Offseason Predictions..

by Bill2448 on Feb 1, 2012 12:42 PM EST

Note: These are just an opinion on what I think will happen this offseason given prior offseasons and what the Ravens needs are.

Players being released: Jarrett Johnson, Cory Redding, Dominique Foxworth, and either Nakamura or Zbikowski, Ellerbe, and Carr may be released or have his contract restructured. He's making way too much for his spot on the depth chart.
Why? Well the Ravens need to make room to re-sign Flacco, Rice, attempt to get Grubbs back & Webb.

Toss up: Grubbs, when he said "I'll trust my agent to do whats best" sounds like he's looking for $$ I see the Ravens offering him a decent contract and hopefully he takes it in regards to winning Super Bowls (yes plural) rather than money on a crap team. Also with Birk coming back or Gurode coming in for C.

Possible restructured contracts- Lee Evans, Ricky Williams, Chris Carr, Bryant McKinnie. The Ravens could use every penny with trying to get Flacco, Rice and Grubbs back.

Resigns: Flacco, Rice (franchise tag?), Webb, McClain, Brandon McKinney, Ayanbadejo, Cary Williams. (Hopefully Grubbs :D), Kindle, Danny Gorrer, Morgan Cox.

Draft GUESS: Vontaze Burfict- the ideal situation is he comes in with Ray Lewis still playing so that he has a full season under Ray Lewis's wing before being unleashed. I believe this because it doesn't get much sweeter than that and I don't see our FO passing up on that opportunity, then they will address the OL problem via free agency/draft (In Ozzie we trust).

Young studs to not forget about- Kruger, McPhee, McAdoo, & Jah Reid (I also could see him starting next season if they don't bring back Bryant McKinnie.)

Also, signing Rice to a long term deal would significantly help free up more cap room allowing the organization to make better offers to players. Steve Bisciotti said "Flacco and Rice will be part of this team next year guaranteed" So its a matter of if both sides can come to agreement before March 5th so they don't have to use the franchise tag.

I could be horribly wrong for this whole thing however based on what I've read and seen this is my educated guess for the Ravens this offseason. Thoughts?

The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!

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My predictions

Resign: Joe, Grubbs, Gurode, McClain, Redding, Ruki
Franchise: Rice
Lose: JJ, Zbi, McKinney, Birk, Jones, BA

The rest of the guys you put down in “Resign” aren’t UFA. Guys like Kindle, Gorrer and Cox are all exclusive rights FA which means that if we make them any kind of offer, they HAVE to accept it.

Not sure what will happen with Webb and Cary, with what we will need to pay in order to sign 2 of the big 3 (Joe, Rice, Grubbs) I cannot see us giving a guy like Webb the money he deserves (which will be a HUGE pay day by Ozzie when the time comes)

McKinnie is already under a 2 year contract, so he is back next season unless we cut him, which I doubt happens.

"Picture Me Rollin"

by Mr MaLoR on Feb 1, 2012 4:42 PM EST reply actions

Should read

I cannot see us giving a guy like Webb the money he deserves this off-season.

"Picture Me Rollin"

by Mr MaLoR on Feb 1, 2012 4:43 PM EST up reply actions

Where are you getting your intel?

Redding, Ellerbe, and Johnson should be back. We need them, and Redding and Ellerbe shouldn’t be expensive to keep. Grubbs will likely be gone as we can not afford them.

by Rayisyourdaddy on Feb 6, 2012 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

Just a guess. I guess bringing all those guys back and losing Grubbs isn’t too bad.

"Picture Me Rollin"

by Mr MaLoR on Feb 7, 2012 12:46 AM EST up reply actions

I think the only way we keep Grubbs is on the franchise or transition tag. The transition tag might be a better offer in this case, since it enables us to match any offer. We dont have the money to lock him up long term, since none of our o-line is on a rookie contract (except Oher) anymore. Every starter is making 3+ million. We will prob sign a solid but unspectacular veteran starter to fill the hole on a 2-3 year deal.

by Rayisyourdaddy on Feb 7, 2012 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

Franchise tag will cost 9 mill. Doubt we would go that route.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Feb 7, 2012 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

for 1 year? maybe, Ray is really going be done after this year. Why is that worse than 7 million to Ray Rice? We have no ready replacement, unless Oher moves inside and we draft a new RT

by Rayisyourdaddy on Feb 7, 2012 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

Franchise tag

The Franchise Tag for OL this year is $10.7M and $9.1M for Transition. I agree that is not a viable option for Grubbs. Here’s the whole list:

QB – $16.405 M ($14.546 M for Transition Tag)
RB – $8.156 M ($7.151 M for Transition Tag)
WR – $9.521 M ($8.651 M for Transition Tag)
TE – $5.908 M ($5.248 M for Transition Tag)
OL – $10.731 M ($9.142 M for Transition Tag)
DE – $12.398 M ($10.193 M for Transition Tag)
DT – $7.003 M ($6.353 M for Transition Tag)
LB – $9.680 M ($8.373 M for Transition Tag)
CB – $9.566 M ($8056 M for Transition Tag)
S – $6.455 M ($6.011 M for Transition Tag)
K/P – $2.814 M ($2.629 M for Transition Tag)

Note that these numbers correspond with the immediate cap hit associated with designating a player with the Franchise/Transition Tag.

