Ravens offseason and draft thread

Its not just the Ravens. Virtually EVERY team in major professional sports does the same thing.

 

That's really not true. I might have missed one but pretty sure the only current assistant coach Tomlin has ever worked with prior to Pittsburgh is Richard Mann, the WR coach.

 

I said, "virtually".

 

I think you'd have a hard time proving that. When Sean McVay got hired in LA he hired Wade Phillips as his DC. He'd never coached with him. He kept the Special Teams coach. He hired Aaron Cromer for the o-line, never worked with him. He brought some offensive guys to help install his office but otherwise he hired a lot of guys he hadn't worked with in his 7 seasons in Washington and 1 at Tampa Bay.

I think the Harbaugh criticism is fair. The one time he looked outside his of his own core group he had tremendous success (Kubiak).

 

As always, I'll be in the minority, but I'm all for giving some players we signed an opportunity. I'm intrigued by WR Quincy Adaboyejo and would like to see what he would do against the ones. Moore proved he should be given a longer look and moire of an opportunity. Campanero should be resigned and take over the Woodhead type duties (yes I realize they're different positions but Campo catches the ball and so does Buck Allen. They don't need Woodhead)

With Ozzies luck drafting WR's in the draft, I'd rather they go with a ILB or TE in the first round and take a few WR's later. The highlights of Equanimeous St. Brown were entertaining and he might be one of those available a little later.

 

I am interested to see what Wink can do with the defense. I agree with someone else who mentioned they were tired of his bend don't break philosophy. I hated the fact that we would get a lead and then seem to sit back and never attack and allow the opponent to move the ball at will. I also never thought he had many new and exotic blitzes or coverages that would cause confusion on the other team's defense.

I hope Martindale does a full assessment of the team's strengths and weaknesses and designs some schemes to take advantage of the excellent talent I think we have available.

As far as the offense goes, I would love to see us get a nice stud lineman to help solidify the O Line. I understand Yanda is HOF quality, but after this type of injury, is he going to last much longer? It seems like he has started to get really brittle as he ages (expected really) and I think we need the next guy to train under him so we are prepared. I am of the opinion that you can never have enough quality O lineman, and as far as Flacco goes, he needs a stout top notch line to operate behind to be most effective.

I am relatively happy with the running backs, and with Dixon potentially back in the mix I would like to see him in action before we decide to go a different direction.

As I watched the playoffs, I could not help but notice the guys (receivers) that these other teams have and just remain puzzled at how other teams can take undrafted guys (Adam Thielen, Willie Snead, Hogan etc..) and develop them into quality receivers yet the Ravens swing and miss at every receiver they get their hands on (ok, I am being a bit dramatic here but you get the point).

I would love to have that stud go-to guy that we have not seen since an aged Boldin or an aged Mason. Can we possibly get one of these type of guys in his prime? Is that too much to ask?

 

Yeah, the most amazing thing about watching the playoffs is watching WRs actually help their QB. I noticed, on different forums, that Joe gets blasted if he doesn't make a perfect pass, mainly because our receivers won't catch it otherwise. But man, these playoff teams (and many others) just have WRs that make ridiculous catches one after another. Thielen (might have spelled it wrong) made so many ridiculous catches. Brown made crazy catches over a guy who never gave up a single TD all season.

It was just impressive catch after impressive catch and as a Ravens fan, I was jealous of the other fanbases.

 

Now here's a WR I'm interested in, who should go in the mid rounds. Big, strong WR who can actually catch. Does not have top end speed or quickness, but his ability to make contested catches and go up for the ball is crazy impressive to me

 

6'4" 220 lbs.
Sounds like another WR they would try to turn into a TE.

 

I would be happy with Cobbs in the 2nd round at this time. If his draft stock rises to #16 overall (which it could) then some of the others have to fall. We really missed on a guy like Diggs (someone I said should be drafted in the 3rd or 4th) and he's an example of receiver value finds later. And those players often display the determination to exceed expectations and draft position. Psychological make-up is not somehthing that even uber fans like us are privy to and where the scouts should be earning the paychecks. Competitors on the level of Steve Smith Sr. are rare.

