[News] Late For Work 3/8: What's Next For Ravens In Free Agency? More Moves Likely On The Way

[BR News]

Ravens tender restricted free agents. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall a ‘perfect fit’ for Ravens. Browns want to bring Kyle Juszczyk back home. Free agent Rick Wagner expected to ‘blow the top off’ the right tackle market. Tyrod Taylor to Cleveland?

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[fusuymada]

Cant wait until tomorrow when speculation on cuts and free agency pickups will certainly start to clear up. The Ravens tend to wait in free agency and not make immediate decisions as they wait and see what the dollar figures are saying.

Marshall is a perfect fit if the Ravens change their tune on domestic violence and their stance that players need to be at the castle to play and Marshall leaves every Tuesday and returns late on Wednesday as he does his showtime NFL show. So its a perfect fit that is imperfect for the Ravens in numerous ways.

Problem is, the Ravens are no longer that consistent playoff team that players want to be a part of. Players want to play for a contender and when our offense looks like a dog, and our QB can't hit the broad side of a barn, how are we going to lure free agent receivers here. The only way is if an organization that has fared worse than the Ravens over the past two years is who we are competing with. 5-11 and 8-8 doesn't get excitement from the fans much less players who have to decide where they are going to play. Also, I believe we were stuck with our OC as a result of the fact that Harbaugh may be in his last year and who wants a job that could possibly end in a year so the Ravens locked down what they had before he moved on and they couldn't find anyone to sign.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Cant wait until tomorrow when speculation on cuts and free agency pickups will certainly start to clear up. The Ravens tend to wait in free agency and not make immediate decisions as they wait and see what the dollar figures are saying.

Marshall is a perfect fit if the Ravens change their tune on domestic violence and their stance that players need to be at the castle to play and Marshall leaves every Tuesday and returns late on Wednesday as he does his showtime NFL show. So its a perfect fit that is imperfect for the Ravens in numerous ways.

Problem is, the Ravens are no longer that consistent playoff team that players want to be a part of. Players want to play for a contender and when our offense looks like a dog, and our QB can't hit the broad side of a barn, how are we going to lure free agent receivers here. The only way is if an organization that has fared worse than the Ravens over the past two years is who we are competing with. 5-11 and 8-8 doesn't get excitement from the fans much less players who have to decide where they are going to play. Also, I believe we were stuck with our OC as a result of the fact that Harbaugh may be in his last year and who wants a job that could possibly end in a year so the Ravens locked down what they had before he moved on and they couldn't find anyone to sign.

Marshall signed 2yr/$12m deal with the Giants. On to the next one.

[whobilly]

Marshall just signed with the Giants. Two years 6 mill per.

[TheRavengers]

So much for Brandon Marshall wearing the purple and black....

[bioLarzen]

This price was out of our range for Brandon Marshall.

[Black&purple#55]

So much for Brandon Marshall wearing the purple and black....

I was hoping we sign him, on to Garcon but i believe he is going to the 49ers

[whobilly]

No matter how you dissect it we are driving down the road to 8-8 or 9-7 at best. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Figure on two wins on the road against Cleveland and the Jags in London(maybe) and reaching with six wins at home.

[DoubleP]

This price was out of our range for Brandon Marshall.

6M/Year out of range for a Playmaker such as Brandon Marshall???

[stuckonaboat13]

hahaha ummmm so If Im reading this correctly and I'd like to think I am It sounds as if the Ravens will not be retaining any of their top soon to be free agents while also cutting some of their better players in order to create cap space and void bad deals. Soooooooo the good news is coming in the afternoon right ???

[crazyboutravens]

  9 minutes ago, bioLarzen said:

This price was out of our range for Brandon Marshall.

6M/Year out of range for a Playmaker such as Brandon Marshall???

All $$$$ figures are out of our range.

[crazyboutravens]

We should just sign everyone to a one year contract. That way when they leave as all the good ones do then there would be less pain. We will be lucky to see anyone signed by April 15th. That is when all the cheap signings take place.

[DoubleP]

  5 minutes ago, DoubleP said:

  14 minutes ago, bioLarzen said:

This price was out of our range for Brandon Marshall.

6M/Year out of range for a Playmaker such as Brandon Marshall???

All $$$$ figures are out of our range.

Not signing all these tenders for bench players (except West) would have given us the money for Marshall

[rmcjacket23]

  6 minutes ago, crazyboutravens said:

  8 minutes ago, DoubleP said:

  16 minutes ago, bioLarzen said:

This price was out of our range for Brandon Marshall.

6M/Year out of range for a Playmaker such as Brandon Marshall???

