Free Agent List-who's staying, who's going.

[Guest Omerta]

This is the tough part of the offseason because every off season there is one guy that we can not afford to let get away but we end up having too. It is bittersweet though because more often than not Oz finds a replacement with similar production for cheaper, that said this year is a little different. Monroe has already cost us and if he walks a temp solution who was really nothing spectacular just walks out the door and the Jags get the better of the Ravens in the terms of the deal. If he stays and it is a manageable number than we most certainly got a great deal. Another year or so in a system ran by a guy who is actually competent (Kubiak, definitely not Castillo) we should do much better.

 

The major decision for me if it were me is how much would I spend ? Would I be willing to pay out the butt for one player when I can have Art Jones, Daryl Smith, and Jacoby/Tandon back for the same price ? I mean that is going to be a tough decision to make.  With the bump in cap I have become even more torn. Some people say oh well you definitely have to now because of the cap and I don't see it that way at all. I am thinking get some cheap but serviceable FA's like Fernando Velasco and  test the market for guys like Steve Smith to eliminate NEEDS in the draft. If we can get a C that means FS, WR, and T would be our needs. That sais with the ten mil in cap space we could lock either Torrey or Jimmy this year so that way next year we can evaluate the FA landscape with out having to worry about both.

[BmoreBird22]

 

Jake Matthews... No way he makes it back to us in the 2nd round

You're new around here, but he meant Jordan Matthews.

[BmoreBird22]

Just having endured a major problem with an out of balance Offensive Line, it's hard to take a "must have back" position with anyone that finished the season blocking.

 

On this list its

 

Oher and

Monroe

 

Compounding the confusion are Quasi Football Entities like Pro Football Focus who have somehow come up with a grading for Monroe that is pure fantasy.  Fantasy Football at its finest.  Put the game films in and isolate Monroe and you'll not come away with "We just gotta have him back" opinion.

 

On the other hand, in this fan's belief, Oher has become undervalued.

 

Because Oz gave desperately needed draft picks away, the bet here is a big contract for Monroe.

 

This is getting predictable.

You really like to make statements that are like the opposite of the truth. 

 

I watch tape of Monroe and think, "We've got to have him back." (Do you actually "watch film" or just say you do?) If you really did, you'd notice that Monroe plays on an island, without the help of the left guard. It actually allowed the Ravens to shift protection to Gino, who desperately needed it.

What's even more impressive is that didn't he play just a week or two after getting traded? I know he missed the first game, but didn't he suit up for the very next game? That's insane. So, he comes in, learns a new system in a week, works beside a backup left guard and the the worst center in football, but still plays better than anyone else on the offensive line, or on the offense for that matter? Wow, I'm impressed.

But then you want to tell me that Michael Oher is undervalued? The same one who struggles mightily in pass protection because he can't seem to get to the edge fast enough, frequently overextends, and allows significant amounts of pressure? He quite obviously regressed. He gave no push in the running game and was a sieve as a blocker. 

I know PFF isn't the end all be all (I would question many of their grades, and they are just grades, so you should be able to determine your own rankings), they are better than what you're doing. At least they take the time to watch every snap for every single player. That's really impressive in and of itself. 

You just keep on going, buddy because I do enjoy a good laugh.

[BmoreBird22]

If we don't tag Monroe hes gone. Don't overpay this guy. I wouldn't even use the tag. Let him test the market.

 

D Smith is gonna get pretty good dollars from another team.

 

A team in need of a SS will sign Ihedigbo.

 

Jacoby Jones probally gone. Somebody is gonna overpay for him.

 

4 comp picks. Sounds like the norm. Lol.

 

Would like to see Graham and Art Jones resigned if possible. Gotta keep the D strong especially the line and Jones was our best player imo.

So, you'd rather overpay for the (questionably) best defensive player in Art Jones, but you wouldn't want to "overpay" for the most important position on the offense outside of the quarterback? The Ravens just paid Joe Flacco $120 million dollars. I don't get why people are so willing to let Monroe walk.

[BmoreBird22]

For all of the people saying let Monroe test the free agent market and don't overpay him (can you really overpay a franchise left tackle if he's going to be protecting a $120 million dollar investment?), my question to you is this: what's the better option?

 

Do you want to try for a lesser free agent, like maybe Brandon Albert? Not only does he represent a big step back, he's also very high on himself and going to command a value similar to Monroe. Do you want Jamie Collins? The career backup swing man with limited starting experience who has proven to be serviceable, but far from anything good or great? Can he actually be relied upon as a full time starter? Jared Valdheer won't get out of Oakland.

 

Oh, let's just draft our franchise tackle at 17. Would be a good idea if all three top ones weren't gone and if rookies weren't a major unknown. How do we know they won't bust? How do we know we won't get another Jared Gaither? Yeah, let's rely on an unknown over an unproven commodity. 

