New Deal for Ngata Coming?

[GrimCoconut]

I'm not sure we can get a 3rd round pick for Ngata in a trade. That might be a hard sell, although I suppose a team like the Jaguars, Raiders or Bears could have interest in Ngata. Still, it's hard to sell him when his cap is high. He's still very productive, but I think the highest you can get is a 4th round pick and that's a very very very liberal guess. I think it's more like a 5th. 

 

Usually, older veteran guys don't get traded like they used to get traded. Now it's a lot of younger guys getting traded. But, hey, if we got a 3rd round pick for Ngata I'd bicycle on my hands. 

[PurpleCity5]

I don't think we can trade Ngata, if anything teams will monitor his status and pretty much bet on us cutting him. The only benefit a trade would carry is allowing the team who wants him to get him without any competitors. 

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

My preference is getting a fair extension done - I want Ngata here and to retire a Raven.

But if he thinks he's worth more than what the Ravens are willing to offer we cannot afford to keep him at his current cap hit.

He was productive this past year, but the defense played well in the 4 games without him. Jernigan played very well and I expect him to improve this offseason. He's working out with Darnell Dockett who is known to do insane workouts. A stronger more agile Jernigan is a scary thought for offensive lines.

Not to mention getting KLM and Urban back from injury. There's no guarantee they can return to what they were and neither has proven anything on the field, but both were being highly touted during training camp an showed flashes of dominance. If one or both comes back and can play at a high level we will have a very deep, young and talented D-Line.

Ngata is more of a luxury than a necessity at that point - especially not worth the $16 mill cap hit. We could do a lot with the $8.5 mill in cap space he'd free up like landing a premier receiver or TE along with getting deals done with our own FA's.

Knowing what our FO can do in FA with enough cap space, especially around $15 mill which we should be able to open up with cutting jones, Canty, Gino, and McClellan and extending yanda, getting a long term deal done with Jimmy Smith (carries around $6mill in cap, long term deal could save $2-3) and restructuring Webb.

That kind of coin and we can be serious players in FA for some talented players.

[RavensDE]

It's an odd situation. He could probably get better money elsewhere with no guarantee he'd fit into a system but how often do those deals that look great turn into one and done and ending on a sour note? What is the value of playing out a contract with us and retiring a Raven in an era where that's uncommon? Oz certainly won't hold it against him if he chooses the money, and neither would I.

[RavensDE]

My preference is getting a fair extension done - I want Ngata here and to retire a Raven.

But if he thinks he's worth more than what the Ravens are willing to offer we cannot afford to keep him at his current cap hit.

He was productive this past year, but the defense played well in the 4 games without him. Jernigan played very well and I expect him to improve this offseason. He's working out with Darnell Dockett who is known to do insane workouts. A stronger more agile Jernigan is a scary thought for offensive lines.

Not to mention getting KLM and Urban back from injury. There's no guarantee they can return to what they were and neither has proven anything on the field, but both were being highly touted during training camp an showed flashes of dominance. If one or both comes back and can play at a high level we will have a very deep, young and talented D-Line.

Ngata is more of a luxury than a necessity at that point - especially not worth the $16 mill cap hit. We could do a lot with the $8.5 mill in cap space he'd free up like landing a premier receiver or TE along with getting deals done with our own FA's.

Knowing what our FO can do in FA with enough cap space, especially around $15 mill which we should be able to open up with cutting jones, Canty, Gino, and McClellan and extending yanda, getting a long term deal done with Jimmy Smith (carries around $6mill in cap, long term deal could save $2-3) and restructuring Webb.

That kind of coin and we can be serious players in FA for some talented players.

Yes. I agree with everything you just said. Top to bottom.

[RavensDE]

That article is pure speculation.

Agreed. We were trying to get a deal done and he threw up the obvious numbers. A few days out it's much more evident.

[B-more Ravor]

From what I hear they are moving on from N'gata unless he has a change of plans in how much $$ he should get and take a slight hometown discount. N'gata himself probably would really consider it and help win another trophy with baltimore but his agent has advised otherwise. He is sure some team will overpay Ngata for what he did in his prime.I would like to see them shop N'gata but after a so called low ball offer it hurt his trade value unless more than one team is willing to overpay him. Then one of the teams could trade for him to keep from getting in a bidding war so that they have some leverage once acquiring him.Although its unlikely and it would be a later round pick anyways. Once they have him he could play this year for $8mil and risk getting injured and not getting paid much next yr on the open market. Or he could sign a new contract with some guaranteed $$ over next several yrs while he is coming off a very good performance year. So they would then have some leverage compared to bidding against other teams while he is a free agent. But from what I can tell the ravens are going to cut him and make him a free agent.