"the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge."
Hamlet, William Shakespeare

by Fandemonium on Feb 7, 2012 8:37 PM EST up reply actions

Think we can get away with tagging him as our replacement for Cundiff?

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Feb 7, 2012 8:39 PM EST up reply actions

I think we keep zbi and lose ruki.

by Raven_all_day on Feb 1, 2012 6:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I prefer the opposite

Keep ruki and let Zbi walk. Also, NFW Carr comes back at any price.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Feb 1, 2012 10:08 PM EST up reply actions

Zbi can be used so many different ways. Has return skills. Can cover and tackle. I think zbi is more of a solid football player.

by Raven_all_day on Feb 1, 2012 11:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

That’s why he will probably cost more to keep. Ruki is still solid on special teams and good in coverage and tackling as well, but I would guess will be cheaper since he hasn’t started the amount of games Zbi has.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Feb 2, 2012 7:31 AM EST up reply actions

Saw that they said they would like to get Rice’s deal done if possible because I guess it would be cheaper on the cap than the tag would be and that they will use the tag if they can’t get something done in the next month.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Feb 2, 2012 7:33 AM EST up reply actions

Which Jones?

Grubbs is likely gone. And who would replace JJ if we let him go?

by Rayisyourdaddy on Feb 6, 2012 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

Edgar Jones. And Kruger would replace JJ.

"Picture Me Rollin"

by Mr MaLoR on Feb 7, 2012 12:47 AM EST up reply actions

Kruger is not an every down player. He is still too light to stay on the field for rushing downs. If he is the starter, we will all curse the day JJ left. He is more integral to the D than anyone realizes. We need to pay him and just hope that the cap will be okay since Ray and Reed are retiring after this year (maybe Reed will play 1 more)

by Rayisyourdaddy on Feb 7, 2012 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

I am all for JJ coming back, but I do think Kruger could step in.

"Picture Me Rollin"

by Mr MaLoR on Feb 7, 2012 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

Kruger subbed for JJ a lot on third downs this year. I think they’d be comfortable with him as the starter opposite Suggs.

by JoshuaStein on Feb 11, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

he subbed on 3rd downs

but he cant stop the run. our run D would suffer alot if we let JJ go

by Rayisyourdaddy on Feb 12, 2012 9:37 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t know if he “can’t stop the run” considering he played mostly on third downs behind JJ who’s been here longer. Kruger is still young and developing, so his all-around game could improve with more playing time.

by JoshuaStein on Feb 13, 2012 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

oops

I ment to say like guys coming back, in which they will have new contracts. Good predictions though! However like I said if they are able to sign Rice long term it will help make a lot of cap space rather than franchise tagging him. Money like that can be used towards Webb and Williams

by Bill2448 on Feb 1, 2012 4:55 PM EST reply actions

Our biggest thing should be to draft replacements

For these positions
Center – Peter Konz?
Left Tackle – Mike Adams?
Middle linebacker – Vontaze Burfict?
Free safety – Trumaine Johnson?

I can’t see Ray Ed Birk or McKinne playing more than one more year on this team. If we did this in the first few rounds, we’d be set for the future while these rookies sit behind established veterans for a year, then come out swinging.

by CharmCity55 on Feb 2, 2012 9:04 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions

No way we would even be able to get 2 out of the 3 with Konz, Adams and Burfict. All of them are first rounders. We may not even have a shot at any of them depending how the draft plays out.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Feb 2, 2012 9:38 AM EST up reply actions

Ozzie has pointed out our offseason fixes. Offensive line, pass rush, and receiver. Whats more important is the offensive line. Need to lock up Grubbs and let Gurode take over. Sign a center in the later rounds. If we can keep those two we need to do what it takes to get a top notch ILB. The ILB position is beginning to lack but also Flacco needs more than one receiver that can seperate. If Evans is released, ozzie might need to go after Marques Colston. I dont believe he will demand a huge contract because I think he is a good #2 not #1.

by Raven_all_day on Feb 2, 2012 9:55 PM EST reply actions

Colston will definitely get a good size contract and has already said he’s not taking discounts and he already has a ring so he’s out for the money. We don’t stand a chance at Colston.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Feb 3, 2012 7:09 AM EST up reply actions

Bubble has burst, Thx.

by Raven_all_day on Feb 3, 2012 1:18 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

The ILB position is beginning to lack

4-0 without Ray, and we didn’t play patsies. So what is this based on?

by Rayisyourdaddy on Feb 6, 2012 7:32 PM EST up reply actions

True but...

Ellerbe did miss a lot of tackles, while McClain did a very good job filling in for Ray our 3-4 defensive scheme could use (it doesn’t hurt) another good ILB.

by Bill2448 on Feb 7, 2012 12:31 PM EST up reply actions