 

The Ravens are 7 years removed from J.O., and for the first time, they have his replacement (as much as they can). They've gone through, what, four or five tackles in seven years while looking for the replacement, but you want to pass this one up? Good idea, guys.

[Ravenslifer]

So, you'd rather overpay for the (questionably) best defensive player in Art Jones, but you wouldn't want to "overpay" for the most important position on the offense outside of the quarterback? The Ravens just paid Joe Flacco $120 million dollars. I don't get why people are so willing to let Monroe walk.

 

I don't get this either - when we finally inserted McKinnie and got some protection on the left side in the playoffs, that coupled with a few tweaks to the route combinations resulted in the best 4-game passing stretch in Ravens history and a Superbowl title.  We've been a mess on the left side of the line ever since JO retired, have had 4 different guys in 6 years at that spot - Gaither, Oher, McKinnie, and finally Monroe, and basically during that time had zero shot in the draft at almost any current left tackle worth his pay.  For every Jared Veldheer, there's half a dozen tackles like Carimi who flat out busted.  So now that we actually have an opportunity to sign a guy for the next half a decade, people want to let him walk.  There is a price ceiling for Monroe, but it's much higher than most people seem to realize.

[HoldingCall]

I agree with BmoreBird22 and Ravenlifter! You've got to have protection for your investment. The investment doesn't make sense otherwise.

[Poes Crows]

You really like to make statements that are like the opposite of the truth. 

 

 

Seems you're intimating that this fan takes a contrarian position.

 

That's hard to argue with in regard to the recent decisions made by the Raven Front Office. In almost every case the last two years involving the major decisions, the view here is they've departed from sound judgment.  Daryl Smith is the exception. Additionally, the Suggs extension was sound.

 

There are films of every Raven game and with a DVR and you can fast forward and view them all in an evening. If you count the number of Sacks allowed, sacks attributable, knockdowns and pressures and still hold the view he must be held onto even at Franchise Tag price, that's you're prerogative but it's definitely not shared here.

 

Don't feel outinfo'd though. The strong belief here is that Oz is going to feel just like you do.  But this fan is on record cawing to the big raven in the sky that this is crazy stuff going on again.

[Static]

We Keep Doss. I liked him in his limited time after he was resigned. Also the potential is still there and he is still young. Besides if anything he is a solid return man.

[cobrajet]

I like Corey Graham. He has good hands and hes not scared to make a tackle against someone bigger than him. I also think he provides position flexibility Cornerback/safety. If it were up to me, I would like Monroe, Graham, and Smith to stay.

I certainly agree!

[Seseau]

I don't want us to overpay for Art. We already overpaid Pitta hopefully we don't do it again.

[TDubbs]

I watch tape of Monroe and think, "We've got to have him back." (Do you actually "watch film" or just say you do?) If you really did, you'd notice that Monroe plays on an island, without the help of the left guard. It actually allowed the Ravens to shift protection to Gino, who desperately needed it.

 

 

Exactly. Monroe is a sound technician who can take on the opposite teams best pass rusher and hold his own. He's in his prime and he passes the eye test, the dude is a physical specimen for a offensive lineman. Factor in getting Kelechi back next to him and we will see drastic improvement on our line. Monroe is crucial for this team to sign, it's not even debatable. 

[display name]

If JJ leaves (and I hope he doesn't), his time in Baltimore will be the most prolific 2 year stay that anyone has had here since Shannon Sharpe.

[RLewis52]

Can't-catch-a-cold-Ed Dickson better not be back.  Hopefully Pitta gets better and Matt Frustenburg can play a few snaps each game.

  Feel like Dickson had more drops this year than catches hah...I would say keep him if he was a blocking TE maybe, but a receiving TE that cant catch shouldnt stay for sure

[Blackbirds Rule]

I'd love to get Monroe to sign. He may just want to test the market to see his worth. If we lose Monroe we may have to trade back in the draft to acquire more picks. We would need at least 2 linemen both OT's. For a worst case scenario we could sign Oher back for a 1 year deal to play LT for us while we hope he plays good enough for another team to sign him as a free agent. We definitely need 2 tackles even if Wagner can play RT we need a capable back up. We need another guard just in case Osemele can't return to form and a Vet C to help Gradkowski. Birk said it took him 4 years to become a starter so maybe if we can get Goodwin as a stop gap Center to help Gradkowski through the learning curve. For Joe to look good he'll need some time. I hope we get Monroe signed before FA hits or Ozzie will need some magic to work in fixing the line with 4 ? out of the 5 starters with Yanda being the only known commodity.

[Ravenatic20]

  Feel like Dickson had more drops this year than catches hah...I would say keep him if he was a blocking TE maybe, but a receiving TE that cant catch shouldnt stay for sure

"If the price is right", as they say, I would take him back.  To me that is slightly above the vet minimum.  I won't say he's totally worthless, he made some clutch catches and he's a big guy, but not a starter.