Ravens offseason and draft thread

Snead is coming back for a 2nd visit. Malcolm Floyd is due to visit. Two years ago, I'd be all in for Floyd, but after his drinking/substance troubles I don;t think he'll spend the entire season on field. The Ravens don;t do well with these guys and I don't want another Lee Evans - $10M talent and a 10 cent head.

 

Kiper is suggesting that the Ravens will pass on Ridley if he comes up. Many mocks have the receivers values dropping. However, the chance to grab the top receiver in any draft for the Ravens hardly ever comes. They'd have to really take a can't miss player over him to settle on a 2nd round receiver (or less) or the bottom of the barrel FAs remaining in a desperate times for receiver. Ridley (or Sutton) imo can be our version of AJ, AB or Beckham for the long haul. Crabtree's performance thus far is still looking like a boarderline #1 and he may not be with us as long ass a rookie stand out.

 

Breaking news! The Ravens sign RGIII.

People are losing their minds! I really don't care. I look at it as more of a camp arm/tryout. If he is healthy and in shape, he could be a backup. I see camp arm written all over this and if it goes even a bit sideways, he is cut, no harm no foul.

A non-story as far as I can tell.

After I read more, looks like he is not signed yet, and will sign next week.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...n-iii-had-a-good-workout-will-sign-next-week/

 

Now you guys can concentrate on building up your defense.

 

Offensive issues solved!

 

I doubt he's just a camp arm. Probably takes a decent signing bonus to get him to join the team. I'm guessing probably 1M to sign.

 

He can't be any worse than Mallet. Can he?

 

The Ravens are just trying to get through next season so that they can release Joe and gain critical cap relief. Our team is doomed to another mediocre season because of cap contraints. Sad but true. At least we won't have to deal with Dean Pees crappy ass defenses anymore

 

The cap isn't an issue if Joe plays up to to the contract. In 203, the team was depleted of talent after the post SB exodus but still posted solid numbers. In 2014, the best offense since 1999 with Kubiak. In 2015, Joe tears ACL when his own lineman falls on his leg during a season that he was projected to best his best. In 2016, threw for the most years while the defense gave up 321 points to offenses with the offense scoring 343 points in Joe's best full season. In 2017, about the first much of this was Joe dealing with a back injury thru the first 12 games of the season before getting back to form.

There is a bit of bad luck to this and not something that can be controlled. You have to look at the OL and the receivers they brought in that didn't pan out too. Granted he's not proven to be elite, but played elite en route to the 2012 SB, his contract year. Ozzie didn't lock him up the year before when he could've and the Ravens were stuck letting him go or keeping him. That's not Joe's fault. That is just the way things worked out. I doubt they get rid of Joe unless it is clearly proven to be a Joe problem that this team is istuck in mediocrity. At this point I'm willing to look more at Harbs and Ozzie.

 

The Ravens refuse to use quality draft picks on offense, and when they decided too they got someone who can’t get over his injuries enough to get on field.

 

RG3 won't be compete with Joe unless Joe suddenly becomes Manziel. He'll be our new Tyrod, something that Woodrum is capable of as well. Griffin was offered a deal last year and turned it down as he also did with a Cardinals offer. I'm not sure yet what the deal amounts to money wise, but if its Mallet range he's probably the guy (about $1.5-2M). If it's the vet min. to $1.4M he's going to compete with Woodrum who plays similarly and likely for less.

 

Not entirely true. Jamal Lewis, Todd Heap, Ben Grubbs, Flacco, Oher, and Stanley. Others proved to be durable, just not worth the pick. Second round is a little more sparse: Chris Chester, Ray Rice, Torrey Smith, and K.O. are all durable and productive picks. In the third, Marshal Yanda, Ed Dickson, and Bernard Pierce didn't have durability issues. I really don't know how this compares to other teams around the league.

 

$1 mil. 0 guaranteed.

Absolutely nothing to lose.

 

Ravens are hosting visit from Eric Decker. Any further signatures in to the WR corps and I doubt they're drafting a WR in rd1.

 

I agree with gidion. It's something I've said the past few drafts and offseasons where all the capital (picks or currency) have gone towards the defense or big uglies on the team. Building up the trenches is great, but when you neglect the skill positions on offense due to fear, lack of scouting, or inability to develop, you have big problems in the league now. We have great OL and DL coaches who manage to find players all over the draft and turn them into serviceable or star players. Everything about our WR section is a joke, and I truly don't know how we managed to get what we did from Torrey Smith. Miracle or aberration?

