[News] Free Agency Breakdown: Ravens WR Kamar Aiken

[BR News]

The wide receiver is going into free agency after a season where he caught 29 passes for 328 yards and a touchdown.

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[fusuymada]

I think we need to consider that the majority of Aikens success came at the end of Ryan Mallett's passing arm, not Joe Flacco's. Seems to me that Mallett seemed to be able to build chemistry pretty easily with Jeremy Butler and Kamar Aiken, something that Flacco never had success at.

I will use this opportunity to reiterate my flip flop on Flacco. Where I used to be a staunch defender, after last year I refused to allow the facts to cloud my judgement any longer. I realize that Flacco is truly a bottom third in the league QB and is getting paid as the top Cap hit in the league as soon as Romo is traded. No way in any world should Flacco have the top cap hit in the league based on his production since the super bowl. Flacco needs to give back money and reduce his cap hit and take compensation equivalent to what those who produce like him are making. He can't do it on his own and his cap hit prohibits the team from surrounding him with the talent he needs to be successful. I hate to beat a dead horse, but for me, these should be the last two years Flacco plays in a Ravens uniform if he doesn't take a pay cut and start working with the team to get cheaper and put in the effort to get better. He can be compensated with performance related incentives so if he is as great as he was in 2012 then he will make his money back but there is no way Flacco, with his numbers the last couple years, should be the 15th highest cap hit in the league much less at th the very top of the ladder.

[bnyce52]

I think we need to consider that the majority of Aikens success came at the end of Ryan Mallett's passing arm, not Joe Flacco's. Seems to me that Mallett seemed to be able to build chemistry pretty easily with Jeremy Butler and Kamar Aiken, something that Flacco never had success at.

I will use this opportunity to reiterate my flip flop on Flacco. Where I used to be a staunch defender, after last year I refused to allow the facts to cloud my judgement any longer. I realize that Flacco is truly a bottom third in the league QB and is getting paid as the top Cap hit in the league as soon as Romo is traded. No way in any world should Flacco have the top cap hit in the league based on his production since the super bowl. Flacco needs to give back money and reduce his cap hit and take compensation equivalent to what those who produce like him are making. He can't do it on his own and his cap hit prohibits the team from surrounding him with the talent he needs to be successful. I hate to beat a dead horse, but for me, these should be the last two years Flacco plays in a Ravens uniform if he doesn't take a pay cut and start working with the team to get cheaper and put in the effort to get better. He can be compensated with performance related incentives so if he is as great as he was in 2012 then he will make his money back but there is no way Flacco, with his numbers the last couple years, should be the 15th highest cap hit in the league much less at th the very top of the ladder.

He won't. He doesn't have to, and I really don't think he cares one bit about a legacy in Baltimore. He probably never dreamed of being a Super Bowl MVP, so in his mind he may have nothing else to prove to himself or the organization. As much as I want a corner, pass rusher, or o-lineman in round 1 of the 2017 draft, I would grin a pretty wide grin if we drafted a QB before round 3. Joe needs a push, and Mallett isn't it. Knowing that we always have Harbs in the war room on draft day (ugh), I can't see that happening though.

[The Greek]

bryn renner baby!!

[bigcatfrank1]

I think we need to consider that the majority of Aikens success came at the end of Ryan Mallett's passing arm, not Joe Flacco's. Seems to me that Mallett seemed to be able to build chemistry pretty easily with Jeremy Butler and Kamar Aiken, something that Flacco never had success at.

I will use this opportunity to reiterate my flip flop on Flacco. Where I used to be a staunch defender, after last year I refused to allow the facts to cloud my judgement any longer. I realize that Flacco is truly a bottom third in the league QB and is getting paid as the top Cap hit in the league as soon as Romo is traded. No way in any world should Flacco have the top cap hit in the league based on his production since the super bowl. Flacco needs to give back money and reduce his cap hit and take compensation equivalent to what those who produce like him are making. He can't do it on his own and his cap hit prohibits the team from surrounding him with the talent he needs to be successful. I hate to beat a dead horse, but for me, these should be the last two years Flacco plays in a Ravens uniform if he doesn't take a pay cut and start working with the team to get cheaper and put in the effort to get better. He can be compensated with performance related incentives so if he is as great as he was in 2012 then he will make his money back but there is no way Flacco, with his numbers the last couple years, should be the 15th highest cap hit in the league much less at th the very top of the ladder.

well you managed to change the subject because there just isnt enough to write about Aiken. Except you missed the 12 dropped passes.
I think Joe should give back his money when the Receivers give back their money for missing passes, RB give back their money for zero yards and failed first downs, and o-line men give back money for missed blocks.
Lets start looking at the team instead of your fall back position.

Aiken isnt going to help this team, he competes with Perriman and Wallace. His slot play was below average, that is why the Ravens will not renew his contract.

[bigcatfrank1]

Aiken had his best year when the Ravens did not have Wallace, Smith Sr. and Perriman were hurt and not playing. All 3 of them are better receivers, its just the facts.

[JimmyBlack]

Draft Mike Williams and we won't mind that Aiken signed somewhere else.

