Ravens offseason and draft thread

ILB, TE, Center, RB

 

No TE's remain that move the needle at this point in the draft, so I have a few candidates picked out that are round appropriate for the 3rd round in the ILB, Center and RB categories.

 

Well, I'm hearing Dez was just cut. So we'll see where he lands

 

I he does end up with the Ravens, it could drastically change our draft board.

 

I didn't think they would cut him before June 1st but maybe they cut him but designated him as a june 1st cut? Not sure and haven't seen the particulars on that yet. Either way, he is suddenly available. Priced himself right out of Dallas. I still think Ozzie is probably on the phone right now with his agent to kick the tires though. He really loved him coming out of college.

 

Dez walked out saying I'll see you guys twice this year, I'm told. So that's that.

Giants? Redskins? Eagles?

Then again, "Bryant will have plenty of suitors should he hit free agency, but it's hard to imagine any team paying him as one of the league's top wideouts. Instead, Bryant, who is more possession receiver than deep threat, will be looking for a contract similar to the three-year, $21 million deal the Ravens gave Michael Crabtree last month."

 

According to ESPN, "Bryant was not offered a pay cut, will not be designated a post-Jun1 cut, and the team will save $8 million against the salary cap this season."

 

Thanks for the clarification. Seems Jerry Jones decided the time was now to move on. Interesting but the move does save their team a ton of cap room.


The Eagles don't have the cap room to get him I don't think. The Redskins is a possibility, and I just can't see him going to the Giants, not with Odell there, that would be too many ego's in the room.

Redskins is probably the best bet right now if he wants to stay in division

 

Ur welcome.

Could've saved $12.5 mil with the post June 1st designation. Jones just wanted him out of there.

 

Also reading that it was over not wanting to take a pay cut, so I doubt he's in our range not matter what.

https://sports.yahoo.com/short-meet...ant-released-163904748.html?hl=1&noRedirect=1

 

Ok, so with the third round pick, I had a few choices targeted, but I went with WR Deon Cain,Junior from Clemson. That will take care of our (quality) offensive targets in the draft since I missed out on the top TE's in this draft.

Anthony Miller is a smaller slot target and Cain is a big flanker (6'2", 205 lbs).

I had an offer to drop back to the first pick in the 4th round and pick up an extra 5th but thought Cain's value was too great to pass up. He was rated somewhere in the 2nd round so he was a good deal in my opinion.

 

Overview- Deon Cain (round 3)
Cain is a classic Clemson receiver with a good combination of size and speed and an underappreciated feel for the position. Cain's routes are smooth, but also show an understanding of coverage. Cain has the pure speed to attack over the top, but he should be a competitive option on all three levels. His drops are more a function of concentration than ability, but it needs to be improved. Cain has the chance to become a very good NFL starter but is better suited to handle the WR2 rather than a role as the alpha target.
Strengths

• Size is a plus
• Movement is fluid and feel for the position comes naturally
• Gets into routes with vertical push and forward lean
• Uses quick slaps to grease his way past press coverage
• Glides in his routes and maintains excellent pace throughout
• Legit deep target with jet gear to get vertical once he clears defender's edge
• Willing hand fighter downfield
• Physical when ball is in the air
• Had focus drops but won't gator arm it in traffic
• Understands optimal catch angles and adjusts accordingly
• Quick pluck-and-tuck mechanism as a pass-catcher
• Tap dancer near the boundary
• Keeps dig routes from drifting and allowing safeties into the catch-point
• Talented after the catch
• Has shake to elude and allows tacklers a taste of aggressive stiff-arm
• Adequate competitiveness as a blocker

Weaknesses

• Failed to post expected production jump after taking over WR1 duties from Mike Williams
• Targeted more but production declined in almost every meaningful category
• Will need to expand his route tree as a pro
• Doesn't separate as much as he could underneath
• Can run routes with more urgency and suddenness
• Fluctuations with focus has plagued him
• Has seen drop rate increase in each of the last two seasons
• Needs to play stronger through his routes
• Appeared to get flustered at times by length and size across from him
• Penalized 10 times over three years with a majority being false starts

 

Overview- Anthony Miller (round 2)

Ultra-competitive and highly productive, Miller plays with a chip on his shoulder that has driven him to out-work the man across from him. While he played both inside and out for Memphis, some teams could struggle with figuring out his best fit. His inconsistent hands are definitely a concern, but his ability to get open and to work all three levels of the field increase his chances for success as a WR3.
Strengths

