With only $5.7M in cap space available don’t look for the Baltimore Ravens to be one of the teams fast out of the gate to land marquee free agents. The free agent formula that has worked so well for the club and allowed them to land productive bargains like Bernard Pollard, Vonta Leach and Bryant McKinnie will be employed again in 2012.
Now the $5.7M doesn’t account for a center (currently there isn’t a legit O-Line point guard on the roster) or Pro Bowl left guard Ben Grubbs. Word has trickled out of Ravens headquarters suggesting the team is genuinely interested in bringing Grubbs back. But don’t confuse interest with probable. Before I was married I had interest in Angelina Jolie but shockingly, she got a better offer from some dude named Brad.
And like Angelina, Grubbs will go with the best offer and it won’t be served up by me or the Ravens.
Look for Ozzie Newsome to stay put with Bryant McKinnie at left tackle, Michael Oher at right tackle and Jah Reid taking over for Grubbs at left guard.
Now clearly that doesn’t preclude the Ravens from drafting an interior lineman but if you are expecting them to dip into the draft talent pool for a guard in Round 1, you are going to be disappointed. It ain’t gonna happen. Look for them to seek out a technician with at nasty streak like Yanda in the middle rounds.
Now Center, that might be a different story.