[Chuckx999]

in 2015, Aiken caught 75 passes for 944 yards and five touchdowns, in 2016 he's forgotten. If I was him I would be happy to leave and hope Ryan Mallett is there.

[Ravens8383]

He's going to walk but I would not hate if he stayed. With Smith Sr. gone he will have a chance again to show that he can be the guy the Ravens need on 3rd down. Don't forget that Waller was drafted as a WR and with so many TE's on this team I could see the coach’s possibly moving him back the WR to fill a hole if they don't find someone in FA or the draft they are happy with.

[CQ1]

As long as we are stuck with Dunkin Joe-nuts- I'd get out of dodge too

[OzzieBisciotti]

First of all, this man is a WR that the FO picked up as an undrafted player- whether he was drafted or not, we all know that none of the WRs, besides Torrey Smoth and we of course let him walk away, that Oz/ DaCosta draft never make it out to be productive- the same thing can be said with their TE and Safety picks over the years.. Let him walk- either way, he might be back because on our team he's a 2 or #3 receiver, but on other teams, he barely makes their practice squad as not a receiver but as a special teamer.. i know the truth hurts- this team just has more holes than swiss cheese- we don't smell the playoffs this year either

[ellicottraven]

As long as we are stuck with Dunkin Joe-nuts- I'd get out of dodge too

Dunkin Joe-nuts?? That is funny man!

[ellicottraven]

He would be an idiot to come back. He is a very safe and reliable receiver that felt wronged by the coaches. He's not coming back unless we make him an offer better than what he's getting from other teams. When have the Ravens ever paid someone more that way?

[sizzlingdoom]

average wr at very best, poor ST player. Later Aiken. He would do himself good to go sign with Carolina

[jsarrocohome@yahoo.com]

He had plenty of chances last year and never made the most of them and he's Horrible on kick coverage maybe he stays on vet minimum

[jsarrocohome@yahoo.com]

He would be an idiot to come back. He is a very safe and reliable receiver that felt wronged by the coaches. He's not coming back unless we make him an offer better than what he's getting from other teams. When have the Ravens ever paid someone more that way?

He wasn't wronged by the coaches he was wronged by his Horrible special teams play he couldn't get open and dropped a lot of passes

[jsarrocohome@yahoo.com]

As long as we are stuck with Dunkin Joe-nuts- I'd get out of dodge too

Maybe if aiken could actually get open and then actually catch the ball Joe would have been able to keep more drives alive and you would be dunkin to if you were playing with a bad knee and a line that was shaky at best

[jsarrocohome@yahoo.com]

in 2015, Aiken caught 75 passes for 944 yards and five touchdowns, in 2016 he's forgotten. If I was him I would be happy to leave and hope Ryan Mallett is there.

A 1 year wonder

[Bob21043]

We could bring him back - don't think many teams are going to offer him more than what we would based on his play history - 2015 was an outlier (in his favor) because all the other starting WRs were out. We have other, higher FA concerns than him to deal with. I agree with the Waller comment earlier - move him back to WR, he is a huge Red Zone target with very good speed.

[OriolesMagicPlease]

9 hours ago, ellicottraven said:

He would be an idiot to come back. He is a very safe and reliable receiver that felt wronged by the coaches. He's not coming back unless we make him an offer better than what he's getting from other teams. When have the Ravens ever paid someone more that way?

Not a reliable receiver by a long shot. And did you see his terrible special teams play, did you watch the games? I wish him well and success on another team.

[CQ1]

  14 hours ago, CQ1 said:

As long as we are stuck with Dunkin Joe-nuts- I'd get out of dodge too

Maybe if aiken could actually get open and then actually catch the ball Joe would have been able to keep more drives alive and you would be dunkin to if you were playing with a bad knee and a line that was shaky at best

I guess that we will see (the same DunkinJo-nuts) in time.
Knee, line or not- I have seen more than enough of him. I cannot wait for when he is gone

[jsarrocohome@yahoo.com]

  6 hours ago, jsarrocohome@yahoo.com said:

  16 hours ago, CQ1 said:

As long as we are stuck with Dunkin Joe-nuts- I'd get out of dodge too

Maybe if aiken could actually get open and then actually catch the ball Joe would have been able to keep more drives alive and you would be dunkin to if you were playing with a bad knee and a line that was shaky at best

I guess that we will see (the same DunkinJo-nuts) in time.
Knee, line or not- I have seen more than enough of him. I cannot wait for when he is gone

Be carefull what you wish for remember stoney case ,boller,elvis and about 20 more QB's we hade the all sucked joe will be here this year and next for sure than if he doesn't play better he'll be gone

[billiejean]

22 hours ago, fusuymada said:

I think we need to consider that the majority of Aikens success came at the end of Ryan Mallett's passing arm, not Joe Flacco's. Seems to me that Mallett seemed to be able to build chemistry pretty easily with Jeremy Butler and Kamar Aiken, something that Flacco never had success at.

