Baltimore Ravens Free Agency Overview
by Bruce Raffel on Feb 9, 2012 1:00 PM EST
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PrintWith the end of the Super Bowl, the 2012 season is now basically upon us. The NFL Scouting Combine begins in a little over two weeks and then free agency opens up on March 13th. The 2012 NFL Draft is at the end of April and unlike last year, when the NFL Lockout prevented teams from filling holes before the draft through free agency, this will be a very important free agency period.
Thanks to information from Mac's Football Blog, we have the full list of Baltimore Ravens players who are under contract or what level of free agent they will be in 2012. Franchise Tags will be placed on players between February 20th and March 5th. while tenders will begin being placed on Restricted Free Agents in the coming weeks. There are minimum amounts for the right to place a tender on a player, slightly different from past years due to new language in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Even without a new contract, Ravens QB Joe Flacco reached certain individual-specific performance levels in this season to warrant an automatic increase in his 2012 salary, going from what would have been $4.61 million to now going up to $6.76 million, a raise of $2.5 million.
The team would like to get Flacco signed to a long-term contract extension that would negate this "raise." LT Bryant McKinnie is also worth mentioning, as he is the only other Ravens player in this situation, with incentives reached to move his 2012 salary from $2.0 to $3.2 million, a healthy enough of a raise to keep him in Baltimore for at least one more year while the team determines its future at left tackle.
According to Mac's Football Blog, the Ravens have 44 players under contract for the 2012 season, with eight Exclusive Rights and three Restricted Free Agents. Ray Rice is one of 13 players who are scheduled to become Unrestricted Free Agents as of March 8th, unless of course, the team uses the Franchise Tag on Rice as rumored, which must be placed no later than March 5th.
In addition to Rice, the other 12 Unrestricted Free Agents include: Ben Grubbs, Jarret Johnson, Jameel McClain, Tom Zbikowski, Haruki Nakamura, Cory Redding, Matt Birk, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Andre Gurode, Brandon McKinney, Kris Wilson and Edgar Jones.
The Ravens' Restricted Free Agents include: Dannell Ellerbe, Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams. The Exclusive Rights Free Agents include: Sergio Kindle, Justin Boren, Josh Bynes, Albert McClellan, Matt Lawrence, Danny Gorrer, Chavis Williams and Morgan Cox.
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Many people are worried about a 1st round tender being insufficient to secure Lardarius Webb. Don’t worry about this. No team is going to give Webb his market value in money and then lose a 1st round pick. If they do, it’s just like a team far overpaying for a UFA. It hurts the team, but there is nothing you can do about it. That is why draft-pick tendered players almost never leave their teams. Signing the player to a contract the original team would not match and then giving up the pick basically means you have to pay for the player twice.
And at This Point
That kind of works out like a trade for the Ravens: Webb for somebody’s first round pick. I think with Ozzie calling the shots, I would take that.
"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
"God's whiskers! Your face is as hideous as the demon's in my storybook!"
"I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they do today."
"It's big for a reason."
For Pittsburgh fans, that's Pope, Twain, Rostand, Rogers and Megamind
Webb for somebody’s first round pick. I think with Ozzie calling the shots, I would take that.
I sure as hell hope not. Players like Webb don’t come around too often.
"Picture Me Rollin"
by Mr MaLoR on Feb 9, 2012 2:05 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
this
+1. Don’t always agree wtih you on Flacco sometimes, but yes. Who wouldn’t want to give up a first rounder for the 2nd best CB in the league?!
Bulger/Smith 2011 :)
Outside of Baltimore
No one would ever call Webb the second best corner in the league. I wouldn’t either.
aka 'Rexx'
He’s solid, definitely arguably top 10. But 2nd? hmmmm I don’t know about that one.
Editor at Baltimore Beatdown - SB Nation Baltimore Ravens Blog
A.K.A "Baltimore Warrior"
by Zachary Beard on Feb 9, 2012 6:22 PM EST up reply actions
pff sees him as a contender for revis' crown next season
if I were Dallas id cough up a 1st
by dimik on Feb 11, 2012 3:52 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
Theo changes to the CBA completely change the dynamic associates with retaining or acquiring top talent. I expect lots of gamesmanship from teams with cap room. pitt will have trouble retaining Mike Wallace if another team makes an early contract offer. They’d have to pick their poison…quickly
by Evan Skev on Feb 9, 2012 2:18 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yes, but
We are very deep at CB. Would I miss Webb? Yes, absolutely, but getting a first rounder, especially if the team that took Webb tanks, WOW.
Realistically, when would you expect the Ravens to get a top 10 or even a top five pick again? Not going to happen anytime soon. Let’s say Cleveland or St. Louis bets big on Webb, They are still a 4 – 5 win team with Webb which means we get a shot at a beast that we would no way ever get a shot at unless we gave away the farm in a draft day trade… Could land the next Ogden or Ray Lewis or Ed Reed…
But this is moot anyway as like someone pointed out, highly improbably that somebody would give up a first rounder and pony up the bucks for Webb.
"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
"God's whiskers! Your face is as hideous as the demon's in my storybook!"
"I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they do today."
"It's big for a reason."
For Pittsburgh fans, that's Pope, Twain, Rostand, Rogers and Megamind
I think we’d get their current 1st rounder. So if the Giants signed him we’d get the 32nd pick, if Indy signed him we’d get the 1st.