 

Trading him would be pretty tricky because most teams acquiring him would want him to agree to a new deal, so he's got a lot of leverage in where he goes.  He can pretty much say he won't sign a new deal with that team, thereby pretty much scuttling the deal.  That is, unless they can find a team willing to take him for one year and see what happens (like Oakland did a few years back with NE and Seymour), which, unfortunately, would likely reduce what they are willing to offer for him (unless it's Oakland!  ).

[rmcjacket23]

You could easily get a 3rd round pick for Ngata and the Ravens won't skip a beat.

4th to 5th rounder, at best.

 

Nobody is giving up a 3rd round pick for a guy they have to pay a lot of money too AND they know they could sign in FA if they don't agree to the trade.

[Pirate88]

Trading him would be pretty tricky because most teams acquiring him would want him to agree to a new deal, so he's got a lot of leverage in where he goes.  He can pretty much say he won't sign a new deal with that team, thereby pretty much scuttling the deal.  That is, unless they can find a team willing to take him for one year and see what happens (like Oakland did a few years back with NE and Seymour), which, unfortunately, would likely reduce what they are willing to offer for him (unless it's Oakland!  ).

Actually while I agree a #4 draft pick would be the most we get cuz he does have to be signed, the team that acquires him holds more leverage. $7.5mil is owed to N'gata next year. If he doesn't reach a longterm deal now while coming off a dominant run then he could end up getting injured, suspended again or his play fall off some. Then he is looked at as an aging vet no longer in his prime. It serves him better to sign a longterm contract with a sweet signing bonus and guaranteed $$.

Here is the thing with N'gata in my opinion. His love and attention of football is in question. He wasn't as dominant in 2012-2013. His 2011 was better but there was some talk bout N'gata not quite as awesome. Although pro bowl caliber he wasn't leaps and bounds better than every DT in the NFL as expected of him. He was slightly out of shape for a while there as well. Compare pix of 2013 to 2014 N'gata and he wasn't as huge or as toned. Then in a contract year he looks more like the 2006-2010 Ngata and gets a PED suspension. Which really agrivates cuz of how Patriots player like Collins GronkWimpski and Tom Brady himself uses HGH and maybe roids as well. As a matter of fact some former patriots angered by their treatment could blow the whistle. Come on think about it his arm is stronger at 38 than it was at 26. When it happens in baseball everybody including the media get suspicious IMMEDIATELY!! Brady can put the football in the air nearly 70 yards. Back in 2005 season I think it was he threw it as far as he could and it barely covered 60 yards!! But its Tom Brady and he plays for the commissioners buddy Kraft so his tests are tainted and that's if he gets tested at all!!

Anyways back to Ngata. He is more a family man now and at times it looks as if he views football as just his moneymaker and is content with just playing well and doesnt seem as driven to be the most dominant DT in the NFL and is satisfied to just play well. That is til his contract year comes up. There is no question he is one of the faces of the ravens and when he is driven he is a top5 DT. However his commitment is somewhat in question as well as having yet another defender on the wrong side of 30 contracted to big$$ guaranteed. Players like Suggs Daryl Smith Dumervil and N'gata if resigned. If any or all these players level of play fall off the ravens will not be able to replace them in free agency cuz of the guaranteed $$ and cutting them doesn't soften the cap hit by much. Just like Pitta or Webb. That's why they won't break the bank for N'gata or pay him for his previous play.

[reed20]

I wouldn't worry about Tucker. He's a restricted FA who we can easily tender, and I'm in no rush to give out long-term deals to kickers. They can go from being the best to out of the league in a matter of a season.

Tucker isn't one of those kickers. He's going to be kicking well in this league for a long time and Harbaugh who coached special teams knows the value of a great kicker and we'll never let him go.

[Pirate88]

My preference is getting a fair extension done - I want Ngata here and to retire a Raven.

But if he thinks he's worth more than what the Ravens are willing to offer we cannot afford to keep him at his current cap hit.

He was productive this past year, but the defense played well in the 4 games without him. Jernigan played very well and I expect him to improve this offseason. He's working out with Darnell Dockett who is known to do insane workouts. A stronger more agile Jernigan is a scary thought for offensive lines.

Not to mention getting KLM and Urban back from injury. There's no guarantee they can return to what they were and neither has proven anything on the field, but both were being highly touted during training camp an showed flashes of dominance. If one or both comes back and can play at a high level we will have a very deep, young and talented D-Line.

Ngata is more of a luxury than a necessity at that point - especially not worth the $16 mill cap hit. We could do a lot with the $8.5 mill in cap space he'd free up like landing a premier receiver or TE along with getting deals done with our own FA's.

