[News] Who's Out There 2016? Defensive Backs

[BR News]

The Ravens still have their eye on the secondary, and they could add veteran help.

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[fusuymada]

We can't afford the top tier which is the level of skill we need. I would accept Adam Jones because of his return abilities (the guy is unbelievable with the ball in his hands). Please, no more bottom of the barrel (Kyle Arrington, Keenan Lewis, etc...) fill ins for real players. We cannot afford the cheap players any longer. We need to figure out why we are horrible at drafting CBs and WRs. I don't think we have drafted a good CB since Chris McAllister. Webb was good for a year, we are still waiting for Jimmy Smith, Trey Walker, and the rest of them.

[RavensElite52]

Build through the draft... no need to pay for a mid to top tier DB. We need to get this cap under control so we can keep making moves in the future and not be tight against the cap every year.
Pitta is essentially killing us at this point by being this determined to play again. He hasn't really seen the field in essentially 3 seasons, and both seasons after signing the contract. He also is putting his health at risk if he suits up again. If he isn't on the field and showing good, then we cut him in June to free up cap space. I'm pretty sure Watson essentially declared Pitta done in Bmore, by him retiring or released post June.

[SanDiegan Raven]

We can't afford the top tier which is the level of skill we need. I would accept Adam Jones because of his return abilities (the guy is unbelievable with the ball in his hands). Please, no more bottom of the barrel (Kyle Arrington, Keenan Lewis, etc...) fill ins for real players. We cannot afford the cheap players any longer. We need to figure out why we are horrible at drafting CBs and WRs. I don't think we have drafted a good CB since Chris McAllister. Webb was good for a year, we are still waiting for Jimmy Smith, Trey Walker, and the rest of them.

Waiting on Jimmy? Wow! That's some pretty stout disrespect. If you're expecting Sanders reborn those days of dominant corner play is done. Thank the rule changes for that.

Revis, Sherman, Peterson and others are great corners but your expectations for Jimmy to be that guy is not fair to who Jimmy is as a player and what he brings to the table. Personally I would put Jimmy and Chris McAllister in the same tier of play. Jimmy doesn't have the mouth of Sherman nor the Revis (in his prime) dominance but he is definitely a top corner in this league.

There are 10 other guys on the field that contribute to pass defense. Pass rushers and corners need each other. No pass rush and there isn't a corner in the league that's going to cover a WR for 10 seconds.

[JimmyBlack]

Packman has serious stats but he scares me with the off field issues. If we are going to break the bank, then we'd be best off going with a younger player like Jenkins. I see the Ravens picking up some super low tier guy or waiting until there are some decent players released later in camp. I seriously doubt that we go CB in the 1st round of the draft.

[JimmyBlack]

Build through the draft... no need to pay for a mid to top tier DB. We need to get this cap under control so we can keep making moves in the future and not be tight against the cap every year.
Pitta is essentially killing us at this point by being this determined to play again. He hasn't really seen the field in essentially 3 seasons, and both seasons after signing the contract. He also is putting his health at risk if he suits up again. If he isn't on the field and showing good, then we cut him in June to free up cap space. I'm pretty sure Watson essentially declared Pitta done in Bmore, by him retiring or released post June.

I'm pretty sure that we will pick up at least 2 CBs in the 3rd round or later.

[ravens4life86]

Pacman or Cromartie..both were cut. So you dont lose comp picks. Both are talented in different ways.. cromartie high end athlete, pacman high end ball skills, both still relatively young. Close to 30.

So pick up 1 of them

[ravens4life86]

Give Cromartie 3 years 15mil, with 10 guaranteed. Offer Pacman similar.. 1 should take it.. 4-5mil avg per year should get a top 20 CB

[Ravenous_Ravens]

Pacman or Cromartie..both were cut. So you dont lose comp picks. Both are talented in different ways.. cromartie high end athlete, pacman high end ball skills, both still relatively young. Close to 30.

So pick up 1 of them

After witnessing the youth movement since the SB year, I don't like the idea of bringing in aging players to patch those holes. Truth is the draft has a lot of talent this year and at a cheaper price than UFA's. True a vet might help out for a year or two but you gamble on when their decline becomes noticeable. Patch work only works well when by and large your roster is more or less complete, something that is still a season or two away from being a realty. IMHO Ozzie & Decosta don't sign any UFA's until after the draft at the earliest. Plus they like to generally keep some extra cap on hand as cuts are made towards the beginning of the season and for emergency slush fund. Really hoping the injury bug is going elsewhere this year. It's been festering for too long now.

[Ravenous_Ravens]

We can't afford the top tier which is the level of skill we need. I would accept Adam Jones because of his return abilities (the guy is unbelievable with the ball in his hands). Please, no more bottom of the barrel (Kyle Arrington, Keenan Lewis, etc...) fill ins for real players. We cannot afford the cheap players any longer. We need to figure out why we are horrible at drafting CBs and WRs. I don't think we have drafted a good CB since Chris McAllister. Webb was good for a year, we are still waiting for Jimmy Smith, Trey Walker, and the rest of them.

You say they cannot afford the top tier players and they cannot afford the cheap players? This is contradicting in itself. I trust you are aware that it is impossible to have top tier talent at every position on the field, at least since salary cap era. Also, both Webb and J.Smith have played very well, despite dealing with a rash of injuries. Maybe not 100% but they were not 100% either. The "hero or zero" rating system is flawed especially in the real world. All teams deal with draft picks that do not turn out they way they though for a variety of reasons. Trey Walker was a gamble of sorts when they drafted the kid. He came from a small school and played well and had size (height). Expecting him to be even close to ready to start come his second year is "best case scenario". Support your perspective with facts, especially if your going to go judging people in a negative capacity.

