The offseason will be interesting for free agent tight end Dennis Pitta. The Ravens want him to return, but can only keep him by signing him to a new contract, or designating him with the franchise tag.
If the Ravens use the tag on Pitta by the March 3 deadline, that will give them until a July 15 deadline to negotiate a long-term deal. The one-year franchise tag for tight ends is $6.7 million. However, because Pitta often lines up as a wide receiver, it is possible that a special master could classify Pitta as a wide receiver for franchise tag purposes. The franchise tag number for wide receivers last season was $10.5 million, so if Pitta fell into that category, his tag number would be far more expensive for the Ravens.
That is another reason the Ravens are motivated to sign Pitta to a long-term deal, after his successful recovery from hip surgery. One way or another, the Ravens’ intentions are to keep Pitta, a favorite target and close friend of quarterback Joe Flacco.
“He still has the skills and the skill set to be a very productive receiver in this league,” Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said last month. “Going forward, we would like to have Dennis on our football team.”
