Draft / FA / Offseason Roster Moves (Merged)

[wickedsolo]

I was a big Hunt fan a couple weeks ago in the first, but not anymore. I think in time he will be a good player, but he is so raw and over-aged that it would be tough for me to take him that high.

I agree that someone may take him, but I think he would be a guy who you can't count on contributing for 2 years...and by then he will already be 28 or 29.

I'm all on the Elam bandwagon int he first now.

Elam would be a great pick if he lasts until 32.

[bmorecareful]

Elam would be a great pick if he lasts until 32.

As weird as it sounds, Elam's availability may hinge entirely on whether or not the Ravens win the SB. If they're picking at 32 I don't have a lot of faith Elam would fall past the 49ers. They're probably going to let Goldson walk so they have a huge need at FS, and Elam fits their system and style of play PERFECTLY. That is, if he even falls past the late 20's.

At this point, the odds of the Ravens trading back from 31 or 32 have gone up a lot, IMO. There will be some team that covets a QB and hopes to take him at the top of round 2, but fears another team jumping them, necessitating a move back into the 1st. If Elam isn't there and the remaining prospects on the big board have 2nd round grades, if they can find a partner I don't see the Ravens losing much by jumping back into the top of the 2nd.

The Ravens could make a lot happen in the 2nd round. They have plenty of picks already and trading out of the 1st could land them even more. If I were Ozzie, I would have a contingency plan on the table that involves getting maybe as many as 3 2nd round picks... where a lot of the talent of the draft is. They could easily end up with Phillip Thomas (my #3 safety in the class), Khaseem Greene, and Da'Rick Rogers all in the 2nd... and focus on depth/small school sleepers in the rest of the draft, probably hoping to find a legit LT prospect out of a mid-round type of guy.

[Carey]

I was a big Hunt fan a couple weeks ago in the first, but not anymore. I think in time he will be a good player, but he is so raw and over-aged that it would be tough for me to take him that high.

I agree that someone may take him, but I think he would be a guy who you can't count on contributing for 2 years...and by then he will already be 28 or 29.

I'm all on the Elam bandwagon int he first now.

Doesnt it seem more likely by the day that even though it's only January 1. Elam will get to 32 2. Will be BPA

[wickedsolo]

As weird as it sounds, Elam's availability may hinge entirely on whether or not the Ravens win the SB. If they're picking at 32 I don't have a lot of faith Elam would fall past the 49ers. They're probably going to let Goldson walk so they have a huge need at FS, and Elam fits their system and style of play PERFECTLY. That is, if he even falls past the late 20's.

At this point, the odds of the Ravens trading back from 31 or 32 have gone up a lot, IMO. There will be some team that covets a QB and hopes to take him at the top of round 2, but fears another team jumping them, necessitating a move back into the 1st. If Elam isn't there and the remaining prospects on the big board have 2nd round grades, if they can find a partner I don't see the Ravens losing much by jumping back into the top of the 2nd.

The Ravens could make a lot happen in the 2nd round. They have plenty of picks already and trading out of the 1st could land them even more. If I were Ozzie, I would have a contingency plan on the table that involves getting maybe as many as 3 2nd round picks... where a lot of the talent of the draft is. They could easily end up with Phillip Thomas (my #3 safety in the class), Khaseem Greene, and Da'Rick Rogers all in the 2nd... and focus on depth/small school sleepers in the rest of the draft, probably hoping to find a legit LT prospect out of a mid-round type of guy.

Very true, but how many of us saw the Niners taking AJ Jenkins in the 1st round last year?

[bmorecareful]

Very true, but how many of us saw the Niners taking AJ Jenkins in the 1st round last year?

True. There are always numerous shocker picks in the 1st round that make this whole business a giant crapshoot.

I'll tell you what, I really did not like AJ Jenkins as a prospect and I made my feelings known. I felt pretty stupid when the 49ers made him a 1st round pick thinking they had seen something I did not. But he came into camp out of shape and lost, was a healthy scratch I believe the entire regular season, and is now behind Chad Hall on the depth chart (5'8 UDFA from Air Force signed by the 49ers just a week or two ago).

I don't feel as stupid anymore. Pretty sure that was the worst pick of the 1st, even worse than Bruce Irvin.

[leachisabeast]

There is nobody in this draft I'd trade up for apart from Star Louteilei or Johnathan Hankins. I think Matt Elam or Barrett Jones are just about the safest picks for us. I'd probably take Eric Reid in the 2nd round if I was considering to trade back.

[Ravenalytics]

At 31 or 32, it costs a whole lot to move up to the mid rounds. They'd be better served moving to the early second and collecting what they can.

Out of Barrett Jones, Manti Te'o, Kenny Vaccaro, Matt Elam, Barrett Jones, Margus Hunt, Eiffert, Ertz, Minter... someone's due to fall low. Just like Upshaw fell to us, just like Jimmy Smith fell to us, just like Torrey and Ray Rice did as well. The great thing about having a balanced team is that you can always just take the best player available without having to worry too much about positional needs. So that's why we can grab so much first round talent in later rounds.


reference: http://www.mynfldraft.com/points.php

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Man, I was hoping Marquise Goodwin would be a good option for us in the 5th round or so...but from the reports down there, he likely is moving up a round or 2.

