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According to Bovada, an online sports book site, the Baltimore Ravens are listed as the favorites to land veteran inside linebacker and former All Pro Brian Urlacher. The Ravens moves so far this off season show a different story however. Baltimore has been leaning towards a youth movement this year and have parted ways with every player over 30 years old except corner back Chris Johnson (33) and fullback Vonta Leach (31).
Bovada has the Ravens as 9/4 favorites to land the services of Urlacher with the New York Giants just behind them at 5/2. Currently the Ravens are looking at an inside line backing core of Jameel McClain, Josh Bynes, Albert McClellan, Nigel Carr and perhaps second year player Courtney Upshaw or Brian Hall if they are able to shed adequate weight and show that they are able to be productive on the inside. The Ravens are also most likely going to add inside help through the draft. Whether it be early on or in the mid to later rounds remains to be seen. Baltimore has also shown success adding undrafted free agents to their inside line backing core and are sure to bring in a few guys after the draft as well.
If Baltimore were to strike out on draft day and miss on the players they want there is the possibility that they could look to add another veteran middle linebacker but I'm not sure that Brian Urlacher is the right fit for this team. His skills have declined over the past few seasons and he only started 12 games last season for a Chicago Bears team that was a huge disappointment for their fans.
As usual it will come down to right player, right price. If the Ravens find themselves in dire need of leadership in the middle of their defense and Urlacher is still a free agent that could be had at a bargain price, the team may look to bring him in to help tutor their younger players but relying on him to be a full time starter for a defense that is trying to redefine themselves is far fetched.
What do you think? Should the Ravens try and retain the services of Brian Urlacher?