FAs to Consider: DBs

[BrianRandolph011]

Not the best baseball player but here's a curve ball for you.. Doing some research this morning.. The NFL will now be holding a Free Agent Combine in the spring.. Neat idea.. Now as far as the curve ball.. maybe Baltimore looks at a guy like Javier Arenas CB from Atlanta Falcons at this combine.. Reasoning, he hasnt produced much of anything in Atlanta to demand much money at all.. He is a Alabama alum (Ozzie loves him some Crimson Tide) AND.. with Jacoby's future on the team looking shaky.. (predicting him to be released, as he should) Javier Arenas is a solid KR with great speed.. So if nothing else, ohkay he cant play CB.. but he can run back kicks and he will do it for much less than Jacoby Jones thus saving Baltimore tons of money..

[DonLucas]

CB Antonio Cromartie, Arizona Cardinals
CB Kareem Jackson, Houston Texans
CB Tramon Williams, Green Bay Packers
CB Brandon Flowers, San Diego Chargers
S Chris Conte, Chicago Bears
S Nate Allen, Philadelphia Eagles

 

This are the names I really like from free agency, don't really know how affordable they are, but I don't think they are overly expensive either. I really like Kareem Jackson, he played well for the Texans and Chris Conte if he can stay healthy he would be a good par with Will Hill, and he is a blue collar guy from what i read.

[Bruce_Almty]

I have to think Ozzie, Eric, and the scouting staff, after this season's injuries, have the most comprehensive file on DBs in the NFL. If someone becomes available in FA, they'll know about it and they'll know the value of that player, whether he'd be a Raven asset, and everything else about said player. As generally happens in FA, expect the Ravens to sit on their hands for the first 2 weeks.

[gabefergy]

Doubt we can afford Maxwell, but how about Walter Thurmond on a one year prove it deal coming off injury?

[ravensnick]

If it were only that easy to get all those pieces you mentioned.  Plus you know the Ravens like to get it done w/ misfits and castoffs. 

Everyone except Thomas wouldn't be that hard to get. Sherman, Chancellor, and Maxwell were all 4th round or later picks. 

[Inqui]

Doubt we can afford Maxwell, but how about Walter Thurmond on a one year prove it deal coming off injury?

That I'd definitely be in favour of. Who are the other "prove it" guys this offseason?

[gabefergy]

That I'd definitely be in favour of. Who are the other "prove it" guys this offseason?

Tarell Brown and Carlos Rogers might be options at CB.

Cecil Shorts or Hakeem Nicks make sense at WR.

[lgcs27288]

I remember Tramon being talked up a lot a few years ago. I think he would be a good pick up if he flies under the radar.

[JO_75]

Strange to me that considering our secondary issues, we aren't bringing in CFL CB Delvin Breaux. He was the top CB in the CFL last year, has great size at 6'1, and out of the 12 teams he is scheduled to visit, we aren't one of them. 

[JetLife94]

CB Antonio Cromartie, Arizona Cardinals

CB Kareem Jackson, Houston Texans

CB Tramon Williams, Green Bay Packers

CB Brandon Flowers, San Diego Chargers

S Chris Conte, Chicago Bears

S Nate Allen, Philadelphia Eagles

This are the names I really like from free agency, don't really know how affordable they are, but I don't think they are overly expensive either. I really like Kareem Jackson, he played well for the Texans and Chris Conte if he can stay healthy he would be a good par with Will Hill, and he is a blue collar guy from what i read.

I like flowers. He can cover darn well and make INTs

[BmoreBird22]

I remember Tramon being talked up a lot a few years ago. I think he would be a good pick up if he flies under the radar.

He's been pretty average recently as a starter, but could be a valuable nickel, and affordable, too

[Dfence4champs2052]

If Cromartie comes reasonably priced id target him and draft a cb high. Fill the immediate need with a bargain FA and groom for the future.

That'd give you Jimmy and Cromartie outside with Webb in the slot. And then Melvin and Asa Jackson as primary backups. Pretty good to me.

 

I could live with that.

[harfordravenfan]

Love to grab a solid CB. Who are the "prove it" guys this year?

 

All of our secondary guys  (whether it's their play or to prove they can stay healthy... or both)  lol

[harfordravenfan]

I like flowers. He can cover darn well and make INTs

 

to think we could of snagged him last year    

 

betting someone will offer more then us for him

[PerpetuallyBored74]

I think whether or not we can afford a solid free safety, #2 CB, and a #2 WR will depend on Dennis Pitta's status. 

If he is unable to play, we'll need to get a starting TE too, while dealing with a tight cap. (which will get even tighter if he retires)

I get the feeling we're going to have to rely on the draft for at least 2 of these positions.

[BSHU_Miami]

It makes me upset that Cromartie and Flowers were both Free agents last year. 

They may have played themselves out of our price range. But if we can create space I wouldn't mind either of them even if we have to cut Webby.  We are still going to need to draft a CB if we go the FA route. Ozzie really can't let this slip.

[JO_75]

Doubt we can afford Maxwell, but how about Walter Thurmond on a one year prove it deal coming off injury?

