Ravens offseason and draft thread

It's all good. You have an unenviable job so I don't want to seem like I am giving you the business. I appreciate all the effort you put in to keep this all flowing and I am having a fun time, so duly noted and I will be more mindful of the time.

 

Here are our 4th and 5th round selections from the mock draft:

4th Round: ILB Micah Kiser, Virginia (local Baltimore kid rated as 3rd round talent)
Overview
Kiser's impressive production didn't happen on accident and teams will have to weigh his consistent ability to make plays with his modest athletic ability and overall play speed. Kiser is a banger built to play inside the box, but he has limited range and may not offer much coverage ability. Unless he runs well and puts together a solid workout, he could fall in this draft, but his toughness and production give him a shot to be a backup.
Strengths

• Built with a sturdy base and banger's frame
• Quick to diagnose and respond
• Makes tackles near the line of scrimmage and doesn't wait on running backs to get to him
• Recognizes cutback lanes and fills the fit to look up runners in the cutback lane
• Tough guy who likes contact
• Brings it to second level climbing blockers with stiff shoulder or a powerful punch
• Has the play strength and leverage advantage to play under blocker's pads
• Willing to fire downhill into his run fits to close off the lane
• Never over-pursues
• Tackle production and impact play totals are staggering with 397 tackles, 33.5 tackles for losses, 19 sacks and eight forced fumbles over three years as a starter

Weaknesses

• Possesses thickly bundled hips that limit bend and movement
• Short stepper short area trigger burst
• Needs to do better job of dropping pad level as a tackler
• Running backs can drive through his contact and fall forward for additional yardage
• Makes a lot of tackles but will miss a lot of tackles as well
• Below average play speed and burst create challenging tackle angles once he gets to the spot
• Gradual in his change of direction movement
• Doesn't have desired NFL range
• Sluggish lateral quickness means he better diagnose early
• Is a liability in man coverage
• Will struggle to match patterns from man coverage

5th Rounder: C Bradley Bozeman, Alabama
Overview
Bozeman comes from a winning program where work ethic and toughness are hardly optional and he faced NFL-level competition in practice every day. His size is a big check mark in his favor, but he will be very limited by his lack of athletic ability. Bozeman's ceiling may be as low-level starter, but he has to find the right team.
Strengths

• Big and girthy
• Carries desired size NFL teams are looking for in centers
• Shows an ability to generate some initial movement when gallop stepping and landing a shoulder into his double team blocks
• Plays with desired level of toughness
• Adequate working combo blocks
• Will adjust his schedule and look for work when initial assignment voids
• Hand placement generally solid
• Core strength is okay

Weaknesses

• Step to snap quickness is slow
• Takes too much time getting into down blocks and may let gap shooters leak in on next level
• Doesn't have the feet to push defenders out of the play once they get to his edge
• Won't unleash as much power from hips as frame would suggest
• Down blocks lack pop
• Lacks athletic ability to consistently get to reach blocks and second level targets
• Will get discarded by nose tackles with quick hands
• Bull rushers can reset his anchor

 

I think Dez will be a Raven

 

Mock draft update:

I traded both 6th round picks to move to the last selection of the 5th round to take:

5th Round-Kameron Kelly S/CB, San Diego State (rated a 4th round prospect)
Overview
Sources say there are teams out there who are enamored with the idea of playing Kelly at cornerback to take advantage of his length and ball skills. If he gets drafted to play corner, he will require patience as he lacks experience and movement skills to hold up against NFL route-runners. As a safety, teams like his range and ball skills to take it away and flip the field. Kelly's success could be tied to positional and scheme fit more than most.
Strengths

• Long frame and expected to run well for his size
• Former high school receiver with penchant for making plays on the ball
• Has speed to range over the top as a safety
• Finds flight of the ball early and acts as a receiver when attacking the catch
• Opportunistic
• Reacts instantly to deflections, underthrown and overthrown balls to take the ball away
• Has starting experience at cornerback and safety
• Could offer sub-package appeal
• Plays with aggression in run support
• Chops down running backs at the thighs
• Productive kick cover talent with ability to compete for a gunner role on punts

Weaknesses

• High-cut with upright, labored backpedal
• Looked much more comfortable and natural at safety
• Carries thin legs and a narrow base
• Delayed in his transitions and doesn't flip hips with any smoothness
• Grabby at the top of the route
• Inexperienced with back to the ball
• Average short area closing burst
• Dig routes and seam throws will require earlier recognition and response
• Needs to get stronger for run support
• Gets wired to bigger blocking receivers and is slow to unhinge
• Too many missed tackles

 

These were good picks @BaltSportsfan. If Ozzie himself made these picks I'd approve. Definitely gave me a different perspective some other players I wasn't familiar with.