 

Here is another WR candidate to consider who could be a very underrated player. Walterfootball has him going in the mid-rounds (3-5). He 6-2/200 and seems to be a great hands catcher, tracks the ball through hand fighting, and highpoints very well.

 

Via BR.com, Overthecap.com lists 7 likely cap casualties this year:
1) CB Brandon Carr, 31, 2018 cap hit: $7 million, Savings prior 6/ 1: $4 million, Dead money: $3 million
2) RT Austin Howard, 30, 2018 cap hit: $5 million, Savings prior to 6/1: $3 million, Dead money: $2 million
3) WR Jeremy Maclin, 29, 2018 cap hit: $7.5 million, Savings prior 6/1: $5 million, Dead money: $2.5 million
4) LB Albert McClellan, 31, 2018 cap hit: $1.25 million, Savings prior to 6/1: $1.25 million, Dead money: $200,000
5) WR Breshad Perriman, 2018 cap hit: $2.769 million, Savings prior to 6/1: $1.622 million, Dead money: $1.148 million
6) Lardarius Webb, 2018 cap hit: $2.55 million, Savings prior to 6/1: $1.75 million, Dead money: $800,000
7) RB Danny Woodhead, 2018 cap hit: $3.3 million, Savings prior to 6/1: $1.8 million, Dead money: $1.5 million
Totals: 2018 Combined Salaries: $29.369 Combined Cap Savings: $18.422 Combined Dead Money: $11.6148

Some of these won't be decided until preseason due to certain players' recovery at each position.

Carr wasn't awful but was asked to do more than he was able. Sadly every team in the AFCN now has a stud WR (except the Ravens) to account for. Carr wasn't up to task when Jimmy went down.

Not sure how I feel about Howard. He was not great, but was serviceable. Not sure how Alex Lewis' return or the draft will affect him. he might be safe.

Maclin was a huge bust. Not sure what happened to him. He wasn't seriously injured and dropped so many balls. Was it just a 1 year slump? So disappointing.

McClellan has been a stud ST player and ILB/OLB back up for years now. However Bam Bradley showed us something. Could be his last year with the Ravens.

Perriman could be universal seen as a bust, but Harbs didn't commit to his release saying he has to earn his stripes. He'll probably be back.

Webb being cut would be an ignoble end for him. He's leader in the secondary, but he is half the player he once was.

Woodhead did exactly what I thought he'd do - get injured. I questioned his signing, bc he's so frail. He proved it. When he plays he's good, but....

So who stays and who goes?

Also, will they grab another WR in free agency? Here is the current list:
Jarvis Landry
Allen Robinson
Sammy Watkins
Paul Richardson
Eric Decker
Mike Wallace
Terrelle Pryor
Marqise Lee
Taylor Gabriel
Jordan Matthews
Donte Moncrief
Dontrelle Inman
John Brown
Brice Butler
Kendall Wright
Albert Wilson
Danny Amendola

 

I'm looking for a Ravens GM to participate in the G.M.O. -

Anyone interested?
@ravens_R_#1
@Ravens2k
@BaltSportsfan
@Nitemare
@jazznbluz
@Kyreal
@Kid

(if I forgot anyone I apologize)

 

I wanted to repost as the quote function did not make for a very readable response:

