Ravens News 3/12: Memories of Yanda and more

What Opponents, Teammates and Coaches Said About Marshal Yanda - Ryan Mink

Titans DT Jurrell Casey

“I remember back to 2014 when we played; that’s when I really saw and understood what type of player he was. The dominant way he came out in that game was unbelievable. The way those guys were coming off the ball so hard, like battering rams, just teeing off. That’s when I’m like, ‘OK, this is a different brand of football playing against these guys.’”

Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap

”When I came into the league 10 years ago, before I played against Yanda, I was told to keep my head on a swivel, because No. 73 was always looking for more ‘work.’ D-ends will know what I’m talking about — the cleanup blocks and the rib shots throughout the entire game. After playing against him, I respected it because it was only between the whistles. That was his nature — to compete and do his job every play, then go see where else he could fill a void and help his team.”

OT Ronnie Stanley

”Marshal has been that stable rock for our offense, and he’s that guy who when there is a tough decision to be made, we would go to Marshal for advice. He was always the wisest of us all. It’s going to be tough to lose that type of person and leader.”

Former Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs

”When I think of Marshal Yanda, I think of a blue collar, selfless player who defines what it means to ‘Play Like a Raven.’ He was a great teammate who challenged us to be the best we could be as a team and as individuals. I will always remember our battles on the practice field, but even more, I will remember the times talking and learning from him in the locker room.”

NFL free agency: Byron Jones, Austin Hooper set for big paydays - Tom Pelissero

Pass rushers

The franchise tag is likely to pick off several names here, including Yannick Ngakoue (Jaguars), Matt Judon (Ravens) and Bud Dupree (Steelers). So, if you don’t break the bank for Jadeveon Clowney, you’re looking at a group of pass rushers who could all land in the $12 million to $15 million range. That’d be another huge payday for two veterans: Robert Quinn (Cowboys), who enjoyed a revival last season with 11.5 sacks in Dallas, and Jason Pierre-Paul (Buccaneers), who had 8.5 sacks in 10 games after returning from a fractured neck. Dante Fowler Jr. could land in that same range if the Rams don’t franchise tag him. Markus Golden — coming off a 10-sack season with the Giants, his second time in double figures — and Shaq Lawson (Bills) should do well, too.

2020 NFL Draft: Landing spots for PFF’s top 15 WR prospects - Anthony Treash

CHASE CLAYPOOL, NOTRE DAME – BALTIMORE RAVENS (ROUND 2, PICK 60)

A lot of teams wanted Chase Claypool to work out at the Combine as a tight end, as he came in a 6-foot-4, 238-pounds. Considering he ran a 4.42 40-yard dash and posted a 40.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-6 broad jump, Claypool would make a scary tight end at the next level. And we all know how much Baltimore loves tight ends. He’s not going to create separation by any means, but he routinely will win in tight coverage. Claypool owned an impressive 57.7% contested catch rate in 2019 and would plow through defenders with frequency, as he broke 14 tackles on his 66 catches in 2019. With the news of Baltimore shopping Hayden Hurst, Claypool seems to be on their radar to perhaps be a tight end/wide receiver hybrid like Darren Waller.

The New NFL League Year Will Get Off to a Wild Start - Albert Breer

Thanks to the CBA mess, the schedule for a big, important stretch of the NFL offseason was reset again on Tuesday. Here’s what we’ve got:

Saturday, 11:59 p.m. ET: Voting on the new CBA closes.

Monday, 11:59 a.m. ET: Deadline for applying the franchise/transition tags on players.

Monday, noon ET: Legal tampering period opens.

Wednesday, 4 p.m. ET: 2020 league year begins.

This much, I know: The CBA passing would be good for players hitting the market.

And if the CBA does pass, I think it’ll be the one-percenters (top untagged free agents) seeing the immediate benefit.

The cap won’t be affected that much either way. The jump in percentage to 48 happens ahead of the 2021 season—the players are at 47% of all revenue this year, if the deal passes, which means the cap will be about $2 million-$4 million above where it would’ve been (46.6%). The minimum guys will get their $100,000 raises, with rules permitting teams to borrow from future years to make room for those. (The cap should rise fast thereafter, with projections having it at $260 million or $270 million within three years.)