The Ravens are signing Eric Weddle, a safety formerly a member of the San Diego Chargers. Adam Schefter reports it is a four-year, $26 million deal, with $13 million coming in the first two years. The RSR staff react.
Ravens gave former Chargers S Eric Weddle a 4-year, $26 million deal, including $13 million in first two years, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2016
Eric Weddle got $29 million over four years, $13 million guaranteed from #Ravens. Includes $9 million for 2016.
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) March 14, 2016
RAVEN BOUND!!!!!!!!!!
— Eric Weddle (@weddlesbeard) March 14, 2016
Brian McFarland
Yes, w/ Weddle signed, need Upshaw to sign elsewhere, w/ enough of a deal to qualify & cancel Weddle to return 3rd https://t.co/zEibiL6keJ
— Brian McFarland (@RavensSalaryCap) March 14, 2016
Sounds like probably a $8M bonus w/ $1M base = 2016 Cap # of $3M. If Webb is released, savings = $3.5M. https://t.co/MQ1Jh70kFp
— Brian McFarland (@RavensSalaryCap) March 14, 2016
Possibly. Also now have leverage to demand another paycut & reduce Webb's $5.5M Salary. Not sure he gets that as FA https://t.co/eIsuft8Id4
— Brian McFarland (@RavensSalaryCap) March 14, 2016
Doesn't matter, now signed 2 (Weddle/Watson), lost 2 (KO/Schaub). So, no Comp. If Upshaw signs elsewhere get back 3d https://t.co/5w6MwVVDgx
— Brian McFarland (@RavensSalaryCap) March 14, 2016
Joe Polek
Some analysts on Twitter are saying it’s too much money for Weddle. We all know that these non-guaranteed contracts mean nothing. Give him 100 million, I don’t care, as long as he’s on the team in 2016. Weddle makes this defense better, and they are only getting started in transitioning the defense to something better than last year. It is a good move.
Brian Bower
Solid signing for the Ravens and their secondary. Weddle is a proven talent that Ozzie and company can rely on instantly.
It remains to be seen who the odd man out will be at a crowded safety position.
Dev Panchwagh
It’s a surprise acquisition and just speaks to the fact that the team was clearing cap space for a purpose. The Ravens are actually getting a slight discount on Weddle compared to what Tashaun Gipson and Rodney McLeod received on the open market. But Weddle is older and battled a groin injury last season. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the top playmaking safeties in the league. A guy that can play in the box, move around, and blitz. He’s a lesser version of Troy Polamalu. He’ll easily inject play-making ability into a secondary that needs it. The question becomes, how much of a financial risk is the team taking on an older player who plays a physical style?
Mike Fast
Though he had a down year last year, Eric Weddle was an All-Pro safety in 2014. He’s an instant upgrade to the Ravens secondary, and though it’s a lot of money, Baltimore had to make the move.
This helps ease the pain of losing “KO.”
Tyler Lombardi
This creates an interesting situation for the Ravens at the safety position. Now, they have a veteran presence and a player who should become the leader of the secondary, particularly the safeties. But what happens to Lardarius Webb? He is way too expensive for my tastes. Ozzie’s comments earlier in the offseason could have just been posturing for a signing like this.
I wouldn’t expect the Ravens to keep Webb around. At least not at his current rate.
As for Weddle, he was one of few competitors for Ed Reed‘s spot on the All-Pro team. I can’t wait to see what he can do in Baltimore.
My biggest concern right now is the compensatory pick formula. Hopefully Upshaw signs elsewhere, and the Ravens can still get a third from Osemele’s contract.
Ryan Jones
This is my favorite move since the Ravens traded for Anquan Boldin six years ago.
Weddle is a physical player who will bring the same intensity to the defense that Steve Smith brings to the offense. Weddle and Smith are reportedly good friends and there is little doubt that Smith was a big part of recruiting him to the Ravens.
This could spell the end of Lardarius Webb’s time in Baltimore. Weddle will be the Ravens starting free safety. $9.5 million is a big number for a starting safety and certainly too much for a backup.
Kyle Rate
Big-time signing for a big time player. Weddle’s getting up there in age, so this carries some financial risk, but he will make a great pairing with Will Hill, giving the back end of the defense a bit more fortitude. Most people have called for Ozzie to be aggressive, and he’s doing just that.
Adam Bonaccorsi
I love this signing but let’s focus on the elephant in the room: with Weddle signing, does it spell the end for Will Hill…. or Lardariu$$$$ Webb??
Methinks the overpaid former-CB/current “safety” needs to dig out that luggage and get to packing…
Ken McKusick
The Weddle signing is a boom-or-bust move. Obviously, the Ravens believe he has enough left to help the team, although he makes an old secondary even older. In the most optimistic Ravens fan’s mind, he’s Rod Woodson 2.0. In terms of realistic expectation, he’s far south of that, but should add leadership and ball skills on the back end . I won’t sugar coat his 2015 performance, nor the fact that he’s been declining steadily from a high level of play in 2011. I expect this will trigger some changes:
— Will Hill may be released or simply play out his contract in 2016. He is the youngest player in the secondary, but the fact he was removed on obvious passing downs by the end of 2015 tells you the Ravens are not happy with his discipline and/or back-end ball skills. Alternatively, he could move into a pure SS role where he seems better suited.
–Lardarius Webb will play a combination FS/nickel role if he stays. Since the nickel is the most common defense (547 of 987 of the non-penalty competitive snaps in 2015), there’s still work for him. He also provides some flexibility to play cover-2 with Weddle with 4 DBs. I think he’s done as an outside corner unless forced there by injury.
–I don’t expect Kendrick Lewis will be retained.
–With 3 safeties, the Ravens will have better options to play the dime in passing situations and get a linebacker off the field.
–Weddle himself appears to be a placeholder who will likely play 2 years here. This gives the Ravens the option to draft a developmental safety or a high-end talent with an existing injury, but deemphasizes the need for a high-round selection to be used at safety.
Nadeem Kureishy
The Ravens are quietly acknowledging that their secondary play has been pretty poor over the past couple of seasons. Let’s take a look at what transpired within the secondary coaching staff since the end of the season:
– Chris Hewitt was demoted and Leslie Frazier was brought in
– Matt Weiss was moved over to help the linebackers coaches
We are now starting to see the Ravens secondary transform into Frazier’s unit. Don’t be surprised if other roster moves are made as well.
