Next up: Pro-bowl, Free Agency, Draft and the Salary Cap

[SpencerH555227]

​I agree with most of what you said, but I don't think we need to spend money to 'right the ship'. I think this team has the talent it just needs to get healthy which could be done by lowering intensity in training camp. 

[Sherly_Tebow]

I bet the Texans wish they had Schaub/ Mallett

[rmw10]

QB: Flacco, Mallett

RB: Forsett?, Allen, West, Taliaferro

FB: Juice

WR: SSS, Aiken, Perriman, Butler

TE: Gillmore, Williams, Boyle

OL: Monroe/KO, Jensen, Zuttah, Yanda, Wagner, Urschel

DL: Jernigan, Williams, Urban, Guy, Davis, KLM

ILB: Mosley, Smith?, Orr, Brown

OLB: Suggs, Dumervil, ZDS

CB: Smith, Wright?, Davis, Walker

S: Hill, Webb?, Brooks, Elam, Trawick

ST: Tucker, Koch, Cox

 

 

When you look at it, it's really not a bad team.  There's talent.  We just need to take that step over the edge and get those game breakers.  Looking at the roster (and this was a very quick evaluation), a few additions could do that.  Another WR or 2 is obviously needed.  OL depth would be nice, especially at T.  If Daryl Smith is gone, I'd have trust in us finding more talent at ILB as we've always done.  A young pass rusher is an obvious need.  CB and the secondary in general is the biggest issue though.  There's a lack of talent and a lot of question marks.  I think it's obvious where the focus is going to be this offseason.

Edited January 10, 2016 by rmw10

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

QB: Flacco, Mallett

RB: Forsett?, Allen, West, Taliaferro

FB: Juice

WR: SSS, Aiken, Permian, Butler

TE: Gillmore, Williams, Boyle

OL: Monroe/KO, Jensen, Zuttah, Yanda, Wagner, Urschel

DL: Jernigan, Williams, Urban, Guy, Davis, KLM

ILB: Mosley, Smith?, Orr, Brown

OLB: Suggs, Dumervil, ZDS

CB: Smith, Wright?, Davis, Walker

S: Hill, Webb?, Brooks, Elam, Trawick

ST: Tucker, Koch, Cox

 

 

When you look at it, it's really not a bad team.  There's talent.  We just need to take that step over the edge and get those game breakers.  Looking at the roster (and this was a very quick evaluation), a few additions could do that.  Another WR or 2 is obviously needed.  OL depth would be nice, especially at T.  If Daryl Smith is gone, I'd have trust in us finding more talent at ILB as we've always done.  A young pass rusher is an obvious need.  CB and the secondary in general is the biggest issue though.  There's a lack of talent and a lot of question marks.  I think it's obvious where the focus is going to be this offseason.

Good post.

[terrynjulia03]

Really the bottom line is we need secondary help and younger pass rushers. Along with a wr or 2.

Just watching the GB game theyre similar to being built like we are. The biggest difference is they have a decent secondary and good WRs for Rodgers. Thats what theyve been investing in. Every year they keep bringing in higher round draft pick WRs that fit their system and invest in the secondary. Yes they have Rodgers, and Joe isnt at that level. And yes their MLB is Matthews and CJ isnt there either. BUT both can be close enough to win you games. They use a FB, Kuhn, like we use Juice, or used to anyways. But still the NFC north is similar to the AFC north. Alot of cold weather teams. You have Detroit with Megatron and a big offense similar to Cinnci. Pitt is similar to Chicago, another powerfull offense but slowing down and lost on D. Minn is certainly better than the Browns, except on paper.

[atomicfront]

No offense but you need to take a look at how the cap works along with NFL contracts. Joe has already received most of his "guaranteed" money. He'll be restructured, or he'll be cut. Period. No QB has gone into a season with a 28m cap hit, and no other team will pay him more than 20 a year. Its just how contracts and the nfl works. Linta is just being a clown. Nothing to see here.