Webb, Cary, Jimmy, Carr, Gorrer, and Chykie.
by StuckInUtah on Feb 9, 2012 3:44 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
.......which of those are as proven as Webb if he's gone? None.
They are laden with talent but inconsistent at best. They have the potential be great, no question. But to suggest that losing Webb is ok because the Ravens are deep at the position is crazy talk.
by E-ROC on Feb 9, 2012 4:20 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
We have quality depth, and a CB who looks to have the skill set to be a future #1 CB.
But yes, losing Webb would absolutely kill us.
"Picture Me Rollin"
No it wouldn’t. Don’t get me wrong. We should try to keep Webb. He’s great. However, this team went 12 – 4 with Chris Carr as a #1 corner. Chris Carr, Cary Williams, and Jimmy Smith can all start. Danny Gorrer is a fine nickel. And, most importantly, if someone signs Lardarius Webb to a good deal, we can just match it. It’s only if someone seriously overpays him that we have a problem, and we still get a 1st round pick out of it.
Webb is not just great, he is on his way to becoming a top 5 or 8 CB in the NFL (if not one already) and losing someone who doesn’t give up a single TD for 18 games would kill this defense. He is a premier Corner in this league, and I would argue for him being one of the top 3 most important players on our defense right now.
We saw what happened when he missed a game, we got torched by SD and never forced a punt.
Trust me when I say this, Webb is irreplaceable right now, especially considering how inexperienced we are at CB (although talented).
It would kills us man.
"Picture Me Rollin"
You're absolutely right. Imagine when Reed is gone. Who is going to pick up the slack?
by concretejimmy on Feb 9, 2012 6:37 PM EST up reply actions
Time to Put
On my tap shoes and spin-meister hat and get out of this one… Watch me backpedal like… like Webb…
Yes, Webb is great. Also, we have a lot of depth at corner and I do not believe we would be hurt that much, especially if Jimmy pans out. I only threw it out there as a possible scenario in that it would not be a disaster. But I really don’t think it will happen anyway.
But if I am off my rocker here, hey, I’ll admit it… Not the first, won’t be the last… I guess I am just blinded by the prospect of getting a really high draft pick…
"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
"God's whiskers! Your face is as hideous as the demon's in my storybook!"
"I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they do today."
"It's big for a reason."
For Pittsburgh fans, that's Pope, Twain, Rostand, Rogers and Megamind
No not Carr. He dropped on the depth chart because he was ineffective and even was a healthy scratch against the Texans. I will be surprised if he’s even on the team come training camp.
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
I agree, the talent and depth is there, but
they are far from being as proven or as good as Webb.
by E-ROC on Feb 9, 2012 4:35 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
I cant believe this is even a conversation.
Webby is the future of this defense. He has become our most dangerous playmaker, he is our most fundamental/sure tackler, he had dreads, and he was a top 3 corner in the league this past season. Regardless of what people in and/or out of Baltimore say, the stats dont lie and he was the most consistent player on our entire team this season. I remember when he got drafted I listened to an interview he did on 98 Rock, it was about a week after the draft and all he could talk about was how excited he was to play with Ed Reed (whom he called his favorite player, got to meet him at our Dolphins playoff game, etc.) and you can tell that he is like a sponge of everything Ed teaches him. He is a hard worker, coming off his first non-rookie/non-injured season and he’s got so much room to grow. Remember, he played Safety at Nichols State, converted to corner when we drafted him because of our depth at the safety spots and lack there-of at corner, his future is bright. Look at the guys hes surrounded by, name one place a young guy like Webby would wanna play other than Baltimore?
Scott Hines
i think its more likely a team may decide to go after Cary WIliams instead of Ladarius Webb
by jazz20 on Feb 9, 2012 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
this
"And, don’t get me started on Joe Flacco," Simms continued. "Did the experts watch the game? Joe didn’t miss a throw, not one. I watched every play. Every time he had the opportunity, he hit the guy. And, he made some moves so he could complete other throws. Are these people watching? What was Joe supposed to do with Texans in his face? Throw it up and hope? Sometimes a sack is a good thing. The object is to win the game. You did."
by jackmca on Feb 9, 2012 5:57 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
I want Cary back, but wonder what his worth would be?
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
That’s what my guess is as well. I would like him back, but I don’t think we would be hurt without him. Jimmy showed me plenty and I liked what I saw from Gorrer.
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
Rather just have him back. He had a very good year considering how often he was targeted.
"Picture Me Rollin"
He’s a guy though that with another very good year we may not be able to keep anyways.
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
Remember, as it says
putting a specific tender on him means not only does the team that signs him has to give us that round draft pick, but there is a specific salary attached to each level of tender.
aka 'Rexx'
I REALLY hope Cary stays with us
Webb, Cary, and Jimmy all had good chemistry with each other. Occasionally play Gorrer, and with Pollard and Reed in the back, we’ve got a young, healthy, and very promising secondary.
Continuity is KEY!
Yeah I would like him here as well, but if he has another good year can we really afford to put that much money into our CB group? Webb and Cary both need to be re-signed after this year and if Jimmy turns into the the player we all think he can be he will get a good contract as well at the end of his rookie deal which is four years.
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
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