NFL.com ties Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers Free Agency gradings

While the big wallets of the Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars played big league free agency this off-season, the Ravens sat back and still acquired big name talent. NFL.com officially graded the Charm City franchise with a B. The same exact grading landed with rivals Pittsburgh Steelers.

Excerpt below from Around The NFL Editor Gregg Rosenthal

Baltimore Ravens:

This was a typical free-agency period from general manager Ozzie Newsome. He let a very good player leave because Kelechi Osemele was paid like a superstar by the Oakland Raiders. Instead, the Ravens signed three "buy low" veterans at relatively modest prices. Eric Weddle will shore up a shaky Ravens secondary. Mike Wallace was never a No. 1 receiver and now should fit in as a role player that goes deep to catch Joe Flacco's bombs. Ben Watson adds leadership and a grown-up to an inexperienced Ravens tight end room. Judging by Newsome's track record, he is probably good for another sneaky signing or two by August. He often picks off veterans released elsewhere. Grade: B

It's very tough to judge if a B is fair for us, as Will Hill's departure really affects the safety depth we didn't have with him. Instead he has been replaced and let go, leaving us with Lardarius Webb, Kendrick Lewis, Terrence Brooks, and Matt Elam. Ozzie clearly has complete faith in Webb, as his price tag is obnoxiously high for the product he's not giving us. Cutting Daryl Smith has a negative impact on Baltimore, and with "Buck" joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Baltimore cannot re-sign him for cheaper as Ozzie would have liked. I wouldn't give us a B, at least after Will Hill III's foolishness cost Baltimore something special. For now though, NFL.com believes Baltimore cleaned up quite well, despite the cash flow being next to nothing before the start of free agency.