 

28.55 million cap if he plays on the team 25.85 million cap if he doesn't.  You are the one who needs to how the caps works in NFL contracts.  If he is cut he will sign with another team for big money and the Ravens would be stuck drafting a QB with their first round pick and will save a comical 2.7 million  space in cap space   There is absolutely zero chance he is cut this year.  

 

Also if a team pays him 20 million next year it would be more than he makes with the Ravens.  

[January J]

Really the bottom line is we need secondary help and younger pass rushers. Along with a wr or 2.

Just watching the GB game theyre similar to being built like we are. The biggest difference is they have a decent secondary and good WRs for Rodgers. Thats what theyve been investing in. Every year they keep bringing in higher round draft pick WRs that fit their system and invest in the secondary. Yes they have Rodgers, and Joe isnt at that level. And yes their MLB is Matthews and CJ isnt there either. BUT both can be close enough to win you games. They use a FB, Kuhn, like we use Juice, or used to anyways. But still the NFC north is similar to the AFC north. Alot of cold weather teams. You have Detroit with Megatron and a big offense similar to Cinnci. Pitt is similar to Chicago, another powerfull offense but slowing down and lost on D. Minn is certainly better than the Browns, except on paper.

GBs receivers have been failing to get separation the entire second half of the season. Without jordy their we corps is pretty average. Edited January 11, 2016 by January J

[Culpepper]

I don't want Weddle at all... he would not be a fit here.

[usmccharles]

GBs receivers have been failing to get separation the entire second half of the season. Without jordy their we corps is pretty average.

IMO thats why i think Cobb stayed there, i never thought he could be a number one guy. 

[Deflated Football]

I don't want Weddle at all... he would not be a fit here.

Why do you think that?

[B-more Ravor]

28.55 million cap if he plays on the team 25.85 million cap if he doesn't.  You are the one who needs to how the caps works in NFL contracts.  If he is cut he will sign with another team for big money and the Ravens would be stuck drafting a QB with their first round pick and will save a comical 2.7 million  space in cap space   There is absolutely zero chance he is cut this year.  

 

Also if a team pays him 20 million next year it would be more than he makes with the Ravens.  

 

This.  Not to mention that Joe has already received all (not most) of his guaranteed money - that's what the $25.85M in dead money is.

 

Joe's new deal is going to average more than $20M/yr (as his current one already does) and he's likely to get more like $30M between bonus and salary (as opposed to the $18M in salary he's supposed to get under the present deal).

 

That chance for that big check is about the only leverage ( enticement) that the Ravens have to get a new deal done.  OK, that and needing the Cap space to get other things done.

[Sherly_Tebow]

Anyone in the National Championship tonight that we may draft?

[Cillmatic]

Anyone in the National Championship tonight that we may draft?

Yes, two. Alexander(CB) and Lawson(OLB)

[Sherly_Tebow]

Yes, two. Alexander(CB) and Lawson(OLB)

Which team are each on?

[jazz1988]

Which team are each on?

 

Both Alexander and Lawson are on the same team which is The Clemson Tigers. 

[Sherly_Tebow]

Both Alexander and Lawson are on the same team which is The Clemson Tigers.

Good that's who I'm rooting for! lol

[allblackraven]

Anyone in the National Championship tonight that we may draft?

Yeah, anybody eligible from Alabama front 7

[baltimorefan328]

This.  Not to mention that Joe has already received all (not most) of his guaranteed money - that's what the $25.85M in dead money is.

 

Joe's new deal is going to average more than $20M/yr (as his current one already does) and he's likely to get more like $30M between bonus and salary (as opposed to the $18M in salary he's supposed to get under the present deal).

 

That chance for that big check is about the only leverage ( enticement) that the Ravens have to get a new deal done.  OK, that and needing the Cap space to get other things done.

