Quarterbacks
Returning: Steve McNair, Kyle Boller, Drew Olson
Free Agents: None
Moves to Make: McNair and Boller are firmly entrenched at the No.1 and No.2 positions on the depth chart. The Ravens will need to figure out what to do with Boller after the 2007 season, as Boller is scheduled to become a free agent. The front office will need to make plans to replace Boller, by drafting a quarterback of the future at some point, on either the first or the second day of the draft. If the team determines that Boller is not the answer to replace McNair as the starter after next season (assuming McNair’s time is up after the 2007 season), either Olson or a second-year quarterback will be counted on to lead the team.
Running Backs
Returning: Mike Anderson, Justin Green, P.J. Daniels, Cory Ross
Free Agents: Jamal Lewis (if option is not exercised), Ovie Mughelli, B.J. Sams (restricted), Musa Smith
Moves to Make: Re-signing Mughelli is a priority. The former fourth round pick out of Wake Forest finally played up to his potential as a starter, and provided a steady presence at the fullback position. Mughelli showcased a multi-dimensional ability to run and catch passes out of the backfield.
At the tailback position, there is little doubt that Lewis’ contract will either be restructured, or erased off the books entirely. With the release of Lewis, the Ravens would save $8 million or so in cap space. That said, the Ravens should try to bring Lewis back at a lower price. While he doesn’t have the same burst or speed, Lewis is still a capable rusher in-between the tackles and is solid as a pass blocker.
Ideally, the Ravens can retain Lewis and draft a back to complement him in the first or second round. The Ravens need to find a tailback who is explosive and shifty, as Anderson and Lewis are better inside runners at this point in their careers.
Wide Receivers
Returning: Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams
Free Agents: Clarence Moore (restricted), Devard Darling (restricted), Alex Bannister
Moves to Make: If the Ravens decide to part ways with Derrick Mason, it will be a costly decision. Releasing Mason would result in a sizeable cap hit, which the Ravens may not be in position to absorb. That said, the team appears to be headed in a different direction away from using Mason as the go-to target in the passing game, so the team may need to bite the bullet and release him. If Mason is cut, the front office will need to bring in a solid replacement (preferably a veteran through free agency) to handle the slot receiver duties. As Williams and Clayton are better deep threats, the offense will need a bigger, more physical red zone target who isn’t afraid to catch passes over the middle.
Tight Ends
Returning: Todd Heap, Daniel Wilcox, Quinn Sypniewski
Free Agents: None
Moves to Make: This is the most stable position on the team. All three tight-ends logged significant playing time during the season. Sypniewski may see more playing time as the No.2 two tight-end in his second year. He is a steady run blocker, and could serve as a big body target in the red zone.
Offensive Line
Returning: Jonathan Ogden, Edwin Mulitalo, Mike Flynn, Jason Brown, Keydrick Vincent, Chris Chester, Ikechuku Ndukwe, Adam Terry
Free Agents: Tony Pashos, Brian Rimpf (restricted)
Moves to Make: The organization will have a number of decisions to make when it comes to restructuring this position. First off, assuming that Ogden does not retire, he should return as a starter alongside Jason Brown. Other than those two players, the other starting positions are undetermined at the moment.
Pashos should be re-signed. After improving his footwork and technique, Pashos had a breakout year at right tackle. Losing a young, reliable starter like Pashos at the tackle position is simply not an option.
There will be some shuffling of positions on the interior. Mulitalo, Flynn and Vincent may be out of the picture. Mulitalo lost his job to Brown due to injury, and may have a hard time regaining a spot in the lineup. While bringing back Mulitalo could provide a more powerful presence in the run-blocking scheme, he is not an adequate pass blocker at this point in his career.
Releasing Vincent and Flynn would provide some cap relief for the team. Both players are replaceable parts, although the team will likely try to bring back Flynn at a reduced cost as perhaps a backup, as he provides leadership and knowledge of protection schemes.
