

@jdynamite I don't feel we will be able to afford him.  I feel a team out bids us for him and I also think we have people to replace his as far Tyson and Lewis-Moore.  There are no replacements for Monroe or Pitta currently on the roster, though potential fill ins in the draft for Pitta.  LT is real hit or miss and not something you put blind faith in.  Also, the defense shouldn't take that big of a hit if Jones does leave, while if Pitta or Monroe aren't re-signed, that adds another hole that needs to be addresses on an already poor offense.

 

Even with Art on the list, I still think Monroe would dominate the vote.

[Ravenatic20]

I am torn between the two.  Pitta is a top 5 TE and Monroe a top 10 LT.  I think Monroe could be that franchise LT, which is the second most important position on a team.  But Pitta is more than a TE.  He's that clutch guy for Flacco rely on.  Pitta can catch about anything thrown near him.

[Ravenskid52752]

I am torn between the two.  Pitta is a top 5 TE and Monroe a top 10 LT.  I think Monroe could be that franchise LT, which is the second most important position on a team.  But Pitta is more than a TE.  He's that clutch guy for Flacco rely on.  Pitta can catch about anything thrown near him.

Pitta is NOT a top 5 TE he can't block which take him way out of that range he a decent to good TE but he is no where near Great or top 5. monroe yes is a top 10 LT and LT is more important than a TE that can just catch and he coming of a serious injury and he going to be 29.

[B-more Ravor]

I want to keep both of Monroe and Pitta. Monroe is the priority though. An experienced LT in the prime of his career who is considered a top 10 LT. I love Pitta, he's a favourite of mine. But there are many TE's that look pretty good at this combine .. 

 

Agreed.  With the Cap space they've created and if the rumors of the Cap going up to $130-132M, I don't see any reason that they can't keep both. 

 

That's not to say that they will, but if they can get Monroe done before March 11th and get Pitta tagged or signed, they should still have enough wiggle room to do other things.  Getting them both signed long term would be ideal.

[Tru11]

LT is probaly 2nd most important position on offense after QB.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

Agreed.  With the Cap space they've created and if the rumors of the Cap going up to $130-132M, I don't see any reason that they can't keep both. 

That's not to say that they will, but if they can get Monroe done before March 11th and get Pitta tagged or signed, they should still have enough wiggle room to do other things.  Getting them both signed long term would be ideal.

there's also word on the streets that we are trying to extend a couple more players Ngata and Yanda come to mind), even if initial conversations with players and/or their representatives didn't go well; i would be very surprised if anybody would accept the very first offer they get anyway, so we might get something done there to save even more towards the cap

Monroe's deal is pivotal for everything we do this year in FA; sign him and then we know the money left for other players; tag pitta if nothing gets done before the deadline; though i'm pretty sure we won't be losing any of the players we covet and are within reach - monroe, pitta and d smith; arthur jones might just be too pricey for what we can do, unfortunatelly

[Ravenatic20]

Pitta is NOT a top 5 TE he can't block which take him way out of that range he a decent to good TE but he is no where near Great or top 5. monroe yes is a top 10 LT and LT is more important than a TE that can just catch and he coming of a serious injury and he going to be 29.

I'll agree that, overall, Pitta is not a top 5 TE, but he is a top 5 TE when it comes to the passing game.  You can't stick a LB on him in coverage, it just won't work.  Again the LT position is more important, so again I'm torn.

[jaege]

Gotta agree with the majority here. The more valuable player, if we can only choose 1, is Monroe. Not to say Pitta is not valuable, because he is. But I also agree that breaking the bank to keep him would be foolish. If both guys are reasonable we should be able to keep both.

[FerrariFan87]

If Joe's constantly pressured or on his back, it won't matter who's out there at TE/WR. LT, especially after the line faltered this year, has to be top priority. Joe's too big of an investment not to protect at all costs.

[Blackbirds Rule]

If I had a say in how we rebuilt this team from last year would be to resign Monroe and actually go after Alex Mack of the Browns. This gives us Monroe, Osemele (assuming he's healthy), Mack, Yanda, and Wagner. I think this is significantly better than last year and will afford Joe and our Rb's the kind of protection to allow them to play at a consistently high level. I wouldn't offer Pitta more than 5 million a year over 4 years. If he doesn't take it I'd pick up a Dustin Keller at TE and draft a TE in the first 2 rounds. If Ebron is available take him if not get Amaro in the 2nd. Gresham may even become available this offseason and affordable. Best case would be Ebron in the first and another TE in the 3rd much like when we got Dickson and Pitta in the same draft.