These sorts of situations (unfortunately the Ravens are dealing with it) always make me laugh.  The Ravens made the deal and if it comes down to it must respect it, but you have to think Flacco understands his salary at its present number will severely hinder this team from being able to compete and get back to a super bowl, which I assume (hope) is the ultimate goal.  I have/will never be in a situation where I'm making a decision over millions of dollars like this, but I'll be interested to see how these negotiations with Flacco play out.  Newsome says he is comfortable going into the season with Flacco at his current hit, which is respectable because he made the deal and will honor it, but realistically at this point Flacco just has to know this team can not compete at his number

[B-more Ravor]

These sorts of situations (unfortunately the Ravens are dealing with it) always make me laugh.  The Ravens made the deal and if it comes down to it must respect it, but you have to think Flacco understands his salary at its present number will severely hinder this team from being able to compete and get back to a super bowl, which I assume (hope) is the ultimate goal.  I have/will never be in a situation where I'm making a decision over millions of dollars like this, but I'll be interested to see how these negotiations with Flacco play out.  Newsome says he is comfortable going into the season with Flacco at his current hit, which is respectable because he made the deal and will honor it, but realistically at this point Flacco just has to know this team can not compete at his number

 

I hear ya, but there's another guy involved too - Linta, Flacco's agent.  If Flacco lets him drive the negotiations, who knows?!?

 

The other issue is that it's not just getting his Cap number down for 2016, that's probably something they can figure out very quickly.  It's the other terms to the deal - yearly average, how much is guaranteed, the length of deal, whether Linta's going to want to set it up to for another restructure in 3 years, etc, that are more problematic and could cause problems, IMO.

[ellicottraven]

So, if Flacco plays under his current cap structure of 28.55 M how does it affect us assembling a competitive team or does it really affect it? The Ravens seem to be comfortable leaving his contract be and I'm sure Joe doesn't care to change it either. So, what happens when his cap figure goes to 34M next year? If Flacco is the future QB of this team, why aren't the Ravens all over him to redo his deal? Or is there something that we don't know about Flacco's future with the team? Very confusing situation indeed.

[Moderator 3]

"When there is a player we think can come in and improve our football team and help us, then we will have the cap room capable of being able to get that player signed,” Newsome said.

[Deflated Football]

"When there is a player we think can come in and improve our football team and help us, then we will have the cap room capable of being able to get that player signed,” Newsome said.

Eric Weddle!!!

[The Raven]

Eric Weddle!!!

 

Eric Weddle is old.

[Deflated Football]

Eric Weddle is old.

He's only 31 and better than anyone we have at the position.

[Ravenseconbeast]

He's only 31 and better than anyone we have at the position.

 

just barely.  and weddle is shell of his former self.   drastic regression @ very fast pace.  

[Deflated Football]

just barely.  and weddle is shell of his former self.   drastic regression @ very fast pace.

So Weddle is just barely better than Ken Lewis? Got it.

[The Raven]

He's only 31 and better than anyone we have at the position.

 

Webb is at FS, and we have Will Hill, and we'll have Matt Elam, and we'll have draft picks. No sense at all bringing in Weddle

[Deflated Football]

Webb is at FS, and we have Will Hill, and we'll have Matt Elam, and we'll have draft picks. No sense at all bringing in Weddle

So an oft-injured Webb and a bust of a pick in Elam over someone who was a first team All-Pro just two seasons ago at FS? Will Hill can't do it all in the secondary and while I think Webb is an OK option at FS, I don't trust him to stay durable nor be the long term option.

[The Raven]

So an oft-injured Webb and a bust of a pick in Elam over someone who was a first team All-Pro just two seasons ago at FS? Will Hill can't do it all in the secondary and while I think Webb is an OK option at FS, I don't trust him to stay durable nor be the long term option.

 

That's fair. I can see us bringing in someone else. Just don't think it's a rapidly declining 31 year old safety who will demand more money than he's worth.

[jazz1988]

just barely.  and weddle is shell of his former self.   drastic regression @ very fast pace.  

 

 

He was good in 2014 but wasn't as good this season but that may be due to injury than anything. He's was dealing with a injury for most of the season but I don't think  he will be affordable for The Ravens.

Edited January 13, 2016 by jazz1988