Ravens Free Agent Possible Add / Drops

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 03-05-2013, 09:42 AM

Bushrod sucks...I have no idea why anyone wants him. I'd rather have McKinnie back.

And I'd rather let Leach go than Jacoby.

When you are paying your QB the money we are, there is no room in your offense for a FB making over $2 million in any season IMHO.

**Dirt1** · 03-05-2013, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by Raveninwoodlawn

Bushrod sucks...I have no idea why anyone wants him. I'd rather have McKinnie back.

And I'd rather let Leach go than Jacoby.

When you are paying your QB the money we are, there is no room in your offense for a FB making over $2 million in any season IMHO.

Is there much of a market for Leach anyway? He is 31 years old and plays a position that is being phased out in the NFL. How many teams really utilize the FB that much anymore anyway? I think Leach likes it here, and wonder if he would take a pay cut to stay. I am not sure that anyone is going to be banging his door down with a big money offer.

**pslholder96** · 03-05-2013, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

Why do people want a really old slow NT for? IMO we need more speed on the Dline. Would much prefer Jean Francois than Casey Hampton.

Excel is the only one I've seen pounding the table for Hampton.

**runrayrun27** · 03-05-2013, 09:58 AM

They way I look at Hampton is the way I look at Cody. They're basically just large plugs meant to blow up the centre and disrupt run plays. However, I'm more interested in Jean Francois becuase he's a quicker guy who will make plays and not just be a disruption.

However, I'm a huge advocate for Ngata at NT becuase he's large AND quick. I think he has more potential as a NT than 3-4 DE

**jonboy79** · 03-05-2013, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

If Vollmer is decently cheap, I would make a run at him.

Otherwise, sounds like Sam Baker or Jermon Bushrod are the next guys to look at.

King Dunlap and BMac are basically our insurance options.

Baker and Bushrod are basically Oher.... PASS

MY FA targets are in order:
Ellerbe
Vollmer
Knighton

if we got all 3 all we would really need in the draft is a safety and an blockign TE/H-Back... pretty easy to fill those needs

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 03-05-2013, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by pslholder96

Excel is the only one I've seen pounding the table for Hampton.

I'm not pounding the table for Hampton, but I definitely wouldn't be opposed to bringing him in.

**BigPlayReceiver** · 03-05-2013, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by jonboy79

Baker and Bushrod are basically Oher.... PASS

MY FA targets are in order:
Ellerbe
Vollmer
Knighton

if we got all 3 all we would really need in the draft is a safety and an blockign TE/H-Back... pretty easy to fill those needs

If we only could afford those three...

**bmorecareful** · 03-05-2013, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by runrayrun27

They way I look at Hampton is the way I look at Cody. They're basically just large plugs meant to blow up the centre and disrupt run plays. However, I'm more interested in Jean Francois becuase he's a quicker guy who will make plays and not just be a disruption.

However, I'm a huge advocate for Ngata at NT becuase he's large AND quick. I think he has more potential as a NT than 3-4 DE

I have also been advocating moving Ngata to NT for a while now. He's older now and all the lower body injuries have sapped some of his explosion off the line that made him such a penetrator when he was healthy in years past. But he still has immense strength to anchor against the double team and he's probably our most technically sound lineman.

Move him to NT and get him down to about 50% of snaps instead of closer to 80% and he'll be a much more effective per-play player. The only issue there is that you would be asking Art Jones and Pernell McPhee to play a lot more snaps on either side of him. Are both of them ready to be full-time starting DEs, especially McPhee? Behind them you really only have DeAngelo Tyson, so we would need to pick up some depth at 5-tech. Ricky-Jean Francois would be great because he can split time with Ngata at NT and also back up at the 5-tech DE spot. Cody can also play 5-tech in a pinch.

Here's what the DL depth chart would look like if we moved Ngata:

DE/DT - Art Jones/DeAngelo Tyson
NT - Ngata/Francois or draft pick/Cody
DE - McPhee/Francois/draft pick

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 03-05-2013, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Dirt1

Is there much of a market for Leach anyway? He is 31 years old and plays a position that is being phased out in the NFL. How many teams really utilize the FB that much anymore anyway? I think Leach likes it here, and wonder if he would take a pay cut to stay. I am not sure that anyone is going to be banging his door down with a big money offer.

