[News] 2014 Ravens Free Agency Rumor Mill

[Albalto52]

And in other news we signed Omar Brown lo'

[steelcityraven]

monroe is a done deal for 5 years... Good start

[rmcjacket23]

Eugene Monroe is very happy with how this worked out, according to a source ...

 

We're happy to have him. Long term LT ... Play like a Raven, Eugene!

 

IMO ... this was the key to how the rest of FA and draft approach will flow. Likelihood of us drafting a OT in the first round is slim. If we pick up Daniels, TE position is set. Feels like 1st round is almost certainly focused on WR or possibly even ILB or FS, depending what else transpires in FA.

Agreed... here's how I hope it plays out..

1. Sign veteran center for competition

2. Maybe consider a veteran receiver for competition

3. Target Clinton Dix or Pryor with 1st round pick (may have to move up slightly to do this)

4. Draft WR in second round and another in later round

5. Use a third round pick on a tackle-sized lineman and let him compete with Wagner for starting RT job.

The only monkey wrench I see is if we fail to sign Daryl Smith and add a MLB in FA, a guy like CJ Mosley may become too good to pass up in the first round.

[eek]

nfl.com keeps talking about us and steve smith. but saying he wont be cut. i say no to steve smith.

[eek]

monroe deal 5yrs 37.5 mil.. great deal!

[Ravens07]

Great deal! Well done Pat.

[blitzking33]

Agreed... here's how I hope it plays out..

1. Sign veteran center for competition

2. Maybe consider a veteran receiver for competition

3. Target Clinton Dix or Pryor with 1st round pick (may have to move up slightly to do this)

4. Draft WR in second round and another in later round

5. Use a third round pick on a tackle-sized lineman and let him compete with Wagner for starting RT job.

The only monkey wrench I see is if we fail to sign Daryl Smith and add a MLB in FA, a guy like CJ Mosley may become too good to pass up in the first round.

That's why we still have Rolando McClain. If he returns and had his mind body and soul right.. him and Art Brown could be pretty decent in the middle of the D.

[balfan23]

monroe deal 5yrs 37.5 mil.. great deal!

I agree that's a great deal. When I saw what the other 3 LTs got, I thought Monroe would come in below Albert (5 yr/46M), but above Saffold (5yr/42.5M). As it is, he came in just above Veldheer (5yr/35M). 

 

I think we got a good deal and it also speaks to the fact that the Raiders overpaid. 

[T-Phizzle]

wow, we got Monroe for less than 8 mil/yr

[eek]

the jags are making some moves. sounds like blame gabbert will be backin up crybaby Kapernick

[eek]

now they are saying monroes deal is 5yrs 37.5 19m guaranteed. which is excellent in my book

[balfan23]

That's why we still have Rolando McClain. If he returns and had his mind body and soul right.. him and Art Brown could be pretty decent in the middle of the D.

I do not see our organization pinning their hopes on McClain. That would be foolish. The "if" you state in this post needs to be in caps and 24pt bold font. 

 

I would love to see McClain turn it around, both for our sake as well as his own. But I don't see us banking on his being a fixture in the middle of our defense. 

[Mystigo_Dragon]

 

$3 mil is being paid by CAR regardless..  we would only need to pay another $4 IF we wanted to match his currently salary. Something, i think, more in the range of $2-2.5 this yr + 3 next year is more fitting (signing bonus notwithstanding). Smith is a vet guy and probably not going to sign a 1 yr deal.

 

 

 

Hey! I love vet Receivers! Joe just doesn't seem to!

If Kubiak can retool Joe's mindset, then cool, but if it's the same ol Joe of the last 5 years, then Smith will be lucky to see 35 balls!

[nanbeez]

Steve Smith would be a killer fit in Baltimore. Dude plays with a chip on his shoulder, and could play a huge part in getting this offense's wheels, off the ground. No way its worth trading for him with that 7 mil figure, but if/when he is, cut bring him on board.

[Dorota]

I'm glad there are efforts to keep Jacoby Jones. Means that at least on the special teams, we will be able to get some points.

[H8R]

Slot-type, not slot. Theres plenty of soft slot-receivers, so the argument isn't about the slot. The argument is about physicality.

Doing a whole lot of judging for a , what was UDFAR who exceeded expectations. He showed he can make tough catches and has consistant hands . Much better catch radius than Torrey and was pretty polished for his experience.

[Mystigo_Dragon]

I think people need to get off the Mellette train... and for one main reason that I don't think anybody is considering...

Are you people aware that there is only one football? As the depth chart is currently assembled, Torrey Smith, Dennis Pitta, and Marlon Brown would be the top 3 options in the passing game. Thus, Mellette is the #4 option in the passing game, and the #3 WR. In a Kubiak offense, where TEs are utilized more and we run the ball a lot, what kind of value does the #4 receiver in an offense have?

And remember... that's assuming we add NO WRs in the draft, which seems unlikely.

I'd expect Aaron Mellette to spend the entire 2014 season on the practice squad.

