Without including the draft picks and free agent signings over the next five years, here is a comparison of what I think the Baltimore Ravens starting lineup will look like in 2014, compared to 2009. This should spur some decent debate, so I'll throw out my picks and you tear me down in your comments. However, bring it with backup, not just reason-less disagreement!
Position 2009 2014
OFFENSE:
QB Joe Flacco Flacco
RB Willis McGahee Rice
FB LeRon McClain McClain
TE Todd Heap Davon Drew
WR Derrick Mason Marcus Smith
WR Mark Clayton Clayton
RT Willie Anderson Michael Oher
RG Marshall Yanda Yanda
C Matt Birk Chris Chester
LG Ben Grubbs Grubbs
LT Jared Gaither Gaither
DEFENSE:
DL Trevor Pryce Paul Kruger
DL Haloti Ngata Ngata
DL Kelly Gregg Brandon McKinney
LB Ray Lewis Jason Phillips
LB Terrell Suggs Suggs
LB Jarret Johnson Jameel McClain
LB Tavares Gooden Gooden
CB Fabian Washington Washington
CB Domonique Foxworth Foxworth
S Ed Reed Haruki Nakamura
S Dawan Landry Landry
P Sam Koch Koch
K Graham Gano Gano
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know there's no way this is anything like what it will end up five years from now, but the foundation continues to be laid down by Harbaugh, Newsome and Bisciotti. Looks like the defense will still be in the league's top ten even without Ray, although perhaps not the top one or two, but who knows? The offense should be clicking under the veteran Flacco by then. However, it looks like we may still be without that one big name wide receiver unless one of these guys earns that title over the next few years or so.
So just trying to have fun, and take up some space. Let me know your comments and remember, this is without gaining or losing any free agents and forgetting about the studs that Ozzie and his team will draft us in the near future.