• Rapid-fire stutter steps and head fakes defeat outside and inside leverage
• Effective setting up route-stems
• Accelerates out of cuts creating throwing window
• Scratches and claws over top of press and has early quickness to stack them
• Can work inside or outside and has been effective on all three levels
• Former walk-on with elevated level of competitiveness
• Field fast throughout the route
• Top notch ball tracker whose focus sharpens down the field
• Body adjustments to haul in challenging catches is excellent
• Works with scrambling quarterbacks
• Slick with his feet near the sideline
• Creates yardage after the catch

Weaknesses

• Short stepper
• Pops straight up before breaking route off and could be challenged by zone corners looking to disrupt his momentum with redirects
• Routes carry wasted motion with excessive arm and upper body action
• Might be quicker than fast
• Outstanding focus on deep throws turns into shoddy concentration on short ones
• Will drop and double catch simple, short throws
• Ball security is a concern after the catch with five career fumbles

 

Overview- Mike McGlinchey (round1)
McGlinchey will need to add more strength and mass to his athletic frame in order to hold up against NFL power, but his technique and instincts are pro-ready. He could be a polarizing prospect based on inconsistencies from his tape, but he gets guys blocked at a much higher rate than he loses his rep. McGlinchey should become an early starter at either tackle position, but his ability to handle bull rushers and power at the point of attack will define the type of career he has.
Strengths

• Very fluid athlete with background as tight end
• Natural movements and able to make cross-face and cut-off blocks
• Uses tight, controlled settle steps to help promote balanced, centered contact at the point of attack
• Good bender
• Strikes and rolls his hips up under him
• Advanced technician
• Experienced and successful in gap and zone schemes and can play either tackle spot
• Works hips double teams hip to hip and has well-timed climbs to linebackers
• Quality down-blocker who gets movement and push with leg churn
• Works to sustain
• Pass sets with excellent posture
• Weight is generally dispersed properly throughout his kick slides
• Punch placement is adequate
• Plays with adequate mirror
• Instinctive and searches for trouble brewing with twists and blitzes
• Named a team captain in consecutive years

Weaknesses

• Below average core strength
• Needs more mass on his frame
• May not have leg drive to move anchored space eaters
• Inconsistent at containing opponents as base blocker
• Needs to sustain and finish at a better rate
• Power ends can stack and discard him
• Allows pad level to rise as move blocker
• Pass slide is a little restricted in terms of gaining ground
• Tends to deaden feet at punch allowing speed rushers access to his edge if his punch falls flat or misses entirely
• Will lean into some blocks as mechanism to boost power
• Will uncork his punch a shade too early at times for fear of losing the "hands first" battle
• Can be bounced back into pocket by stiff stab moves

 

Sounds a lot like Breshad Perriman.

 

I've read 2 articles (CBS & ProFootballRumors) that none of the NFC East teams want Dez.

Eagles & Giants have cap limitations, but if they really wanted him I'm sure they could've done something. Then again, the practice of pushing back guaranteed money and cap restrictions for later to free up more now seems to be fading rapidly away. One can only hope the Ravens have learned.

That being said, I think they can get Dez on a Crabtree type of contract. But, how volatile would that be. Both are primarily possession receivers who think that every pass should go to them. Could they get along? Is there enough passes to go around now that the Ravens have committed to the run? Would Marty, John, Ozzie, Eric, and Greg change up the offense after revitalizing the run game? And possibly most importantly, we all know Joe has a favorite receiver/target/check down every year. Which one would he choose and would the other one be happy about it?

 

I think the Ravens definitely want Dez, and that most likely is why they are in waiting mode on Snead. If anything, the Cowboys did them a massive favor because Ozzie would have had to make a choice on Snead otherwise very soon. No clue if they can land Bryant or not, but I am all for it. It doesn't really change the draft for me though because they still need to develop young receivers on their own and get their own talent pipeline. (again, that's always the dream)

 

@BaltSportsfan we gave you Kizer. I posted right at 6:30 since time was up and Buffalo was around but we let you change it.

 

I know it is semantics, but I also posted at 6:30 so I was still in my limit, was I not? My time stamp said 6:30 on my post so I though I was within my parameter for posting a pick.

I appreciate you changing it but I have seen other guys be beyond their times and you still hold on for them, even when they are not logged in. No worries, I will be sure to post well within my time limit so we don't have a down to the wire situation again.

It all worked out because I had the autopick selection high on my list as well, so either way I would have been ok. All's well that ends well.....

 

The guy was on and ready to pick and was in a bit of a rush at 6:30 when his time started so we made the auto right then. You technically have until 6:29 is complete. Sometimes we ask the guy up next if he'll wait or if they aren't around either we will delay the auto until one of the teams due to pick shows.

Either way you came on and picked right away so we changed it. We'd even change an auto from a couple picks back if everyone afterwards is cool with it.