[News] Eisenberg: Following Draft, Cornerback Is Ravens' No. 1 Gamble

[stampedehero]

The Pats just released CB Donnell who is a decent 4 year player can be had for $1.5MM. The Ravens ought to pick him up, imo. Could be a reasonably good backup corner.

 

He's a tough little guy who plays physical. We have some corners with a good bit of size to them, adding a smaller, quicker corner may be that starting corner we need that also frees up Webby to play the slot where he excels. I like Dennard and although he had some legal issues early in his career I think his has managed to keep his nose clean while knocking the snot out of receivers.

His age was a factor. I read he is 37   He does make a half mil so from the NFL prospective he is affordable. I think an AFC East team will snatch him. 

[bozo]

Jamie dukes is not to crazy about the ravens picks, he said they didn't make much of a effort to go after any big names.

[rmcjacket23]

His age was a factor. I read he is 37   He does make a half mil so from the NFL prospective he is affordable. I think an AFC East team will snatch him. 

If we are talking about Alfonzo Dennard who was just released by the Patriots...

 

1. He's 25, not 37. He was a 7th round pick in the 2012 draft.

2. From what I can tell, he wasn't released for cap purposes, as the Pats saved basically $1M that they didn't need.

3. I'm always weary of a team like NE, who lost their two best corners in the offseason already and didn't really add much at that position, releasing a draft pick at a position of weakness while they are still on their rookie deal.

 

There really isn't a bigger "red flag" than that in terms of my desire to sign a player. It can't be a case of the old "not given an opportunity", because he started 20 games for the Pats.

 

I think we have at least 3-4 better corners on this roster right now, and I think that's being conservative. No thanks.

[rmcjacket23]

Ozzie should be looking hard to trade for an upper tier CB to pair with Jimmy Smith. We have all the second tier players we need. We could afford to trade Arthur Brown or Marlon Brown as well as a draft pick if we get the right guy. Having the season hinge on Jimmy Smith staying healthy just is too big a risk to take considering the high quality of the rest of the team and the considerable effort it took to assemble it.

I doubt that's enough to get anybody on the phone. Both Brown's would be perceived as "project" type players to anybody else around the league since they are mostly unproven, and you'd probably have to toss in at least a high draft pick (possibly a 1st or 2nd rounder) to get that deal done, because that's the going rate for an upper tier CB.

 

AND... you still have to pay an upper tier CB upper tier money, similar to what you are paying Jimmy Smith. That's going to cost us a player in the long run... could easily mean a guy like Osemele doesn't stay on this team beyond the season.

 

I just don't see it happening, nor do I think there's a realistic option out there for it to happen. If you wanted to obtain another Webb-level corner, than a trade like that might be doable. Just don't see any team in the league willing to trade a top-tier corner for a project player and a mid-draft pick. Can't see how that benefits the other team.

[January J]

Jamie dukes is not to crazy about the ravens picks, he said they didn't make much of a effort to go after any big names.

who cares, Jamie dukes doesn't got any credibility in my book, he's obviously a hater.

[January J]

If we are talking about Alfonzo Dennard who was just released by the Patriots...

1. He's 25, not 37. He was a 7th round pick in the 2012 draft.

2. From what I can tell, he wasn't released for cap purposes, as the Pats saved basically $1M that they didn't need.

3. I'm always weary of a team like NE, who lost their two best corners in the offseason already and didn't really add much at that position, releasing a draft pick at a position of weakness while they are still on their rookie deal.

There really isn't a bigger "red flag" than that in terms of my desire to sign a player. It can't be a case of the old "not given an opportunity", because he started 20 games for the Pats.

I think we have at least 3-4 better corners on this roster right now, and I think that's being conservative. No thanks.

that's some good observation , we can definitely do better- and probably already have better.

[Fastynart]

It is a huge gamble. When both your starting corners have injury issues, the odds are stacked against them making it trough the season. While Kendrick is an improvement over Stewart, we still have Elam, who has shown nothing. Terrence Brooks is the unknown. This amounts to a lot of unanswered questions and a lot of hope for the year.

[KoryB13]

Still trying to figure out who Tray Jackson is from the article above. They started by calling him Tray Walker and then moved on to referring to him as tray Jackson and even went as far as calling him and Asa, "The Jackson's". Just wanted to point that out and wondered why no one caught that. Unless we have a Tray Jackson at corner back that I don't know about

[cobrajet]

Do all of us really believe that the Ravens brass don't understand the situation of our defensive backs better than us? And that they don't plan for contingencies? They are the Ravens front office widely regarded as the best front office in the NFL. Yet, we continue to second guess them with regard to our CB situation. Remember when Ozzie compared our CB situation to our O-line situation last year? That told me they know they are good at CB and we shouldn't worry. I stopped worrying after that.

If our guys come back to good form and are ready to go when the season starts, they can do the job - that is for sure. They certainly have the talent. Jimmy was playing GREAT before the injury and Webb started slow because of the back injury but was playing very well before he got hurt again. The problem is I have not seen either one of them consistently play a full 16 game schedule without being out for an extended period of time with injury. I have to wonder if our incredible unluck with cornerback injuries last year was just a coincidence or if something was going on we should try to analyze. Ozzie may not be worried, but I have to be honest - I am.

[ellicottraven]

If our guys come back to good form and are ready to go when the season starts, they can do the job - that is for sure. They certainly have the talent. Jimmy was playing GREAT before the injury and Webb started slow because of the back injury but was playing very well before he got hurt again. The problem is I have not seen either one of them consistently play a full 16 game schedule without being out for an extended period of time with injury. I have to wonder if our incredible unluck with cornerback injuries last year was just a coincidence or if something was going on we should try to analyze. Ozzie may not be worried, but I have to be honest - I am.

Don't be worried, because the people that get canned for not worrying aren't. They are comfortable with our CB situation but I bet you they won't stop looking to better themselves at all positions. So, if some quality veteran became available at a discount, I wouldn't put it past Ozzie to sign him up!

[cobrajet]

Don't be worried, because the people that get canned for not worrying aren't. They are comfortable with our CB situation but I bet you they won't stop looking to better themselves at all positions. So, if some quality veteran became available at a discount, I wouldn't put it past Ozzie to sign him up!

I would love for a decent veteran cut to agree to come here. Who am I kidding, it would give me a lot of comfort actually. Keep an eye out Ozzie!!!!!!!   I thought our secondary was going to be very good last season when we signed Aaron Ross, then he tore his ACL one month later.

Edited May 6, 2015 by cobrajet

[Wavesonian]

This will be interesting!

[Space11jams]

Do me a favor and tell me the last time we made it through a season with our starting secondary basically injury free...  I have faith it happens for some reason, but think about that.

That's true but still i don't think our "entire" DB group will go down like it did last year. We lost how many DB's? Seemed like we we were bringing in DB's every week. All will go in healthy including webby and smith which will be a first in probably a long time. It will be better than last year.

[Jim Giampaoli]

"The Jacksons, Asa and Tray". Come on Eisenburg get someone to proof read for you.

[eric199479]

REALLY upset to hear Wilson broke his leg. Thought he was an absolute steal. Love the guy, hopefully he gets on the field for us in the future.