[PalladinInNC]

Flynn isn't a FA. He's under contract in Seattle. They might cut him, but they don't necessarily have to.

Other FA QB's...

Matt Moore
Jason Campbell
Rex Grossman
Byron Leftwich
Tarvaris Jackson
Matt Leinart
Chase Daniels
Bruce Gradkowski


Slim pickings...

True, but the Ravens could use a backup QB. I'm not sold on Taylor being a good enough alternative!

[leachisabeast]

We could always look at signing Matt Moore as back up QB, depending on the price.

[wickedsolo]

Man, I was hoping Marquise Goodwin would be a good option for us in the 5th round or so...but from the reports down there, he likely is moving up a round or 2.

Maybe...maybe not. Keep in mind, there are still a lot of guys who will be at the combine who are underclassmen.

Also, Goodwin is pretty tiny. Not that his size makes him less valuable, but there are limitations and I don't know that many teams would take him before the 3rd round. Tavon Austin may drop as well.

[wickedsolo]

True, but the Ravens could use a backup QB. I'm not sold on Taylor being a good enough alternative!

Well, is Tyrod a good fit for the offense that Flacco predominately runs? Probably not.

However, I'd like to think that if Flacco were to not be able to play and Tyrod were in the game, Caldwell would have plays/packages designed to utilize Taylor's strengths.

If they want a QB that fits more along the lines of Flacco, then they probably should be looking at Jason Campbell.

[s.r.genovese]

Maybe...maybe not. Keep in mind, there are still a lot of guys who will be at the combine who are underclassmen.

Also, Goodwin is pretty tiny. Not that his size makes him less valuable, but there are limitations and I don't know that many teams would take him before the 3rd round. Tavon Austin may drop as well.

I'd much rather go with Austin over Goodwin. Maybe that's just my familiarity but I've seen Austin beat up on bigger corners (route-wise) in college, haven't seen that from Goodwin yet.

[bmorecareful]

Well, is Tyrod a good fit for the offense that Flacco predominately runs? Probably not.

However, I'd like to think that if Flacco were to not be able to play and Tyrod were in the game, Caldwell would have plays/packages designed to utilize Taylor's strengths.

If they want a QB that fits more along the lines of Flacco, then they probably should be looking at Jason Campbell.

I think the whole thinking behind Tyrod is that if Flacco were to go down for a game or two, teams would have a hard time preparing for the kind of gameplan that Tyrod would be running. Just the novelty alone probably gives you a shot to steal a game or two. If Flacco goes down with a serious injury it doesn't matter anyway because that season is shot.

No interest IMO in going out and getting a backup QB on the open market. They can't spare the money. I'd rather just see them spend another 6th or 7th round pick on a more pure drop-back type QB, maybe somebody who flies under the radar because of playing at a small school or whatever. (Sean Renfree? Brad Sorenson? There are several good options out there.) Develop him and see what he can turn into.

[s.r.genovese]

For center depth, Joe Madsen from WVU has had a very solid day in one on ones. He could be a nice 5-7 round pickup for depth purposes. He's big and squat, exactly what you want from a center.

[Iscull]

How much cap room do we open up after Ray, Bobbie Williams, and Birk retire?

[jonboy79]

I think the whole thinking behind Tyrod is that if Flacco were to go down for a game or two, teams would have a hard time preparing for the kind of gameplan that Tyrod would be running. Just the novelty alone probably gives you a shot to steal a game or two. If Flacco goes down with a serious injury it doesn't matter anyway because that season is shot.

No interest IMO in going out and getting a backup QB on the open market. They can't spare the money. I'd rather just see them spend another 6th or 7th round pick on a more pure drop-back type QB, maybe somebody who flies under the radar because of playing at a small school or whatever. (Sean Renfree? Brad Sorenson? There are several good options out there.) Develop him and see what he can turn into.

I've subscribed to the "athletic backup QB" for a few years now... In the middle of a game if the starter goes down, it can be very, veryeffective in moving the ball. After a few weeks, however, you are correct. Additionally, it exposes yoru backup to injury as well, which long term isn't the best idea. So to go a step further, I like the idea of an athletic backup, and another pocket passer as 3rd string, and sometimes the 3rd string guy would be where I turn if I have a week to prepare my offense.

[wickedsolo]

I think the whole thinking behind Tyrod is that if Flacco were to go down for a game or two, teams would have a hard time preparing for the kind of gameplan that Tyrod would be running. Just the novelty alone probably gives you a shot to steal a game or two. If Flacco goes down with a serious injury it doesn't matter anyway because that season is shot.

No interest IMO in going out and getting a backup QB on the open market. They can't spare the money. I'd rather just see them spend another 6th or 7th round pick on a more pure drop-back type QB, maybe somebody who flies under the radar because of playing at a small school or whatever. (Sean Renfree? Brad Sorenson? There are several good options out there.) Develop him and see what he can turn into.

Honestly, we could probably pick up Shane Renfree as a UDFA.

[BigPlayReceiver]

How much cap room do we open up after Ray, Bobbie Williams, and Birk retire?

http://russellstreetreport.com/raven...dbye-for-some/

[s.r.genovese]

Quinton Patton is a guy I want. Just made a beautiful contested catch on the sideline. Coverage was great but somehow he came down with it. He's the best receiver on the South team.