 

Maxwell may not even make it to free agency as Seahawks GM John Schenider has him as one of their "first priorities". Considering the cap room they have, there is a good chance of him staying in Seattle. 

 

I do like Thurmond but if Cromartie can come at a good price, I would love to have him here.

[Static]

Flowers was never available to us , stop playing.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Flowers was never available to us , stop playing.

Do you know the contract he got?

I don't have the exact number but I do remember that whatever he got is a good bit less than our available cap space that we carried over.

We absolutely could have signed him.

Not to mention, I bet if you take all the bargain basement guys we had to sign bc of injury that landed themselves on IR, add up their salaries, that money would be equal to or more than what flowers made last year.

So in essence we paid probably the same amount of more for continuous band aids than what we would have paid for Flowers to be a starter, and one of the better starters in the league.

Of course it's easy to say in hindsight. I'm sure the ravens foresaw the cap issues we'd have this year and wanted to carry as much over as possible. But knowing now we were forced to spend the money on guys who ended up sitting on IR all year, absolutely we could have and should have signed Flowers or Cromartie.

[DomMcRaven]

Flowers was never available to us , stop playing.

 

Do you know the contract he got?

I don't have the exact number but I do remember that whatever he got is a good bit less than our available cap space that we carried over.

We absolutely could have signed him.

Not to mention, I bet if you take all the bargain basement guys we had to sign bc of injury that landed themselves on IR, add up their salaries, that money would be equal to or more than what flowers made last year.

So in essence we paid probably the same amount of more for continuous band aids than what we would have paid for Flowers to be a starter, and one of the better starters in the league.

Of course it's easy to say in hindsight. I'm sure the ravens foresaw the cap issues we'd have this year and wanted to carry as much over as possible. But knowing now we were forced to spend the money on guys who ended up sitting on IR all year, absolutely we could have and should have signed Flowers or Cromartie.

Wasn't Flowers on record saying he wanted to get back at the Chiefs for cutting him (similar to us signing SSS after being cut from the Panthers)?

[BSHU_Miami]

Flowers was never available to us , stop playing.

Flowers signed a 1 year $5 million deal. We could have absolutely paid him that

[baltimorefan328]

CB Antonio Cromartie, Arizona Cardinals

CB Kareem Jackson, Houston Texans

CB Tramon Williams, Green Bay Packers

CB Brandon Flowers, San Diego Chargers

S Chris Conte, Chicago Bears

S Nate Allen, Philadelphia Eagles

 

This are the names I really like from free agency, don't really know how affordable they are, but I don't think they are overly expensive either. I really like Kareem Jackson, he played well for the Texans and Chris Conte if he can stay healthy he would be a good par with Will Hill, and he is a blue collar guy from what i read.

Going to school in the Philly area and listening to their sports radio often, there is no way I want Nate Allen. He may suffer from a lack of talent around him but from what it sounds like he is not going to add anything to the Ravens besides taking away a roster sport for a younger guy we could develop. May come cheap but thats simply because he does not have much of anything to offer. He's in the same mold of a safety who lets guys get over the top

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Going to school in the Philly area and listening to their sports radio often, there is no way I want Nate Allen. He may suffer from a lack of talent around him but from what it sounds like he is not going to add anything to the Ravens besides taking away a roster sport for a younger guy we could develop. May come cheap but thats simply because he does not have much of anything to offer. He's in the same mold of a safety who lets guys get over the top

Yea I live in bucks county, pa and you're absolutely right - Nate Allen is a complete liability. They don't want him back and they're secondary was probably worse than ours.

Wouldn't touch him with a 10 ft pole.

[Static]

Assuming Flowers would have been okay being the #2 , he wouldn't have.

 

 

Assuming Flowers would have wanted only  5mil from us . He wouldn't have.

 

He wanted to stay in division. 

 

During last FA even the majority of the forum knew it wasnt happening. 

[Pirate88]

By far I like Antrel Rolle the best. He was once a 6'1 205lb top10 corner talent but was best suited at safety due to physicality. He since has bulked up to 216 lbs and is a thumping hitter that carries over cornerback coverage ability with ability at cover man or off coverage. He is 33 and a bargain. His age isn't a concern however cuz he had athletic ability/speed of top corners so even if he lost a step he is still as fast and athletic as any safety. He would be our new Rod woodson who was a bulked up safety as well after he no longer had the speed to play corner and was the best safety in the league. I was in college at time and thought Woods on would make an awesome safety after struggling at corner. Rolle stays in terrific condition and hasn't lost much speed but his age will scare teams off. He is a great safety who can run hit and cover. I have always thought he was underrated and as good as any safety in the league. Just ask Gronkowski who was shut down by Rolle in the Superbowl as well as he was a little worried bout his hits. But it was Gronk and they made excuses for him saying he was injured but it was BULL!! Gronk was running just fine. Rolle shut him down and put fear in Gronk!! But never got credit for it cuz Gronk was supposedly playing hurt. Gronk probably still has nightmares of Antrel Rolle!! Rolle and Hill would make a devastating safety tandem in the same league as Thomas/Chancellor!!

