Ravens comment on re-signing tight end Dennis Pitta

On Friday, the Ravens were able to ink tight end Dennis Pitta to a five-year, $32 million contract, which allows the franchise from having to use the franchise tag to keep him from hitting the free agent market.

The Ravens made the move official in the mid-afternoon, offering statements from general manager Ozzie Newsome, head coach John Harbaugh and Pitta himself.

Newsome: "Dennis creates a number of mismatch problems for defenses. He makes it tough on them, and because of that, he really helps out our wide receivers. Opponents have to always pay attention to where he lines up and where his routes take him. Dennis is also a big target with very good hands, and his presence in the red zone is very important to us."

Harbaugh: "It was obvious when Dennis was out last year that we really missed him. We all admire how he fought back from the hip injury and helped us down the stretch. Having Dennis as a part of the Ravens now and in the future is exciting news for us. Dennis has a large catch radius and can snatch the ball in traffic. Not only is he a reliable player, but he is an outstanding person as well. Having a weapon like Dennis makes everyone on our offense better."

Pitta: "I could not be more excited to remain a Baltimore Raven. There is no better organization or fan base in sports. To be given the opportunity to continue my career here is incredible. This organization drafted me and has always stood by me – especially during my difficult recovery last season – and for that, I am extremely grateful."