I will use this opportunity to reiterate my flip flop on Flacco. Where I used to be a staunch defender, after last year I refused to allow the facts to cloud my judgement any longer. I realize that Flacco is truly a bottom third in the league QB and is getting paid as the top Cap hit in the league as soon as Romo is traded. No way in any world should Flacco have the top cap hit in the league based on his production since the super bowl. Flacco needs to give back money and reduce his cap hit and take compensation equivalent to what those who produce like him are making. He can't do it on his own and his cap hit prohibits the team from surrounding him with the talent he needs to be successful. I hate to beat a dead horse, but for me, these should be the last two years Flacco plays in a Ravens uniform if he doesn't take a pay cut and start working with the team to get cheaper and put in the effort to get better. He can be compensated with performance related incentives so if he is as great as he was in 2012 then he will make his money back but there is no way Flacco, with his numbers the last couple years, should be the 15th highest cap hit in the league much less at th the very top of the ladder.

well, you flip flopped from game to game last year.  And if he plays well in the season opener you will jump right back on the bandwagon.  There have been no QBs that have taken a pay cut to their already agreed upon salaries.  The only time a QB came close o doing it was the year Peyton won the SB.  He restructured his contract and converted 4 mil dollars into incentives. By winning the SB of course he was payed that 4 mil and thereby did not actually taking a pay cut. But this is the only case where this has come close to happening and clearly only occurred because Manning realised it was probably his last season. What really happens is that they just shuffle money around to help with the cap. But in no way shape or form are they receiving less money than their contract stipulated. But when you do this you are pushing money down the line and the FO has to decide if that is a good idea. But I don't see any reason that Joe wouldn't do this if the FO asked him to, no matter how many kids he has. I am unsure how one who is a regular contributor in this forum has not been able to grasp this concept. It could just be selective remembrance.

[ravenken]

Aiken IS a very good receiver along the veins of Boldin... I can't think of any other receiver out there that you can make the same comparison and definitely none in FA.
I do think he got a raw deal as we did nothing to get the ball to him this last year... instead it was just feeding Smith's ego which really did not need feeding.
We are going to regret seeing him go. :-/
Go Ravens!

[ravenken]

  15 hours ago, ellicottraven said:

He would be an idiot to come back. He is a very safe and reliable receiver that felt wronged by the coaches. He's not coming back unless we make him an offer better than what he's getting from other teams. When have the Ravens ever paid someone more that way?

Not a reliable receiver by a long shot. And did you see his terrible special teams play, did you watch the games? I wish him well and success on another team.

The stat line disagrees with you... http://www.thebackyardbanter.com/reception-perception-kamar-aiken-is-the-answer-to-the-ravens-receiver-riddle.html
Sure, this is previous season article but that does not detract from his abilities... He is (was) probably the most reliable receiver on the team. Go Ravens!

[ravenken]

We could bring him back - don't think many teams are going to offer him more than what we would based on his play history - 2015 was an outlier (in his favor) because all the other starting WRs were out. We have other, higher FA concerns than him to deal with. I agree with the Waller comment earlier - move him back to WR, he is a huge Red Zone target with very good speed.

So, 2015 is an outlier because they threw him the ball? Not very good logic... We need a receiver to complement Wallace and Perriman... who would you choose? I'll take Aiken in a heartbeat - if we can afford him.

[Crusader]

"considering he’s coming off a down season. " Every receiver on the Ravens is coming off a down year . Of the 40 players listed in NFL receiver stats only Mike Wallace was on the list at 21. There are 7 teams listed that need a wide receiver. "HE GONE". Whats funny is Joe decided to throw to his receivers in the off season but he will only have two with experience, maybe.

[sizzlingdoom]

"considering he’s coming off a down season. " Every receiver on the Ravens is coming off a down year . Of the 40 players listed in NFL receiver stats only Mike Wallace was on the list at 21. There are 7 teams listed that need a wide receiver. "HE GONE". Whats funny is Joe decided to throw to his receivers in the off season but he will only have two with experience, maybe.

Hopefully he's throwing to Marshall and Perriman in the offseason, perhaps Wallace as well if he restructures. That would be a NASTY trio!

[sizzlingdoom]

  On 2/23/2017 at 8:31 PM, ellicottraven said:

He would be an idiot to come back. He is a very safe and reliable receiver that felt wronged by the coaches. He's not coming back unless we make him an offer better than what he's getting from other teams. When have the Ravens ever paid someone more that way?

Not a reliable receiver by a long shot. And did you see his terrible special teams play, did you watch the games? I wish him well and success on another team.

Boom. Perfect post on the topic. I think at the very best he's an average wideout. That's pushing it though. His special teams absolutely killed us though in multiple games. Literally almost as frustrating as anything that happened this season. His play cost us the Washington? game in about 4 different ways. He'll be gone and I wish him well. He should go to Carolina or something

[#Nevermore]

I know he will not be back next year, but if he were a free agent (not restricted) last year instead of this year, we would've overpaid for him like we tend to do with mediocre players. We even gave him a second round tender last year. We should've given him a 4th round tender and hoped someone took him off our hands.

We have to stop stocking up on mediocre players. Players who specialize in nothing. Aiken fits that mold.