 

One football notwithstanding,... what kind of Receiver is Aaron Mellette? Does anybody actually know?

So, what you're saying is he's not worth exploring? He's no better than those other bench warmers we just dumped?

I say we have a whole training camp and pre-season to see what this guy is made of! If he shows talents not seen by any of our other Receivers at this point in his career the he deserves to see the field!

And, speaking of spreading the [one] ball around!

How can Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning throw to nine DIFFERENT Receivers in a game? Tackle Eligible???

[Ravens07]

Right player, right price.

[balfan23]

Agreed... here's how I hope it plays out..

1. Sign veteran center for competition

2. Maybe consider a veteran receiver for competition

3. Target Clinton Dix or Pryor with 1st round pick (may have to move up slightly to do this)

4. Draft WR in second round and another in later round

5. Use a third round pick on a tackle-sized lineman and let him compete with Wagner for starting RT job.

The only monkey wrench I see is if we fail to sign Daryl Smith and add a MLB in FA, a guy like CJ Mosley may become too good to pass up in the first round.

I agree that center is #1 on the FA list, but what I'm not sure about is at what level we are going to take that search. To me there are 3 possibilities:

 

1. Bring in a young vet (like De La Puente) that is signed to a relatively long term deal (4 years)
2. Bring in an older vet, in his mid 30s (there are a couple options) and sign him to a short term (1 or 2) year deal.
3. Bring in another player, either from the cut list or a previous non-starter (like Ohrnberger) who would not be a clear cut starter over Gino, but would compete for the job.

The option we choose will depend on whether we think Gino is a reject, a project or a guy who just needed that one year under his belt and will be ready to go, if just pushed by another person competing for the job. 

 

I'm not sure how we'll approach it. Ozzie says he wants to get "bigger" in the middle, but I don't know that he really just means "better". The other center options are really not much bigger than Gino. To me the first 2 options aren't really going to be competition. The team may say it is ... but their expectation will be that the vet will win the job ... it is only a matter of how long we have him.

 

Birk's comments notwithstanding, I am tempted to see us go with option #1. 

[fusuymada]

Aaron Wilson tweeting Owen Daniels cut under "Failed Physical" designation. Convenient or something to worry about when considering for bookend to Pitta?

[tymonster183]

If the Ravens go after any FA TE, i would like to see it be Pettigrew. Daniels is just another receiver who can't block like Pitta. Pettigrew would actually be a good compliment as he is more of an inline blocker who can receive as well. pettigrew and pitta isn't a sexy combo, but i think it would be effective.

[FoxRox75]

I want Jacoby Jones and Corey Graham back most; they have proved very efficient in their time with us so far.

[ckarp34]

The Ravens need a Julian Edleman...and STILL draft a Mike Evans or Marquise Lee or Eric Ebron...in that order. I really hope we can finally have a awesome receiving corps. I would love to see Flacco having an entourage of targets...Torrey Smith, Mike Evans/Marquise Lee/or Eric Ebron, Julian Edleman, Dennis Pitta, Marlon Brown...yep, and this is leaving us with plenty of cap space if done right...

[purpledown]

Daniels could only help the Ravens, If they can get him at the right price.

[RavensReck27]

If we could get WR Steve Smith for a bargain, and TE Owen Daniels for a discount (due to age, and history with Kubiak) that would be AWESOME.

[BrianRandolph011]

The Ravens need a Julian Edleman...and STILL draft a Mike Evans or Marquise Lee or Eric Ebron...in that order. I really hope we can finally have a awesome receiving corps. I would love to see Flacco having an entourage of targets...Torrey Smith, Mike Evans/Marquise Lee/or Eric Ebron, Julian Edleman, Dennis Pitta, Marlon Brown...yep, and this is leaving us with plenty of cap space if done right...

My Man!.. I been tryna get Raven Nation to side with me on Edelman all week.. The mans a beast and we have never really had a true slot in Baltimore could be deadly and deff inexpensive if done right. I agree

[terrynjulia03]

I'm with RavensRack. Smith and Daniels would be great additions. NO to Edelman. Product of the system. Period. Why do you think the Pats don't mind him walking? No thanks.

[rothtravo]

I've watched quite a bit of Edelman. I strongly dislike his character on the field. He complains and whines to the refs every play. And he had Tom Brady as a qb. Tom Brady makes everyone good. I really wouldn't want the Ravens to spend money on him. I'd honestly just be really happy with a great defense and an offense with a great line. I'm not too worried about adding weapons, but I know we will get a couple more. They don't need to be big names though.

[BrianRandolph011]

McClain coming back makes Daryl Smith less of a priority st this point. Theres no way Ozzie and the FO doubts Nick Saban in having a positive influence over Rolando this past year.. The kids only 24 and 700,000 I believe is his Salary?.. It must be Raven Nations birthday because thats a gift.

[purplejay91]

Demarcus Ware, now there's a name i thought i'd never see on a free agent list.CRAZY!