 

Thanks TF, I have to admit that I don't know much after the first couple of rounds. I don't follow college football so 90% of these guys are foreign to me and thanks to the internet and research tools, I tried to put a respectable draft together. I mainly used NFL.com to evaluate the value and skillset and estimated draft position. It was a fun and interesting experience. The guys who run the draft (RTTRuth, LOAJoe,Tim) are the ones who put in the real work. It is a tremendous amount of work and they make it flow nicely for all of the participants.

 

They do a pretty good job for being a free thing. It's a lot of fun but can be as time consuming as fantasy baseball.

Unless you're a paid sports writer, the level of understanding it takes to be half as knowledge able as a GM and NFL team about top 500 college prospects is impossible. I pretty much also did what you said - it's fun, but it is time consuming.

If @Tim, @RTTRUTH and @LAOJoe could find a way to monetize this into a competitive, online competition with prizes, this site could make a small fortune.

 

So it looks like that Dez Bryant is largely seen as landing in one of two teams - the Saints and Ravens with the Ravens actually being front runners? Saints just signed Merideth but have the cap space to make him an offer, but not necessarily the roster space. Dez reportedly stormed out of his meeting with Jerruh after refusing to take a pay cut saying "see you twice a year" but the Giants and Eagles are in cap hell and Washington has a full boat having just signed Paul Richardson to a long term contract. Maybe another team hads the juice to nab him, but can you imagine the tandem of these two? They both have 4.5 speed, but we saw with Boldin and his 4.8 speed it's more about the separation than the speed. So he might fit into Morhinweg's run first scheme with potent mid range receivers spreading out opposing D's.

 

Dez doesn't really get separation though. His routes aren't even that good. He's been living off athletic ability his whole career and at this point, his claim to fame will be mainly his ability to make contested catches. Maybe being let go by Dallas forces him to actually focus on fundamentals though. I think I said it before, but I'd be fine landing Dez so long as it doesn't stop them from going WR or TE in the first or second round

 

I was thinking about this yesterday. I think Snead would be the best signing.

1) The Ravens need a slot receiver. Snead is. Dez isn't.
2) The Ravens need a KO/P returner. Snead is. Dez isn't.
3) Snead is 4 years younger.
4) Snead would cost less.
5) Snead is coming off an injury plagued season. Dez is coming off 2 injury plagued seasons.
6) Snead is a very good route runner. Dez isn't.

Both have good, strong hands and are able to contest catches. Dez is stronger and a better red zone threat.

Dez also wants to play for the Giants. He's been known to sulk when he doesn't get his way, which brings me back to my earlier question, could he & Crabtree get along?

The Ravens have until 4/20 to offer Snead a contract. I hope they don't lose out on both.

 

Final Mock Draft Update:

Round 7- Ryan Izzo TE-Florida State (rated as a 5-6 round prospect by NFL.com)
Overview
If you are looking for a flashy pass-catching tight end who can create matchup issues for the defense then keep on looking. If you want an in-line tight end who has good size and very good toughness and has experience as an active member of the run blocking unit, then Izzo should be on your board. Izzo has athletic limitations, but he has the willingness and talent to become a plus blocker at the point of attack and he's able to work the middle of the field. He should become a starter early in his career.
Strengths

• Thickly-muscled with the size and demeanor of a Y-tight end
• Plays with desired level of aggression at the point of attack
• Gets into targets with good initial stroke behind his pads
• Will ride on the tough blocks and is active in trying to re-establish leverage throughout the rep
• Good adjustment in space as a blocker
• Excellent lead blocking option on the move with some dog to him
• Has feel for leverage in his routes and how to create space down the field
• Sharp plant-and-turn allows for tight angles out of his breaks
• Soft hands with natural attack of the ball away from his body when able
• Aggressive runner after the catch
• Gives as good as he gets

Weaknesses

• False steps into routes from a stand-up position
• Can be a little heavy into his routes
• Lacks quickness and can't create much separation out of his breaks
• Needs help uncovering through scheme and is more of a zone-beater than man-winner
• Can be hung up and slowed in his routes by physical linebackers in man coverage
• Agility is below average
• Can do a better job of working back to the throw and making himself a more available target
• Struggles to sink and save the low throws
• Has been penalized 18 times during his three-year stint including eight holding and seven false start penalties

Sources Tell Us

"He brings it as a blocker. So many of these guys are really soft now and you have to cut through the clutter just to find out if they are tough enough since they aren't really asked to block that much anymore. Izzo is a real blocker." -- AFC Director of Scouting

 

Here is the summary of the total Mock draft:

Round 1 #16 Baltimore Ravens - OT Mike McGlinchey - Notre Dame
Round 2 #52 Baltimore Ravens - WR Anthony Miller - Memphis
Round 3 #83 Baltimore Ravens - WR Deon Cain - Clemson
Round 4 #118 Baltimore Ravens - LB Micah Kizer - Virginia
Round 5 #154 Baltimore Ravens - C Bradley Bozeman - Alabama
Round 5 #174 Baltimore Ravens - DB Kameron Kelly - San Diego State
Round 7 #238 Baltimore Ravens TE Ryan Izzo Florida State

 

I totally agree with this. I don't think the Ravens need another declining receiver. I think we need a younger, cheaper option with a higher upside and longer shelf life.