Chester figures prominently in the long-term plan as a starter on the offensive line. The issue is, will Chester get the chance to start at center or guard this upcoming season? At this point, given the age of the other players on the line, the answer seems to be yes.
Defensive Line
Returning: Trevor Pryce, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Kelly Gregg, Dwan Edwards, Justin Bannan
Free Agents: Jarret Johnson, Aubrayo Franklin (restricted)
Moves to Make: Most of the lineman will be back, although a couple of moves should be made. First, the front office needs to rework Terrell Suggs’ contract. Suggs hit an incentive in his contract which will enable him to earn $5 million more in salary than he was originally due to make in 2007. With Suggs being up for free agency in 2008, the Ravens should look to reduce his cap figure by giving him a contract extension. This move could shave $1 or $2 million in cap space.
Second, the team should try to bring back Johnson, especially if it is not planning to retain Adalius Thomas. Johnson is a versatile defender who fits well in Rex Ryan’s shape-shifting defense. He is a solid backup, and the only true defensive end on the roster behind Pryce and Suggs.
Linebackers
Returning: Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Mike Smith, Gary Stills, Dan Cody, Dennis Haley
Free Agents: Adalius Thomas
Moves to Make: Thomas is the team’s most prominent free agent. It is doubtful that the Ravens will be able to retain him unless they reach some sort of short-term contract extension. However, other teams with better cap situations will drive Thomas’ price up on the open market.
The issue with bringing back Thomas is that the team cannot afford to give a lucrative signing bonus to a player who may be released in just two or three years. At 30 years old, it’s not likely that Thomas will be able to play through a new contract. Additionally, if the Ravens have to pay Thomas a large sum of money on a yearly basis, it will be harder for the organization to absorb other cap hits in the coming years.
The idea that the franchise may tag Thomas seems like wishful thinking, considering that the Ravens don’t have much cap space to handle paying him the average salary of the highest paid linebackers in the NFL. Unless the team is able to clear a lot of cap room by March 1, Thomas is a goner.
Replacing Thomas will be very difficult, as he was so effective in a number of areas on the field. The Ravens could look for a replacement from within the organization, perhaps giving Smith or Cody a chance to start. However, the better solution would be to draft a replacement.
Additionally, the team needs to figure out what to do with Ray Lewis’ cap figure, which is worth close to $10 million. Either they will have to absorb the full amount this season, or restructure his contract. Restructuring seems highly unlikely, because Lewis would demand more guaranteed money in the form of a new contract.
Defensive Backs
Returning: Chris McAlister, Samari Rolle, Ed Reed, Dawan Landry, Ronnie Prude, Cory Ivy, Evan Oglesby, David Pittman, Derrick Martin
Free Agents: Gerome Sapp
Moves to Make: With the exception of backup safety Gerome Sapp, the entire secondary will return intact. Given the team’s cap restraints, don’t look for Samari Rolle to be whacked in the off-season. Rolle’s cap hit would be too hard to swallow. Besides, while much was made of his propensity to give up a big play from time-to-time, Rolle was a steady cover corner during the second half of the season, and could serve as the starter for at least one more season. That said, the younger corners may push him for more playing time next season. If the organization believes that David Pittman (a third round pick out of the 2006 draft) is a complete bust, they may need to use a high draft choice to acquire a future starter at the cornerback position.
Special Teams
Moves to Make: Most of the key special teamers will be back. The Ravens should look at re-signing Alex Bannister, who serves as a gunner on punts, to a short-term contract. Bannister is a former Pro Bowl performer who brought needed energy and instincts to the coverage units. Given that Adalius Thomas may be out, re-signing Bannister would be a key move. Other key special teams performers, like Gerome Sapp and Musa Smith, may not be brought back. This could affect how the coverage units defend kick and punt returns. Assuming the team offers him a contract tender, the biggest boost to the special teams will be the return of B.J. Sams from a season-ending leg injury. Sams’ presence was sorely missed in the return game during the second half of the season.