Well, sure if he takes a pay cut. But it would be a BIG pay cut. IMHO, paying your QB the money we are, a pro bowl FB who is in on only 42% of your snaps (and likely that percentage will be dropping as Joe imprints his vision in the offense) is a luxury that most cannot afford.

$1.5 million per year max IMHO for a fullback.

**runrayrun27** · 03-05-2013, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Raveninwoodlawn

$1.5 million per year max IMHO for a fullback.

I say $1 million, even if he is the best in the business

**NCRAVEN** · 03-05-2013, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by runrayrun27

I say $1 million, even if he is the best in the business

That's on;y 100k (or so) over the vet minimum. I understand the need for FB's is less and less but there is no way you get the best in the business even a punter or for that price.

**Paintballguy** · 03-05-2013, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by NCRAVEN

That's on;y 100k (or so) over the vet minimum. I understand the need for FB's is less and less but there is no way you get the best in the business even a punter or for that price.

Works for me. We don't need the best in the business FB anyways. Draft a good blocking TE.

**Dirt1** · 03-05-2013, 01:51 PM

Both years the Ravens won the SB, they had a masher at FB. Sam Gash in 2000 and Leach this year. I don't know if it is just a coincidence, but I think Leach is a big part of the identity of the Ravens as a physical football team. I think he has value, but not at his current price. I don't know how much of a pay cut it would take to fit him under the cap, or what he would command on the open market at this point, but I think the Ravens should try to keep him.

**The Excellector** · 03-05-2013, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

It's fairly possible/probable that in a few years, Ngata is going to walk away from the game anyway. Would you say his best skill now is rushing the passer or stuffing the run? I'm "not-a" (get it...get it?...okay, bad one) knocking his skills, but he's definitely slowing down a bit.

Personally, I'd still say he's more effective on the end anyway, just curious.

It's harder for me to say what he is better at, at this stage in his career, than it would be for me to say that keeping him at NG could preserve his career, if they find a quality NT. If you put him back at NT, he's going to have to deal with that double team, no matter what, even if they find a suitable replacement at NG. That's the nature of the NT spot and how the Ravens want it played.

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 03-05-2013, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by NCRAVEN

That's on;y 100k (or so) over the vet minimum. I understand the need for FB's is less and less but there is no way you get the best in the business even a punter or for that price.

I would go over $1 million, but IMHO, trying to get the best FB in the business isn't necessary.

Originally Posted by Dirt1

Both years the Ravens won the SB, they had a masher at FB. Sam Gash in 2000 and Leach this year. I don't know if it is just a coincidence, but I think Leach is a big part of the identity of the Ravens as a physical football team. I think he has value, but not at his current price. I don't know how much of a pay cut it would take to fit him under the cap, or what he would command on the open market at this point, but I think the Ravens should try to keep him.

The indentity of this team is changing and changed over the course of last year.

It changed for good when we basically committed to making this Joe Flacco's team.

**leachisabeast** · 03-05-2013, 04:00 PM

I'm surprised the Ravens haven't cut anyone yet. The Ravens could essentially release nobody sign all the RFA tenders, and re-sign one of the five key FAs we have, but would totally be out of first wave FA. But I'm not sure thats the best way forward, and I highly doubt the Ravens wont enter FA without shedding some cap room to get at least some low tier guys. They will probably come later.

**Bazooka Joe** · 03-05-2013, 07:42 PM

We can't forget that Ngata has been injured. I'm not worried about guys like him and Suggs.

As for Leach, he's the best FB in football and is still in his prime. I see him extended but not cut.

I could also see us make an investment in Jake Long and a couple of low priced guys. Ozzie likes to sign guys and then position us to just draft BPA.

**kronusthebonus** · 03-05-2013, 07:49 PM

There is no way we can afford Jake Long. It isn't happening.

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 03-05-2013, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by Bazooka Joe

We can't forget that Ngata has been injured. I'm not worried about guys like him and Suggs.

As for Leach, he's the best FB in football and is still in his prime. I see him extended but not cut.

I could also see us make an investment in Jake Long and a couple of low priced guys. Ozzie likes to sign guys and then position us to just draft BPA.

Extending Leach would be a big mistake. 31 going on 32 is not the prime for a NFL FB.

**RavenScallywag** · 03-06-2013, 01:22 PM

We could dream about getting Elvis Dumervil, right?

Per PFT, Broncos have asked Dumervil to take a pay cut. If he refuses, they would likely cut him and may go after Freeney.

Dumervil would likely be too expensive, but man oh man...that'd be a sweet signing.