Ravens News 2/26: Underrated Free Agents and more

Cut candidates for all 32 NFL teams: Alex Smith, Alshon Jeffery and Jimmy Graham among cap casualties for 2021 - Brad Spielberger

BALTIMORE RAVENS: DI BRANDON WILLIAMS

Current Projected cap space: $18,064,773

Cut cap savings: $7,500,000

Cut dead money: $6,920,000

The Ravens don’t have a pressing need to make this move, and Williams was still a solid nose tackle clogging up the middle for Baltimore last year, grading out at 67.2 overall. But with a ton of Ravens players in need of new contracts — both free agents like Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue and young stars like QB Lamar Jackson and TE Mark Andrews— Baltimore has to clear room somewhere.

2021 NFL free agency: Colts’ Jacoby Brissett among 10 most underrated veterans set to hit open market - Cody Benjamin

Corey Davis

TEN • WR • 84

Projected AAV: $9-12 million

Logical suitors: Bears, Browns, Colts, Dolphins, Giants, Packers, Patriots, Ravens, Titans, Washington

Davis is not an anonymous figure, by any means, going fifth overall in the 2017 draft and breaking out with a career-high 984 yards and five scores in 2020. But in a crowded WR market featuring splashier names such as Allen Robinson and JuJu Smith-Schuster, he’s probably not getting quite the attention he deserves. His eventual contract will likely suggest otherwise, but everything says he’s worth the gamble: He’s young (just turned 26), has been an ascendant big-play threat and endured middling QB play before Ryan Tannehill’s emergence. On a contender such as Baltimore or Green Bay, he’d be primed for an even bigger breakout.

T.Y. Hilton

IND • WR • 13

Projected AAV: $8-10 million

Logical suitors: Chiefs, Colts, Dolphins, Giants, Packers, Patriots, Ravens, Washington

In terms of name recognition, he’s even bigger than Davis. It’s not surprising he’s now a bit overlooked league-wide, considering he’s 31 and injuries have sapped him of nine games over the past three years. But even if Hilton isn’t the same big-play speedster who quietly eclipsed 1,000 yards in five of six seasons from 2013-18, he’s still got more than enough juice to warrant a starting job. You can’t count on No. 1 production at this point in his career, but you could do a whole lot worse for a No. 2 wideout. A whole lot. Like Davis, his ideal landing spot would be with a contender, where he can revive a field-stretching role opposite other talent.

The Ravens On The Hunt for a Tight End This Offseason - Todd Karpovich

“It was a different room, it was a different situation this year, and I think the coaches did an awesome job of using the personnel that we had to make us as successful as possible,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. “We’ll look at personnel, we’ll look at free agency, we’ll look at the Draft, and certainly, we’re very much a tight end-centric offense.

“So, if there is a tight end there available in the Draft, or somebody else, if somebody else happens to fall to us in free agency, we would certainly look at that as a possibility.”

The Ravens could also add a tight end in the free-agent market, There are several playmakers available, most notably Hunter Henry (Los Angeles Chargers), Jonnu Smith (Tennessee Titans) and Gerald Everett (Los Angeles Rams).

However, those players would be costly and Baltimore has other needs with the offensive line and at wide receiver.

One way or another, look for the tight ends to have a bigger role in the Ravens’ offense next season.

Baltimore Ravens 2021 NFL Team Draft Page - David Payne

R1 27

Rashod Bateman Minnesota WR

Big Orlando’s trade request adds to the Ravens’ list of draft needs. If the wannabe Left Tackle does leave, another RD1 pick could be at Eric DeCosta’s disposal. Pass protection was already a point of emphasis this offseason, and Brown’s potential departure wouldn’t help.

On the defense, pass rush is the biggest headache. There’s no way, with the current cap situation, that Baltimore can franchise tag either Matt Judon, for a second year, or Yannick Ngakoue. If neither returns, EDGE has to be considered with this pick. Ultimately, the Ravens could go with the best player available and, fortunately, that player fills another big need. I think Rashod Bateman would fit Baltimore’s offense perfectly and give Lamar a reliable receiving option for many years to come.

R2 58

Jaylen Twyman Pitt DL5T

You heard it here first, Jaylen Twyman is the second coming of Aaron Donald. They’re both undersized DTs from Pitt; what more do you need to know? The Ravens might need to free some cap space by moving on from Calais Campbell, and Twyman could step into that role. The former Panther who opted out of the 2020 season may never reach the heights of the current Defensive Player of the Year, but his ability to create pressure from the interior could make him a 10-year starter.

R4 121

Jordan Smith UAB EDGE

R5 154

Tommy Kraemer Notre Dame OG

R6 184

Tyler Vaughns USC WR

2021 NFL Mock Draft: Quarterbacks taken with first four picks, Patriots grab Mac Jones, Panthers trade up - Josh Edwards

Round 1 - Pick 27

Joe Tryon EDGE

WASHINGTON • JR • 6’5” / 262 LBS

PROSPECT RANK 65th

POSITION RANK 7th

The bust potential for Joe Tryon seems small. He is a hard-working and active edge rusher. Baltimore is staring down a situation where it could lose Matt Judon and/or Yannick Ngakoue in the first round. The Ravens could save a lot of money by addressing the position in the draft.