[ellicottraven]

Just draft a CB in the top 3 rounds and one in the later rounds and we'll be fine.

[ravens4life86]

@Ravenous _Raven, Im all for addressing needs on defense and going younger in the draft. But Ozzie isnt and cant draft 3-4 DBs when he has so many holes to fill. And the most pressing need is...team speed, and gamechangers in general.
I mean if they get Ramsey at 6, then everything is solved.. but that is slim chances. So most likely Oz picks up Cyrus Jones ir someone in round 4 or 5.. and you sign a Cromartie or Pacman for 2-3 years.

Because..Sizzle, and Dum are 34 yrs old. So you need a transcendent pass rusher that affects the entire defense. At 6, likely..Bosa,Jack,Spence,Buckner etc..
Rnd 2, need a WR.. so Josh Doctson, Will Fuller.

They have more needs to fill in draft then CB..
So Pacman or Cromartie would be perfect

[757RavensFan]

If the Cowboys cut Morris Claiborne I hope the Ravens bring him in for a look. 

[OzzieBisciotti]

Due to us not addressing this issue for the past 3-4 years (even since we let Corey Graham leave), I don't think Oz knows what 'CB' stands for anymore.

[OzzieBisciotti]

Build through the draft... no need to pay for a mid to top tier DB. We need to get this cap under control so we can keep making moves in the future and not be tight against the cap every year.
Pitta is essentially killing us at this point by being this determined to play again. He hasn't really seen the field in essentially 3 seasons, and both seasons after signing the contract. He also is putting his health at risk if he suits up again. If he isn't on the field and showing good, then we cut him in June to free up cap space. I'm pretty sure Watson essentially declared Pitta done in Bmore, by him retiring or released post June.

Besides Jimmy Smith, Oz usually picks up CBs in the 4th, 5th rds or picks up five undrafted free agent CBs each year to see which one pans out (usually none of them as you can tell how sorry our secondary has been over the past 3-4 years). We bring an army of CBs in every year but none pan out- you figure we should have a higher hit ratio, but it's on Oz or the coaching staff to coach better. Not sure who is at fault when it comes to this particular position. I'm very worried about this position because Jimmy Smith is just one fall away from another injury- he got paid big money for not even being a top tier receiver- kind of like Eugene Monroe situation in sense of overpaying.

[cushrinada1986]

None of these DBs fits our plans for 2016. Prince and Jenkins may price out of our range and the rest are too old. scheme is to load up on youth and try to make another 6-7 year playoff run. Now that KO is gone, get ready to hear either Stanley or Tunsil get called on draft day at #6. From there, we are more than likely looking at a pass rusher, then CB, then WR, then BPA.

[GENE2407]

Yuck. Better start drafting some CBs.

[GENE2407]

If the Cowboys cut Morris Claiborne I hope the Ravens bring him in for a look. 

Nah. He's another big time bust who couldn't stay healthy his entire tenure in Dallas. I think he scored a 4 on the wonderlic at the combine and that's probably all you need to know. We don't need anymore IQ problems in our secondary. I really hope we spend our 1st or 2nd pick on a CB.

[GENE2407]

Give Cromartie 3 years 15mil, with 10 guaranteed. Offer Pacman similar.. 1 should take it.. 4-5mil avg per year should get a top 20 CB

Cromartie was released 1 year into his 4 year deal so I can't see him being any kind of player we'd want to have.

[Bob21043]

Hopefully, our new DB coach will help this year too..

[rmcjacket23]

Rodney McLeod - DB - Rams
Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reports the Ravens are a "strong contender" for free agent FS Rodney McLeod.
McLeod is a very underrated centerfield-type safety who can also lay a lick on a receiver despite his 5'10/193 frame. Losing McLeod on the same day RCB Janois Jenkins left for the Giants would be a tough blow to the Rams, who have said their main objective is to lock up their secondary. The Ravens are in the market for a deep safety to pair with SS Will Hill.
Related: Ravens
Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter Mar 9 - 9:13 AM

[WNC-Raven]

13 minutes ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Rodney McLeod - DB - Rams
Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reports the Ravens are a "strong contender" for free agent FS Rodney McLeod.
McLeod is a very underrated centerfield-type safety who can also lay a lick on a receiver despite his 5'10/193 frame. Losing McLeod on the same day RCB Janois Jenkins left for the Giants would be a tough blow to the Rams, who have said their main objective is to lock up their secondary. The Ravens are in the market for a deep safety to pair with SS Will Hill.
Related: Ravens
Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter Mar 9 - 9:13 AM

Where would this leave Webb?

[sipseedone]

I would not take pacman, too much baggage and he is 35 years old. 

[sipseedone]

One of the db's that's out there and a stud from the draft, in my opinion would be the ideal way to go. We have the one drafted in the last two.

[rmcjacket23]

16 minutes ago, WNC-Raven said:

Where would this leave Webb?

This I don't know. Sort of perplexed by it to be honest. I don't know much about McLeod, but he may just be a cheap, Kendrick Lewis type signing, in which case we'd probably still keep Webb and Hill.

Gotta think Lewis is on his way out the door though if this signing happens. May also allow us to approach Webb for a paycut, since he'd have a serious threat to his job now.

[Prino61]

I want Eric Weedle, if the price is right

Edited March 9, 2016 by Prino61