 

I really think we should change our defense from a 3-4 back to a 4-3. Canty, Williams, Ngata, and Dumervil on the line. Brown, Smith, and Suggs as the backers. Webb, Smith, Elam, and FS in the secondary. On passing situations. Canty comes out and Suggs go to the line. Brown plays the middle backer for coverage and our nickel back comes on to the field. Hopefully Graham is back.  Upshaw, McPhee, Simon, and Kapron Lewis-Moore all rotating in keeping the defense fresh and nasty.

[Yatagarasu]

I have a feeling the Ravens will be forced to use the tag on Monroe, if he decides to test the market. Pitta is great and all, but I think our team don't want to use that WR on him for some reason.

[jimmypowder]

Who actually voted for pitta, show your face?

Who even knows if Pitta gets his speed back after that nasty injury.

He was clearly much slower when he came back this season .

[jimmypowder]

If Joe's constantly pressured or on his back, it won't matter who's out there at TE/WR. LT, especially after the line faltered this year, has to be top priority. Joe's too big of an investment not to protect at all costs.

We didn't protect him this past year . Lousy Center ,Osemele out ,Yanda coming back from

A injury and not the same player ,Oher underachieving .

Monroe was the best of the group

[Yatagarasu]

here's the plan

 

Franchise Tag: Monroe

 

Transition Tag: Pitta

 

WIth the franchise tag, if someone wants Monroe, then make them cough up a 1st round pick.

 

Pitta is the most important piece due to the lack of talents in TE for the draft and also the transition tag is affordable for TEs.

 

These tags will give us time to negotiate the players. The Ravens won't do much in the first wave of free agency. It's the 2nd and 3rd wave where we get value players like Daryl Smith and Corey Graham.

 

There's plenty of quality LT in the draft and I wouldn't mind with the extra first rounder that we get Taylor Lewan or even Antonio Richardson. Unless we get a top 10 pick which gets us in range of Jake Matthews and Greg Robinson.

[SizzleSuggs55]

I was a fan of Monroe long before he ever got to Baltimore. I remember back in the day watching NFL network, and the analyst's were discussing some of the best young tackles in the game. Two of the analysts agreed that they thought Monroe could very well be the best out of all of them. He didn't exactly keep trending upwards after that, but is a top notch left tackle, who is bordering on " Elite" status. He's in his prime and like many have stated, finding a left tackle is one of the most important and most difficult positions to fill. It's a no brainer, even if we have to tag him i just hope we don't let him go.

[The Oakland Cathedral]

I'll agree that, overall, Pitta is not a top 5 TE, but he is a top 5 TE when it comes to the passing game. You can't stick a LB on him in coverage, it just won't work. Again the LT position is more important, so again I'm torn.

Disagree. I'd rank quite a few ahead of him. Graham, Gronk, Davis, Cameron, Witten, Bennett, Gates, and Julius Thomas. That would leave him at 8 just for pass catchers. If you consider overall TEs he falls out of the top 10 in my opinion. I love him but Monroe is far more important.

[Tru11]

I'll agree that, overall, Pitta is not a top 5 TE, but he is a top 5 TE when it comes to the passing game.  You can't stick a LB on him in coverage, it just won't work.  Again the LT position is more important, so again I'm torn.

 

based on what is he a top 5 receiving TE?

 

there are alot of TE you cant cover with a LB lol

[Bullrush]

Kind of getting tired of Monroe's shtick. Comes across like a guy that is only in it for the money, a la Jared Gaither. Whether he has a shot at winning a ring and all that doesn't seem to be too important to him. Everytime he talks it's basically "I'll be a FA and see who offers me the most money" instead of making re-signing with us a priority. He's gonna get a decent offer from us and he'll have a decent shot at getting a ring here I think. Way better than with a team like Miami. And money wise he'd still get paid very well here. But whatever, let him do whatever he feels like doing.