Knowing what our FO can do in FA with enough cap space, especially around $15 mill which we should be able to open up with cutting jones, Canty, Gino, and McClellan and extending yanda, getting a long term deal done with Jimmy Smith (carries around $6mill in cap, long term deal could save $2-3) and restructuring Webb.

That kind of coin and we can be serious players in FA for some talented players.

Well said dude!! I would prefer a cheap Darnell Docket to an overpayed N'gata. This is the team of Joe Cool 2.0 now. N'gata is one of my favorite players in football but committing big $$ to another vet on the wrong side of 30 isn't a good idea. The front office can't say they refuse to pay a Justin Houston $12mil a year due to longterm success and locking $$ up in one player then keep shelling out guaranteed $$ to vets well over 30. They could have $20mil in cap space or more by trading or cutting N'gata and cutting the bad draft picks and Pitta retiring. Also Webb can be restructured. And like I said b4, Dockett is obsessed with conditioning, strength and flexibility training and nutrition. He has learned from numerous renowned trainers and nutritionists. I really really like the influence and example he brings. He is really determined to prove he is a difference maker after his injury. He could help other young players like Mosley, Kapron, Urban and even Brown play more powerful and athletic than they ever thought they could or would. Urban with another 15-20 lbs of muscle while better conditioned could turn him into a player in the league of Calais Campbell. A better conditioned KLM could make him a feared defender as well. Not to mention any young players we draft can learn from Docket. For example We could draft Anthony Chicillo in Round4 or later and he has a ton of natural talent. However you can also see he doesnt have the look of the conditioned athletes that elite edge rushers have. If Chicillo lost his excess non functional play weight and put on 12-16lbs of functional muscle and power he would be a more athletic and explosive Paul Kruger not to mention draft steal!! And the 3 down dominant edge rusher the ravens need. Dockett plays as intense as any defender in the NFL and expects intensity and effort from teammates. He makes players around him better. He is the reason Calais Campbell is a pro bowler and the reason the Arizona defense overachieves cuz of his example. He is a raven type player and will make other defenders play like ravens. He makes a defense better as well as individual players better athletes. If he could be signed for $3/yr he should be a priority. And cuz he was cut he wouldn't cost the ravens comp picks. While N'gata is an impact player the ravens could come very close to replacing his production while getting better at other positions that's actually a need. Like Brandon Marshall, Gresham, Vernon Davis, Clay, or Rob Housler who if he gets with a good QB could the steal of free agency. In this era of free agency, finding free agent steals is as big of a deal as draft steals. Can't shell out $$ and overpay for players just cuz they are already ravens. You have to know when your system made a player and can replicate that player far cheaper like all the players that the ravens system and surrounding talent made good players then went elsewhere and didn't have success.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I hope he accepts the extension soon.

[Sami84]

I'm certain he's gone.

 

It would have happened by now.

[JO_75]

I'm certain he's gone.

 

It would have happened by now.

 

Patience my friend. We still hold his rights as he's under contract so they will work on Ngata's contract up until the beginning of FA if they have to. Don't think he'll get cut when we we still have his rights. 

[Ravenseconbeast]

Can anyone clarify what ravens would be responsible for if we cut ngata?

[GrimCoconut]

Can anyone clarify what ravens would be responsible for if we cut ngata?

I think it's like 7.5M in dead money, but that's already accounted for on the cap. He carries a 16M cap hit this year and I know he has an 8.5M base salary, which is what we'll save if he's cut. Since he has no further years on his deal, cutting him doesn't accelerate any bonus money because he's in the final year. There's no more bonus to be paid than what's accounted for on the cap already at 7.5M. 

 

If Ngata is gone by either a trade or a cut, he saves the team 8.5M. That's the bottom-line. 

[balfan23]

4th to 5th rounder, at best.

 

Nobody is giving up a 3rd round pick for a guy they have to pay a lot of money too AND they know they could sign in FA if they don't agree to the trade.

I don't think we'd even get that. Honestly, I'd be surprised if we would get anything. I really think he's either extended or cut. 

[FastEddie]

I don't see this happening with Ngata as much as we would all like to see it get done.

 

I remember a few years ago when Ngata was actually talking about retiring because of all the wear and tear on his body, plus concussion speculations. I think Ngata wants to get overpaid by a non contender where he can ride out his last few remaining years.

 

Just my thoughts...he did already win a super bowl here.

[balfan23]

I do think the odds have now slipped below 50-50 on this. It can still get done, but I sensed it would not be nearly as easy a deal as it was for Suggs last year. I felt like a huge part of Suggs' identity is wrapped up into being a Raven. I just don't have the same sense that Ngata feels that way. 

