One of the most effective functions of the Ravens front office has long been their ability to prey on 31 other franchises via cap casualties, as the team has the propensity to turn one mans trash into Baltimore’s treasure. 2018 will be no different, and so, let’s take a look at the most likely early season pink slips that can potentially lead to new ink on a contract with the Ravens.
So far, we’ve covered:
AFC West: Emmanuel Sanders (DEN), Derrick Thomas (KC), Travis Benjamin (LAC), Michael Crabtree (OAK)
AFC East: Charles Clay (BUF), Julius Thomas (MIA), Martellus Bennett (NE), Robby Anderson (NYJ)
AFC South: CJ Fiedoriwicz (HOU), Margus Hunt (IND), Allen Hurns (JAC), DeMarco Murray (TEN)
ACF North: Brandon LaFell (CIN), Kevin Hogan (CLE), Vance McDonald (PIT)
NFC West: Mike Iupati (ARI), Mark Barron (LAR), Elvis Dumervil (SF) , Michael Bennett (SEA)
NCF East: Dez Bryant (DAL), Brandon Marshall (NYG), Torrey Smith (PHI), Jordan Reed (WAS)
NFC South: Andy Levitre (ATL), Jonathan Stewart (CAR), Coby Fleener (NO), JR Sweezy (TB)
Down the home stretch with the last division in the NFC! I won’t lie folks – the potential cap casualties in this division have me salivating if I’m the Ravens. So much potential talent to add for (likely) much less coin than the free agent market currently dictates for their peers. I’d take any of these four guys in a heartbeat.
LET’S GOOOO!
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears: LB Pernell McPhee (update: RELEASED)
A familiar face, and a familiar story line, hopefully ending with a reunion.
After the 2014 season, Pernell McPhee left Baltimore for greener gra$ in Chi-Town, only to struggle with health & productivity (so essentially every Raven defender to leave Baltimore). As such, McPhee has become more of a role player for the Bears, and unable to justify his $8M+ cap hit. Instead, the Bears could look to save $7.1M on the cap in 2018, and release the former Raven.
Now that McPhee is available, a Purple & Black reunion should be a no-brainer. The Ravens need help on the pass rush, they could keep McPhee’s contract on the cheap as he’s not an every-down guy, and at 29, McPhee still has time to prove he can turn it around.
Detroit Lions: TE Eric Ebron
Call me crazy (many do) but I’m still an Eric Ebron believer, and I think this could be a sneaky awesome signing, should Ebron get axed by the Lions.
Why will Detroit cut ties with the former 10th overall pick? Simply because his 5th year option (guaranteed $8.25M at the start of the league year) doesn’t match his production. Ebron is averaging about 500 yards and under 4 TD per season. That’s more in line with a $4M/year Tight End, and exactly what the Ravens could look to offer.
No, he never truly became ‘that guy’ in Detroit, and no, we can’t blame that on QB play (Matthew Stafford can sling it around), but I think the 25-year-old Tight End with four years NFL experience isn’t quite done yet, and could come at a relatively cheap price for the Ravens, who are in dire need of TE help.
Still not sold? Check this: in 2016, Ebron had 61 receptions for 711 yards in 13 games. Only ONCE in the past decade has a Ravens Tight End had more yards in a single season (Dennis Pitta in 2016 – 729 yards in 16 games), and only twice has a Ravens TE had more than 550 yards (Ebron had 574 in 2017).
I’d sign him as a starter and add a draft pick to develop behind him.
Green Bay Packers: WR Randall Cobb
I could’ve just as easily gone Jordy Nelson here – and those who know me on the Twitter-verse know my affinity for a Joe-to-Jordy connection – but I’d be a fool to want Jordy over Cobb.
Yes, it’s very likely that the Packers will either release Cobb or Nelson, but Jordy is AaRon Rodgers’ main squeeze in the receiver corps, so let’s just assume for this exercise that the Packers keep Nelson around to make Rodgers happy.
So why cut Cobb?
Basically the Packers are paying Cobb $12M per year to catch roughly 60 balls for 600(ish) yards… not ideal. 2018 is the final year on Cobb’s deal, and the Packers stand to save $9.5M against the cap to let him walk so, yanno, logical move.
As for the Ravens, they’d be wise to go after the 27-year-old. Even if he ends up being no better than a #2 guy the rest of his career, he could provide the Ravens with stability at the position for years to come (instead of signing a 32-37 year old on a two-year deal).
Minnesota Vikings: RB Latavius Murray
You think they’d just go ahead and cut Stefon Diggs for us? No?
FINE.
I’ve said once before – I’m not sold on the Ravens Running Back group. Kenneth Dixon is coming off an injury & suspension, Buck Allen would’ve been cut had it not been for Dixon’s injury/idiocy, and Alex Collins needs a full season as a starter to prove himself before committing.
As such, I think a veteran presence is needed, and Latavius Murray could fit the bill.
Murray carried the rock for 842 yards & 8 TD filling in for Dalvin Cook following his season-ending injury. Isn’t exactly something to sneeze at, right? Imagine pairing Murray with Collins in that backfield for the Ravens – who should be focusing on the run game…scary awesome!
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