 

I agree completely. Dez is purely intriguing, but Snead to me seems the more solid acquisition based on need. I too have concerns about his personality and I don't think that Harbs and Joe will appreciate his diva attitude. He may or may not get along with Crabtree who is also a 1st rd pick from the year before Dez was drafted. In fact, I recall that Dez was compared to him althought he has certainly out shined Crabs in his career. Snead will fill a role and won't complain about snaps, looks, or targets. However, Joe does not need to be overly precise for Dez to catch his balls - just in the vicinity.

Lastly, anyone remember in 2011 when they went we loaded up with Boldin, Housh and Stallworth to go along with Mason? That didn't turn out quite so good either. My guess is that Dez will be good for Joe in some fashion, but ultimately given how he spreads the ball around, Dez won't be happy and looking at less than 1000 yrds.

 

I thought for sure we would know about Dez before tomorrow. I may be wrong, but I believe tomorrow is our deadline for Snead. That being the case, I thought for sure that the Ravens would want to make sure they landed Dez or definitively did not land Dez to know if they should make a move on Snead.

They obviously don't have to be intertwined like that, but it kind of feels like they are. The other scenario is the Ravens simply aren't that interested in Snead.

 

I think it kinda speaks volumes about Snead when the Saints, who have the right to match any offer to Snead, decided to sign Meredith away from the Bears, who declined to match the offer sheet for him.

Something must be wrong with Willie, health wise, i believe, or the Ravens would have made a move by now. As it stands, Dez is probably the best option remaining out there on the market and with the Ravens holding maybe 10 mil in space, would Ozzie use up some of this for an aging, declining receiver? Time will tell.

 

It's entirely possible that they are carefully weighing their options here. Don't forget that the WR market has cooled and Dez has 3 years of sub 1000yd production. If the Saints are also considering Dez as reported that means that 1) they won't make a matching offer sheet to Snead and 2) the ravens are likely scraping their pennies together to compete for his services (which takes a little time and some pain). I'd expect them to take this down tot he wire.

Snead is healthy. His only issue last year was a hammy strain which should be fine now. Meredith got a 2yr, $9.6M contract for essentially his sophomore season of 888yds/4TDs - not as bad as what they offered Ryan Grant, but still a lot for a "not quite" one-year wonder. Let's not forget that we have 5 serviceable receivers in Crabtree, Moore, Brown, Adeboyejo, and Tim White. Perriman will also be around but didn't want to lump him in with "serviceable." They need to make room for either or both Dez and Snead.

I'd expect major news or let down either way today or tomorrow.

 

So a report just popped up on my phone that the Giants are cutting Brandon Marshall. So, if this is true, who is better for our team as a declining veteran receiver, Bryant or Marshall? Who might be the cheaper option? Who is likely to have better production?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/04/19/giants-will-release-brandon-marshall/

Giants will release Brandon Marshall
Posted by Josh Alper on April 19, 2018, 2:26 PM EDT

Getty Images
The Giants appear to be holding onto Odell Beckham, but another one of the team’s wide receivers is on the way out the door.

Kimberley Martin of the Washington Post reported that Marshall has been informed that the team will be releasing him on Thursday and General Manager Dave Gettleman confirmed it during a press conference. Gettleman said that Marshall will be released with the failed physical designation after suffering a season-ending ankle injury last year.


Marshall signed with the Giants last year and had 18 catches for 154 yards in the five games he played before landing on injured reserve. Marshall’s departure will save the Giants over $5.1 million in cap space, which they can use as the latest NFLPA cap report has them with under $5 million in space at the moment.

Dez Bryant has shown interest in joining the Giants, which seemed unlikely as long as Marshall joined Beckham and Sterling Shepard on the depth chart. We’ll see if there’s mutual interest now that the Giants have opened up some space in the position group.

 

Cutting Marshall might mean freeing up money for Dez.

Hopefully the Ravens will offer Snead a contract.

 

Was just getting ready to post this. Dez said he wanted to stay in the NFC East to see Jerruh twice a year. My guess is that Dave Gettleman wants to make this to happen. So I believe the chances of getting Dez are slim to none. At least he didn't sign an offer sheet like T.O. and reneg.

We had the discussion on Marshall last year at 33 years of age and he didn't produce for the Giants saving us a bit of a headache (tho' Maclin gave us one anyway). Giants appear to owe just $1M in dead money too. I want Snead over Marshall at this point. If for any unlikely reason we're still in the running for Dez, would take him but I'm going to say that not going to happen.