All $$$$ figures are out of our range.

Not signing all these tenders for bench players (except West) would have given us the money for Marshall

Assuming he wanted to come here, of course.

Requires two parties to agree to a deal, not just one.

[TheRavengers]

16 minutes ago, stuckonaboat13 said:

hahaha ummmm so If Im reading this correctly and I'd like to think I am It sounds as if the Ravens will not be retaining any of their top soon to be free agents while also cutting some of their better players in order to create cap space and void bad deals. Soooooooo the good news is coming in the afternoon right ???

Shareece Wright and Kendrick Lewis weren't exactly "good" players when they were here.

[DoubleP]

  3 minutes ago, DoubleP said:

  9 minutes ago, crazyboutravens said:

  11 minutes ago, DoubleP said:

  19 minutes ago, bioLarzen said:

This price was out of our range for Brandon Marshall.

6M/Year out of range for a Playmaker such as Brandon Marshall???

All $$$$ figures are out of our range.

Not signing all these tenders for bench players (except West) would have given us the money for Marshall

Assuming he wanted to come here, of course.

Requires two parties to agree to a deal, not just one.

You do mark one point here...

[ngatathroughstreet]

Call me crazy but I wouldn't be too mad if Hurst played RT next year... he had some decent games at LT when Monroe was out and would benefit from having Yanda next to him.

This feels like another down year but we should have plenty of comp picks and a top half selection next year.

[stuckonaboat13]

  12 minutes ago, stuckonaboat13 said:

hahaha ummmm so If Im reading this correctly and I'd like to think I am It sounds as if the Ravens will not be retaining any of their top soon to be free agents while also cutting some of their better players in order to create cap space and void bad deals. Soooooooo the good news is coming in the afternoon right ???

Shareece Wright and Kendrick Lewis weren't exactly "good" players when they were here.

I was referring the article mentioning the possibility of cutting players like Doom, Wallace , Webb , Pitta , Watson

[TheRavengers]

14 minutes ago, stuckonaboat13 said:

I was referring the article mentioning the possibility of cutting players like Doom, Wallace , Webb , Pitta , Watson

Doom's up there in age, he only played 8 games this year and his play kinda fell off. Webb is pretty decent as a safety, Pitta's a good TE but blocking is terrible, Watson did nothing as he was on IR and Wallace is pretty much our best WR so he's a must-keep.

[PurpleHorseman]

The Giants have always surrounded their Franchise QB with legit playmakers there for the longhaul. Marshall probably wants to be a #2 at this age of his career. He can help Beckham become more consistent and in line.

Back to Giants always surrounding their QB with playmakers.  Giants signed Plaxico when Amani already was a viable weapon.  I'm sure Giants would have traded up for Beckham or a true No. 1 receiver if necessary. On the OPEN market sometimes you have to pay market value for a player that can put you over. Being thrifty is good but it shouldn't be a golden rule a player must accept your offer. Or else move on to older cheaper players willing to sign for what you want to pay. Especially over a couple million dollars.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

"...More moves likely on the way."

Ya think? I mean the team only has a bunch of ERFA's and FA's to either sign or let go, then there is the whole business of filling out the roster with players thing.

Brandon Marshall I think would have been a good player for the Ravens, the problem is his checkered past. He has a lot of domestic violence things in his distant past and the Ravens would have "some 'splanin' ta doooo" if they did sign Marshall. Ray Rice was by outward appearances one of the nicest people you could have met and he did a ton of charity and community work even before his incident with his wife. Marshall has been diagnosed with personality disorder and has been keeping his nose clean since getting treatment for it.

Garcon appears to have several suitors as well so I doubt he will be a Raven. Time to do the opposite of the Air Force and aim lower.

I like Brandon Williams, Rick Wagner, and Kyle Whosecheckers? but not enough to break the bank for them and neglect the myriad other holes this team has.

To be perfectly honest this seems like it might be the rebuilding season that has been due for some time now and that Stevie B. says the Ravens never do. Too many high priced names and too many holes to fill. You've got to create the cap space and get people to play.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

  15 minutes ago, crazyboutravens said:

  17 minutes ago, DoubleP said:

  25 minutes ago, bioLarzen said:

This price was out of our range for Brandon Marshall.

6M/Year out of range for a Playmaker such as Brandon Marshall???

All $$$$ figures are out of our range.

Not signing all these tenders for bench players (except West) would have given us the money for Marshall

I don't think it was all about money for Marshall. He's got an ugly past if you read up on him and I am not talking about being a distraction in the locker room.

