Ravens 2021 Offseason Free Agency and Draft Discussion

That's an interesting take on it and one that holds weight, if in fact that were the case with Flacco.

Was there any reporting to that affect or is that more of just a personal feel on it?

 

Personal feel. Unfortunately I’ve had to watch a lot of Ravens games over the years and his disconnect with his teammates on the sidelines was apparent. Your greats had pictures of previous drive plays going over them with each receiver.. I’m not sure if I ever saw him do that.

 

In training camp news, today will be the first day Jackson, Bateman, and Stanley are all practicing together

 

This o-line is going to be the achilles heal of the team. Defense should be strong, Lamar will be the cheat code he always is, and I think the WRs will be better. But the o-line will likely be a problem

 

McSorely out for the rest of the preseason with a back injury. #2 job essentially belongs to Huntley. I thought he'd win it anyway

 

Yeah, it was pretty obvious last year that Huntley should be the primary back-up.

 

So we lost LJ Fort for the year to an ACL tear. Sucks. Malik Harrison had passed him on the depth chart, but Fort is a good guy who was never previously injured. Good coverage LB also

 

Forte is a good player. I wanted to keep him on the Steelers, but we couldn’t afford him at the time

 

Ravens have traded 5th round CB Shaun Wade to the Patriots for a 2022 7th and a 2023 5th round pick.

There are talks about Wade having a horrible attitude, going back to his college days and as much as I try not to give credit to rumors, in this case I believe them. Baltimore never gets rid of a draft pick before the preseason is finished, especially not from the first 5 rounds. Especially not a CB after Ozzie started the mantra or "you can never have too many corners". His attitude had to be a real issue, likely with the other DBs themselves. Baltimore's defensive backs have become family like the last few years. It's what got Earl Campbell cut as he clashed with other DBs too much and they came together to let the coaches know Earl had to go.

On another note, although it's all future money, so to speak, I do find it interesting that DeCosta managed a 5th and 7th for a 5th round pick he drafted a few months ago who is unproven. I guess it's almost time for him to trade our latest backup Kicker for another 5th too

 

Wade wasn't gonna see the field much as it was, so to get a couple of picks back for him is a decent return. I imagine that Decosta will be finding a couple of more lineman before Week 1 for quality depth or possible starter.

 

Dobbins with a bad looking leg injury. Looked like his knee bent the wrong way. No updates yet but people are hoping it's just hyper-extension vs a ligament tear

 

On a more positive note, Huntly has been killing it.

On a less positive note, the starting o-line didn't do too well against the starting Washington d-line. But to be fair that d-line is one of the better ones in the league

 

I had till 10 tonight to set my keepers in my league and after seeing that, I had to drop JK and bring Mark Andrews back into the 5 man keeps..... I do hope he is ok and won't be out very long.

 

In terms of fantasy, I just had an auction draft Friday night. I wanted Dobbins but the money was just too high for him and I couldn't win the biddding war. Ended up getting Gus near the end for $1.

 

Speaking of fantasy, if anyone wants to share their team, I'd be interested in seeing your lineup. I'm in a 12 team, 1 QB, 2 WR, 2 RB, superflex league (the auction league mentioned above). Here's my roster

QB - Lamar Jackson (BAL)
WR - DeAndre Hopkins (ARI)
WR - Robert Woods (LAR)
RB - James Robinson (JAX)
RB - Damien Harris (NE)
TE - Logan Thomas (WAS)
Q/W/R/T - Aaron Rodgers (GB)
K - Tyler Bass (BUF)
DEF - Baltimore Ravens

Bench
QB - Jared Goff (DET)
WR - Chase Claypool (PIT)
WR - Michael Gallup - (DAL)
WR - Marquise Brown (BAL)
RB - Gus Edwards (BAL)
TE - Gerald Everett (SEA)

I wasn't big on my RBs overall, but with Edwards likely getting the start and bulk of the carries, I feel a little better there. Hollywood was a pure homer pick and will probably be the first player I drop when I need to drop someone. I like Brown, but I think with Watkins being added and Bateman eventually coming back, Ravens pass catchers will be bad for fantasy. Especially since they will still be a run heavy team.

I think my team comes down to the RBs. If they all have great fantasy seasons, I'll do well.

 

my 5 keepers in my long time league circa 2006.

1. Nick Chubb
2. Aaron Jones
3. DeAndre Hopkins
4. Stefon Diggs
5. Mark Andrews

Draft is tomorrow night to fill out the squad.


p.s. JK is likely going on IR and his season is over before it begins, they suspect multiple torn ligaments.

 

If he, in fact, ends up on IR with multiple torn ligaments - his season is probably over. That won't kill your running game but it would put a dent in it.

 

Unfortunately, he does have a torn ACL, seems the other ligaments escaped big damage. Still enough to knock him out for the season it looks like. Already the Todd Gurley rumors are coming out.

 

Sorry Ravens fans, it’s all my fault. I have terrible luck with fantasy players and injuries. I literally traded for JK this week in my dynasty league.

 

QB - Baker Mayfield (Cle)
RB - Nick Chubb (Cle)
RB - Aaron Jones (GB)
WR - Stefon Diggs (Buf)
WR - DeAndre Hopkins (Ari)
WR - Mecole Hardman (KC)
TE - Mark Andrews (Balt)
RWT - Najee Harris (Pitt)
K - Justin Tucker (Balt)
Def - Baltimore

Reserves

RB - AJ Dillon (GB)
RB - Leonard Fournette (TB)
WR - DeVonta Smith (Phi)
WR - A. J. Green (Ari)
WR - Henry Ruggs (LV)
QB - Davis Mills (Hou)