Via BR.com, Overthecap.com lists 7 likely cap casualties this year:
1) CB Brandon Carr, 31, 2018 cap hit: $7 million, Savings prior 6/ 1: $4 million, Dead money: $3 million- Keep in that it is hard to find a decent corner who is always on the field and can be counted on. In the wake of Jimmy Smith's constant injuries, Carr is a good solid option to be on the field 16 times
2) RT Austin Howard, 30, 2018 cap hit: $5 million, Savings prior to 6/1: $3 million, Dead money: $2 million- I would want to see what he could do if we kicked him inside to guard assuming Lewis could handle right tackle. Potential cut after 6-1
3) WR Jeremy Maclin, 29, 2018 cap hit: $7.5 million, Savings prior 6/1: $5 million, Dead money: $2.5 million- would not mind cutting
4) LB Albert McClellan, 31, 2018 cap hit: $1.25 million, Savings prior to 6/1: $1.25 million, Dead money: $200,000- could be replaced with younger cheaper
5) WR Breshad Perriman, 2018 cap hit: $2.769 million, Savings prior to 6/1: $1.622 million, Dead money: $1.148 million- really torn on this one. I still want to see him give it a go again and perhaps get better position coaching. Keep I guess
6) Lardarius Webb, 2018 cap hit: $2.55 million, Savings prior to 6/1: $1.75 million, Dead money: $800,000- I think cut at this point. He could not really cover anyone anymore.
7) RB Danny Woodhead, 2018 cap hit: $3.3 million, Savings prior to 6/1: $1.8 million, Dead money: $1.5 million- I think he can be replaced at this point for healthier and cheaper
Totals: 2018 Combined Salaries: $29.369 Combined Cap Savings: $18.422 Combined Dead Money: $11.6148



So who stays and who goes?

Also, will they grab another WR in free agency? Here is the current list:
Jarvis Landry- sure but not break the bank
Allen Robinson- I like him better than Landry as an overall threat
Sammy Watkins- seems really injury prone
Paul Richardson- don't know too much about his skillset
Eric Decker- no thanks, slow and basically a small tight end
Mike Wallace- sure for the right price
Terrelle Pryor- hells to the no
Marqise Lee- I really like him overall and would not mind getting him on the team
Taylor Gabriel- seems like a one trick pony as a speed merchant
Jordan Matthews- no thanks, slow injury prone and not great hands
Donte Moncrief- he seemed like the guy who could really become a star but fizzled for some reason
Dontrelle Inman- don't know much about him
John Brown- I am fearful of his health conditions
Brice Butler- don't know much about him
Kendall Wright- seems like he is all worn out at this point.
Albert Wilson- maybe an option to allow him to be a full time starter-seems to have some talent
Danny Amendola-no thanks, he is so similar to Campanaro

 

Also, can we have a conversation about Baker Mayfield? Is this guy a guy who could fall to us at 16 and would be a viable NFL first round talent? The more I hear Mike Mayock talk about him and the more the kid is interviewed I am starting to like him and his personality and attitude.

I would love to hear people's impression on him and the viability of targeting him on the raven's draft board.....

 

I know little about him, but I honestly can't see the Ravens drafting a QB in round 1 with Joe pretty much guaranteed to be on the team in 2018 and likely 2019 (although he could be cut/traded in 2019). This team just doesn't value offense enough to spent a high draft pick on a guy to ride the bench intentionally. And they definitely won't like a 28M cap hit (or is it 24M) hold a clipboard either.

In terms of the WRs, I'm still pounded my coffee table for Allen Robinson and Marquis Lee/Donte Moncrief. Robinson feels like the type of player Joe has needed here for awhile now (big bodied WR who can make contested catches) and either Lee or Moncrief can be the #3 behind Wallace, who should be re-signed.

As said before, I'd probably keep Camp and Moore. Every other WR needs to be gone............but I already know 90% of my dreams for the WR corp just won't happen

 

I agree for the most part, but isn't that what the y had intended for Joe back when they drafted him? Troy Smith was slated to be the guy for a year when they drafted Joe but due to that crazy staph/throat infection whatever sickness Smith had, they went with Joe out of necessity rather than out of plan. Could this be a similar situation?

 

Harbaugh should know he needs immediate results in 2018. Drafting a guy who'll ride the bench and not contribute to the team won't help him. If he has as much influence in the draft room as many think, I can't see the #16 pick being someone who they know won't be expected to see the field this year. And I definitely don't see Joe on the bench