With Webb returning to form and likely restructure at a pay cut due to his past injuries and Jimmy Smith returning that secondary would be as formidable as the Seahawks. Then we can find another decent corner in Round2-3. BTW I think Webb will return. If he is cut he won't be worth much on the market due to injuries past several seasons and he knows this. Teams aren't looking at his better play down the stretch. It would be in the Ravens and Webb's best interest to restructure him at a cap ## this year comparable to if they just cut him and hope he stays injury free. His speed was still evident and his athleticism started showing up again to down the stretch. Best case for Ravens is restructuring him to get his cap hit down to about $4mil for 2015 and he should return to all pro form barring injuries and its win win. Webb gets more from Ravens than he would if cut and Ravens get pro bowl form or close Lardarius Webb back at a much lower cap hit. Between Webb Ngata restructures cuts and perhaps a couple retirements the Ravens could free up $20 million or more in cap space for A WR with a more complete game a TE and Antrel Rolle.

[Jalxsu]

One guy I'd be interested in isn't exactly a FA, and he isn't exactly a DB!

 

Dexter McCoil was the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 2014 playing at linebacker for the Edmonton Eskimos.

 

I'm not certain to as to where he'd project in the NFL, but he recorded 17 interceptions in his last 3 years playing as a deep safety at Tulsa.

 

In his first year in the CFL, he tied the league lead (with Calgary CB Jamar Wall) with 6 interceptions whilst playing at linebacker, and also got himself 4 sacks.

 

He's 6ft 4in, 222lbs and runs a 4.52 40 yard dash. With his talent as a ball hawk, and impressive size/speed, he looks to me a very impressive prospect with the potential to be a star in the NFL.

[Pirate88]

One guy I'd be interested in isn't exactly a FA, and he isn't exactly a DB!

Dexter McCoil was the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 2014 playing at linebacker for the Edmonton Eskimos.

I'm not certain to as to where he'd project in the NFL, but he recorded 17 interceptions in his last 3 years playing as a deep safety at Tulsa.

In his first year in the CFL, he tied the league lead (with Calgary CB Jamar Wall) with 6 interceptions whilst playing at linebacker, and also got himself 4 sacks.

He's 6ft 4in, 222lbs and runs a 4.52 40 yard dash. With his talent as a ball hawk, and impressive size/speed, he looks to me a very impressive prospect with the potential to be a star in the NFL.

That's very intriguing!! I would say its harder to get ints in Canada cuz of the wider field. How is his tackling and hitting?? Even if he can't handle safety duties in the NFL which he sounds like quite a ballhawk that can play off coverage, he could then be bulked up to maybe be an outstanding 3 down LB. Coming from cfl $$ he should be cheap to sign and not present much risk. Even at safety his tackling has to be decent for Ravens to sign him. Sounds worth looking into.

While he is intriguing I really like Antrel Rolls and think he will be even better than he isis if he is part of Ravens defense. Will Hill even said he was able to reacclimate to the NFL very fast after is off time cuz of the Ravens defensive talent schemes and confidence. So I would expect great play from Rolle. Besides he really shut down Gronk!! Something we will need to do to reach the Superbowl. I wanted the Ravens to sign Browner to try at safety cuz of the competition to reach the Superbowl Broncos and Patriots best weapons are bigger WRs/TEs. With Manning's arm a noodle it looks like patriots will be our main competition next year and Rolle neutralized Gronk. A couple teams that could surprise next year are jags if Bottles takes step forward as a franchise qb and or Blackmon returns. The titans if they have a very good draft could become contenders as well. If Rex Ryan finds a decent qb his team could contend for AFC championship. If we had Antrel Rolle this year we would have won that game by a TD at least!!

[Pirate88]

A safety I really like isn't exactly a FA. Before making a move for a safety I would like to see if Brooks steps up next year as a quality FS. Will Hill will be even better next year and Brooks has a chance to step up. I would like to see how Brooks performs next year before making a move for a safety since there aren't to many safety's out there to write home about and maybe Brooks can play as well as any that are available. McCourty is good but the patsies will definitely resign him. Besides although he has good range and instincts he he doesn't make many splash plays for the near $10mil a year he will cost. The route I would like to go is see how Brooks performs the first 7-8weeks next year and if he is a liability let's target a trade for an established safety. The safety to target would be William Moore. He runs well enough to cover TEs and most WRs at a high level. He also has good instincts and closes well in zone coverage and arrives with jarring hits. He is 29 and if the Falcons open with a losing record they would likely be open to trading him if they are compensated properly cuz by the time their defense is any good he will be well into his 30's and of no help to the new defense they build. So they may as well acquire picks to build their team. A #3 should do the trick. However he is one of the best safety's in the game and if it takes slightly more than that, we should seriously consider it in my opinion!! He can play free or strong safety at at an elite level and can do everything asked of a top safety. He can run cover tackle and lay some devastating hits and has instincts. He could seriously mean the difference maker in the ravens getting over the hump and to another Superbowl. He is great at defending where the patriots like to attack the field. They will be our biggest obstacle in reaching a Superbowl for atat least next year.

[Bandwagon]

LaRin Landry anybody? i love that dude

[GrimCoconut]

LaRin Landry anybody? i love that dude

I'm not a fan