[ellicottraven]

There have been accusations of Ngata being lazy and taking plays off. So, it doesn't behoove me to think that he wants to get somebody to pay him a ridiculous sum of guaranteed money so he can take it easy for the rest of his NFL life. With the Ravens, he has to perform as is the expectation. So, why would he give a discount to work harder than he otherwise would?

[757RavensFan]

Honestly, I've mentally accepted the fact that Ngata played his last game as a Raven.

[rafahash]

Honestly, I've mentally accepted the fact that Ngata played his last game as a Raven.

 

Yeah, me too. I think he's gone.

[ravensfan160]

Yeah, me too. I think he's gone.

Yeah and it's pretty frustrating. He is acting just like Ed Reed did. Ngata has mentioned early retirement multiple times in the past just like Ed did. I guess it's a players only real leverage. That tells me he will not take any sort of home town discount. I don't blame him for wanting to maximize his earnings but just come out and say so. Don't talk retirement and then expect the Ravens to pay you big bucks and guaranteed money.

[GrimCoconut]

I just read that Hensley believes the team will release Ngata. Not sure how true it is but we'll see.

[rmcjacket23]

It really becomes interesting to see what happens IF Ngata is cut...

 

You free up $8.5M in cap space, which isn't a ton, but its something. In that case, I'd still expect the Ravens to look to add depth via a cheap FA or in the draft to the defensive line.

 

So the question becomes... what do you do with the money? I suppose it could be used to make a better offer to Torrey, and I'd think it would be enough to get Forsett to resign on a decent deal.

 

If I were a betting man, I'd say if the cut Ngata, McPhee and Torrey are still gone, the Ravens actually do go target a guy like Andre Johnson or a mid-priced FA WR, add another WR via the draft (though not necessarily in the first round), and they resign Forsett.

 

While I think they do add a corner in the draft, I'm not convinced that the FO thinks corner is as big of an issue as the fans think it is, and so I don't see them frantically starting to scour FA for corners. They may add a Gorrer-level FA of some kind, but I don't expect a Cary Williams-like signing.

 

So, if they cut Ngata, I'd expect them to sign a WR (assuming they don't resign Torrey), resign Forsett, and add players through the draft at WR, DB, and either DL or pass rusher.

[GrimCoconut]

I think if we cut Ngata we'll use the money to re-sign our guys and probably grab a few free agents on the market on cheap deals. We're never big spenders but I would love to use that money on Devin McCourty. It would be well worth it

[TDubbs]

I think if we cut Ngata we'll use the money to re-sign our guys and probably grab a few free agents on the market on cheap deals. We're never big spenders but I would love to use that money on Devin McCourty. It would be well worth it

 

I agree. Devin McCourty would bring this secondary together in a big way. Additionally, we already have the depth to replace Ngata. Williams/Jernigan are studs who are up to the task, and we are great at drafting DL. 

[GrimCoconut]

I agree. Devin McCourty would bring this secondary together in a big way. Additionally, we already have the depth to replace Ngata. Williams/Jernigan are studs who are up to the task, and we are great at drafting DL.

Yep. My reason for pounding the table on him is that talented FS are tough to find even in the draft. The safeties of late haven't been very stellar and truly excellent safeties are one of the rarest in the business. He'd bring the play making we lack and add communication on the back end. I don't care about the comp in that case.

We could then let Will Hill walk and be someone else's problem. Not that he's a problem here

[TDubbs]

Yep. My reason for pounding the table on him is that talented FS are tough to find even in the draft. The safeties of late haven't been very stellar and truly excellent safeties are one of the rarest in the business. He'd bring the play making we lack and add communication on the back end. I don't care about the comp in that case.

We could then let Will Hill walk and be someone else's problem. Not that he's a problem here

 

Especially tough to find in the draft coming up. He's talented and has developed for 4 years in an excellent environment. We'd be getting a true FS entering the prime of his career who's already a seasoned vet. Thats the kind of guy Ozzie would invest in, and sacrifice the comp pick. 

[GrimCoconut]

Especially tough to find in the draft coming up. He's talented and has developed for 4 years in an excellent environment. We'd be getting a true FS entering the prime of his career who's already a seasoned vet. Thats the kind of guy Ozzie would invest in, and sacrifice the comp pick.

That's exactly how I see it but I have to say Ozzie knows what he's doing. I know Ozzie knows more than I do, but this is a move I'd like to see for sure. I could be wrong, but I'm of the same mind as you on this one. Give me a FS who can solidify the back end like we had years ago. It's the major thing holding us back. I understand people may want to wait and see because we have Brooks, Elam, Hill. I'm a fan of Brooks but he's coming off injury and there's no guarantee he becomes a FS for us. He could also play strong safety so there's versatility there if Elam doesn't pan out as a player.