The new NFL calendar started Tuesday with the free agency signing window opening. There was a flurry of activity, including a few big-name trades. There was also a number of players signing with new teams.
Just a few hours into the afternoon, Ravens fans were ready to jump off bridges. Three more players, in addition to Jacoby Jones and Pernell McPhee, who we all knew were as good as gone, departed Baltimore.
Every year, the Ravens lose a good young player to free agency because they draft so well. Once those players prove they can play, they sign a huge contract elsewhere…but they never seem to play as well as they did in Baltimore. There are a dozen examples of that. McPhee could be next.
Jones was a nice player for the Ravens, and many loved his off-field personality. But on the field, he was basically a declining kick returner who cost too much money. I think we’ll see the Ravens made the right choice by cutting him.
Tight End Owen Daniels was a free agent. He was interested in re-signing with the Ravens, but he has played every snap of his career with Gary Kubiak as a coach (either head or coordinator). So, he went to Denver on a three-year contract.
Ravens fans can’t really be upset with that. Yes, Daniels had some nice catches and helped the team in 2014, but overall, he was not a difference maker. He is past his prime and is not an every down player. The Ravens can draft a tight end and work Crockett Gillmore in more while hoping that Dennis Pitta can return from injury.
Torrey Smith was a free agent. He was interested in re-signing with the Ravens, and the team reportedly offered him a five-year, $35 million contract before the 2014 season. He declined. Tuesday, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
If #Ravens pk WR @ 26 he’ll be more productive than Torrey Smith. Pk 26 last year rec’d 4 years, $7.80M; $3.99M bonus. Much better ROI.
— Russell St. Report (@RussellStReport) March 10, 2015
Smith is not worth the $8 million per year for the next five years ($22 million being guaranteed) that SF gave him. He was a good receiver and at times a very good receiver… but he was never consistent enough to be a #1 receiver with a big contract. Good for him for getting it and good for the Ravens for not over-paying to keep a local guy.
Now, we move on to the final loss of the day. Haloti Ngata was a great player for the Ravens. Over the years, he was one of the best, if not at times the best, defensive tackle in all of football.
Ngata has 13.5 sacks since 2011, also racking up 199 tackles (6th among NFL DTs) and posting 16 PD, which rank 1st among DTs during span.
— Brian Bower (@sportguyRSR) March 10, 2015
But after nearly a dozen years in the NFL, his best seasons are behind him. Ngata had a cap number of $16 million and the Ravens barely had any wiggle room in the cap, so it’s very likely Ngata would have been cut to save some money. If he was released, the Ravens would have received absolutely nothing.
So on the day that the team needed to make room in the cap, the Ravens did the smartest thing they could. They traded him away to a team they won’t face until 2017 (along with a 7th round draft pick) for two (a 4th and a 5th round) picks.
If you think adding a 7th round pick to the deal hurts the Ravens, think again.
The best 7th-round pick in Ravens history is arguably DeAngelo Tyson. No biggie losing that one.
— Derek Arnold (@BMoreBirdsNest) March 10, 2015
The Ravens could have lost Ngata for nothing, but traded him away and got two picks. There is one obvious choice and Ozzie did the right thing.
The Ravens have a couple of “next man up” contenders and they are all a whole lot cheaper and more cap-friendly than Ngata would have been in 2015. Timmy Jernigan, Brent Urban, and Brandon Williams will be counted on to fill in for the next couple of years.
Plus, the Ravens will likely have 10 draft picks this year, which means they could package a few picks in the draft to move up and get an impact player.
This move gives the Ravens flexibility in the draft and also in free agency. If they were to have extended Ngata, their hands would have been tied and they would not be able to fill any other holes, making them worse in seasons to come. This is life with a salary cap. This is life in the NFL.
So, we thank you, Mr. Royal Farms, for the amazing seasons you have given Baltimore.
Thank you, Haloti. https://t.co/M9bNYKnpNQ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) March 10, 2015
After an afternoon of player movement, today is a great reminder for all those who are hung up on the loss of players. You cheer for the Purple and Black of the Ravens, not for the players on the team.
Today is annual reminder to NFL fans that they root for team name on the front of jerseys, not the name on the back.
— Chris Pika (@BlogAndTackle) March 10, 2015
The Ravens are one of the best run franchises in sports. Ozzie Newsome has a “right player, right price” philosophy for his roster. The Patriots and the Packers go by the same concept and look how consistently good they are. Teams that spend too much for older guys tend to fail during the season (see the Redskins, Jets, etc).
I will be confident with the man with a plan. In Ozzie We Trust.
@JPonSports pic.twitter.com/7Fr9VDs0sq
— Dennard Melton (@dennard13) March 10, 2015
Baltimore freaks out every offseason. Here’s our motto here at P/R….. pic.twitter.com/TbVn1KpRcS
— Purple Reign (@PurpleReignShow) March 10, 2015
#InOzzieWeTrust pic.twitter.com/Em6hzQtg4z
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) March 10, 2015
