Ravens News 3/7: Urban re-signed, referees retiring, receiver project and more

Ravens re-sign DE Brent Urban to a one-year deal - Logan Levy

The Ravens have re-signed defensive end Brent Urban, per the team’s official twitter account.

This is certainly an interesting development. Although the contract details have not been released yet, it will likely be a low-risk, one-year prove it type deal. Urban, since being drafted in the fourth-round of the 2014 draft, has been injury prone. He has only played a full season once. Urban has suffered countless injuries over the course of his career.

Injury prone may be an understatement for the defensive end. Urban missed four games as a college senior, his entire rookie season, ten games his second year with the Ravens and 13 games last year due to a variety of injuries. He has just three sacks and three passes deflected on his resume, but did show promise last preseason. This is a worthwhile gamble for the Ravens as long as the majority of the $2.35 million maximum contract value is incentive based.

Referees Ed Hochuli and Jeff Triplette retiring - Darin Gantt

NFL senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron just tweeted out word that longtime refs Ed Hochuli and Jeff Triplette were retiring, and were being replaced in the rotation by former back judge Shawn Hochuli and side judge Alex Kemp.

Potentially positive news for the Ravens and the league as a whole. Both longtime referees have overseen crucial blown calls in recent seasons. Triplette’s crew in particular developed a reputation for throwing too many flags.

FIVE THOUGHTS ON THE RAVENS’ ‘RECEIVER PROJECT’ - John Eisenberg

The trickiest part about drafting receivers in 2018 could be trying to get them at the right slot.

Before the Combine, Alabama’s Calvin Ridley was deemed the only receiver in the 2018 class worth a first-round pick. Ridley then had a solid if unspectacular Combine, while several other wideouts, including Maryland’s D.J. Moore, opened eyes.

In the end, it could be no receiver is deemed worthy of the No. 16 overall pick, which the Ravens own, but a bunch are deemed worthy of going late in the first round through the second round.

The Ravens also own the No. 52 overall pick. Will the guy they like still be available then? How they navigate that tricky situation, and possibly move up or down, could tell the tale.

Eisenberg identifies a legitimate concern. The draft board is stacking in a way that could force the Ravens to reach for a wideout they do not deem the best player available at #16, or be boxed into choosing between the the leftovers of the second or third tier of pass catchers at #52. Ozzie Newsome has probably already explored trade options to avoid this possible pitfall.

Report: Ravens linked to FA WR Donte Moncrief - Logan Levy

Simply put, Moncrief is a big-play receiver, who can make an impact, if he stays healthy. He has solid, reliable hands as well. According to Fox Sports, Moncrief only had 2 drops on 105 targets and a solid catch percentage of 61%. In 2016, he only had one drop on 56 targets, while he had two drops on 47 targets during the 2017 season. Although his catch percentage in 2017 was 55.3%. With Moncrief, injuries are, without a doubt, the biggest question.

Moncrief could be another low-risk high-reward pickup, depending on his price tag. The former third round selection from Mississippi has collected 18 touchdowns in 53 professional games, while averaging 12.3 yards per catch. The Ravens need to add at least three wideouts to their receiver room, and Moncrief could a valuable piece of the puzzle.