[Ravenous_Ravens]

There is no need to sign any FA this year. There team is in good shape overall. Some players will move on, same as every year and every team, some will stay. They will bolster the roster with talent and fill in many of the glaring needs of the past few seasons. Also having you starting QB in good health and some of the veteran players such a Dumervil in good health only makes the team more dangerous.

Marshall would be a nice thought. At 33 and 6 mil/year that is just too steep to miss on and who knows how long he has left til the age starts catching up. I would much rather the Ravens allow their young WR to grow and play. Trial by fire. They will not develop if they are never given ample opportunity.

Next year figures to be a good year for comp picks, 2-3 potentially (two 3rd's & 4th)

[TheRavengers]

It would be nice if we didn't have to fret about wide receivers in FA every year and instead picked a legit good one in the draft.

[Black&purple#55]

There is no need to sign any FA this year. There team is in good shape overall. Some players will move on, same as every year and every team, some will stay. They will bolster the roster with talent and fill in many of the glaring needs of the past few seasons. Also having you starting QB in good health and some of the veteran players such a Dumervil in good health only makes the team more dangerous.

Marshall would be a nice thought. At 33 and 6 mil/year that is just too steep to miss on and who knows how long he has left til the age starts catching up. I would much rather the Ravens allow their young WR to grow and play. Trial by fire. They will not develop if they are never given ample opportunity.

Next year figures to be a good year for comp picks, 2-3 potentially (two 3rd's & 4th)

So i guess u hoping for another 8-8 season

[jsarrocohome@yahoo.com]

There is no need to sign any FA this year. There team is in good shape overall. Some players will move on, same as every year and every team, some will stay. They will bolster the roster with talent and fill in many of the glaring needs of the past few seasons. Also having you starting QB in good health and some of the veteran players such a Dumervil in good health only makes the team more dangerous.

Marshall would be a nice thought. At 33 and 6 mil/year that is just too steep to miss on and who knows how long he has left til the age starts catching up. I would much rather the Ravens allow their young WR to grow and play. Trial by fire. They will not develop if they are never given ample opportunity.

Next year figures to be a good year for comp picks, 2-3 potentially (two 3rd's & 4th)

This team needs to upgrade at least 10 players we have a lot of overpaid players that need to go

[BoominRaven]

hahaha ummmm so If Im reading this correctly and I'd like to think I am It sounds as if the Ravens will not be retaining any of their top soon to be free agents while also cutting some of their better players in order to create cap space and void bad deals. Soooooooo the good news is coming in the afternoon right ???

Depends what you call better plays. Webb got tore up bad last year, I'm sick of hearing about how great Pitta was for catching 80 balls last year - we threw it like 600 times and he has become a safety blanket for joe in a bad way. Instead of reading his progressions downfield he's way to quick to dump it to dennis for 5 yards. Doom's salary cap number is too high and he needs to go to a contender, this team needs a lot of work. The fact Zuttah went to the pro bowl as however much of an alternate is a joke. The only player on that list that needs to come back is Wallace

[ellicottraven]

Now that Brandon Marshall is gone, do we start to focus on Garcon. What happens if he's gone too? Then does our 1st round become WR centric??

[Bob21043]

How sad is it that many of us are already looking to next year, when we get good Comp Picks for our lost FAs?

[zing21042]

The Obvious: The problem could have been solved rather easily. I have touted that Aiken should have been offered a deal...I think we just let him walk which was a mistake. We could have kept him for a decent price and not gone overboard on the FA market; he was a perfect replacement for Smith. This would have left us with basically filling the offensive line position vacated by Wagner and then focusing what moneys we had left on the holes in our defense.

Squeeze the Juice out: The Juice's prowess as a receiver could be replaced by a TE and Juice is not the blocker that this position commands. Most teams don't even use the FB so maybe it is time the Ravens save the money, save the position, move to the 21st century and look for a blocking running back rather than a universal back who was rarely used to run the ball.

The Problem: I do not know how one evaluates the totality of our offensive capabilities in the absence of a quarterback capable of using the weapons provided him. The only thing that needed correcting on our offense was the mindset of the QB. Asked another way, do you really think our record would have been 8-8 (or worse) had Rothlesberger, Brady, Prescott, Dalton, Ryan, Luck, Rodgers, Wilson, Carr, Cousins or a fistful of other QBs been with the Ravens last year and all else remained exactly the same...including the merry-go-round on the offensive line? The weapons were in place to get us to the playoffs; the mindset of the QB was not.

The Mistake: The front office is trying to provide Flacco with "weapons" but fails to realize that "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear". Next year, Flacco will again be Flacco, so why not try and win with a stellar defense and hope Flacco does not turn the ball over as much.