Ravens Getting Ready For More Moves?

Despite all the movement by the Baltimore Ravens this off season they still have a few more areas of need according to those who follow the team. With the recent curious cutting of fullback Vonta Leach the Ravens have cleared up just over 6 million in cap space. After they sign first round draft pick Matt Elam they should be right around five million under the cap, giving them plenty of room to bring in one or more free agents.

Currently the Ravens have a need for some experience at the wide receiver position and could probably stand to gain some depth at linebacker and safety. Quarterback Jamarcus Russell has been rumored to be tied to Baltimore as well. Recent rumors have brought up the possibility of wide receiver Brandon Lloyd as well. Lloyd is the only distinguished veteran still on the open market. The Ravens have been known to keep making moves right down to the wire to bring in quality players. Do not count out a trade either. After the next round of cuts is made that five million the Ravens have stashed away will be burning a hole in their pockets.

Baltimore Sun reporter Jeff Zrebiec seems to feel the same way.

"The obvious answer is ultimately, the Ravens decided that they needed the salary cap space more than Leach and it just didn’t make sense for essentially a part-time player to take up $4.33 million in cap room," Zrebiec wrote. "Still, the pending move does spur some questions …

"Perhaps, General Manager Ozzie Newsome has an acquisition up his sleeve that has been kept quiet. The Ravens still could use some depth at wide receiver, linebacker and safety."

"[The Ravens] wanted to keep [Leach] and thought they’d be able to work something out," wrote Zrebiec. "If they didn’t, they would have made the move immediately after they drafted Harvard’s Kyle Juszczyk in the fourth round in April. However, as they got closer to training camp, the Ravens’ top decision makers ultimately put more value on salary cap space than Leach’s skill set.

"It’s also important to point out that the team has had several weeks now to evaluate Juszczyk. If they didn’t think he could handle the role, they wouldn’t have made the move."