 

My question would be is there truly a WR, based on expert analysis and pre-draft review (Mayock, for example) worth a mid first round selection? To me, it sounds like all the talent seems to grade out around the end of round 1 beginning of round 2. Would you want the FO to reach for the best available receiver or take the best available player?

I am torn. I think there are some guys that would be good, solid players for a while but should be use a 1st round pick on that guy or use a 2nd,3rd to get a similar player?

I am truly asking this question, as I can see the merits of either method.

 

This is a rare year that the Ravens can land an impact offensive player (who could be top 10 talent in many other drafts) in the middle of the first. I wish it were possible for that player to be Saquan Barkley, but realistically I see it as a pass catcher. I haven't put nearly as much time into this this year but my understanding is that receiver talent is deep and that its possible that one isn't drafted until late in the first.

When I look at the pass catcher talent:
1) Ridley and Sutton were at the top all off season. Their stock among pundits tumbled a bit after the combine as DJ Moore came to be seen as a special talent too. They are as close to a sure thing as Amari Cooper or Mike Evans. When was the last time they had this luxury?
2) Combine - There is nothing I saw in the Combine that scared me off of either player and their college play speaks for itself. Moore my be a be a better athlete, but doesn't make him a better football player. The question is are they worth a #16 overall or can they get any of after trading back in the first or to the 2nd?
3) Tight ends - Three come to mind as the best of the class: Hayden, Gisicki, and Goedert. Hayden is athletic but the latter 2 I think will be more productive in the NFL and fit us better.
4) I'm not sold on St. Brown or Kirk as rd1 guys. Tate, Chark, and Cobbs will likely get pushed to rd3. After them the talent pool drops off imo. There may be a guy like Tre'quan Smith or maybe Richie James who can be a steal with a comp in the 3rd or in rd4 eve n 5th like Stephon Diggs was.

Trading back vs standing pat at #16:
1) Depends on deal they can get vs opportunity for talent lost. I think that some combination of either Gisciki/Godert/Hayden and at least Ridley/Sutton/Moore will be available going into the top of rd2. Likely Ridley and one TE will be gone, possibly one of the others too.
2) Trading back later in rd1 would probably give us a chance at one more of those guys.
3) They need more picks and this could very well happen. However, the further down they go the more chance of a fail they have.

Just my 2 cents.

 

BPA. I do not believe that any of the WR's are good enough for the 16th pick. The top ones, Sutton, Ridley, Moore, are all lower 1st red (20th or later) or early 2nd rd (top 5-10). It the Ravens don't pick one at 16, they will still have some quality WR's in the 2nd. I still like St. Browne from ND and I think both Kirk from TX A&M and Clark from LSU will both be avbl when the Ravens pick in the 2nd. I think that all 3 of them will be just as good as Sutton, Moore, and Ridley. But, since the Ravens have major issues developing WR's, it might not really matter.

I don't consider any of the TE's a top 16 pick.

The only other position i would consider would be ILB, but Smith is the best cover ILB while Evans is more of a run stopper and a good edge rusher. Doubtful Smith will be there at 16.

I believe the best pick for the Ravens in the 1st, if they stay at 16, is McGlinchy. I know they signed Hurst to a stupid (oh wait, did I say that) contract, but since Lewis is never healthy, Yanda's health has been on the decline, It was a decent signing. He ranked between 49 & 58 for Guards last year (depending on Bleacher Report or PFF) and should only get better if given the opportunity. i still don't trust him at T.

I also see they are pouring the BSon pretty thick with their "interest" in Mason Rudoph. I've read that Belichick likes him also. Can the Ravens get both Pats 1st rounders (or the least the #23 and the #43) plus a later pick (6th or 7th) for the #16?

 

There goes Cam Meredith. Saints signed him to an offer sheet. Maybe that will free up Snead.

 

Here's my question, what does BPA even really mean anymore? Look at the AFCN, and we have AJ Green and Antonio Brown. Both have put up amazing numbers in the league, but one was a 1st round pick and one was a 6th. If the Ravens took Antonio Brown in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th round, would it have mattered at the end of the day if he was a "reach"?

Last year, some people wanted Juju as a WR, and I thought Kupp would be a great get. Instead, the Ravens went with Tyus Bowser when either of those receivers would have been a massively better addition to the team. The draft is a crap shoot at best, so what really does BPA truly mean especially when a team like the Ravens heavily puts more weight on non-receiver positions? If you get a guy "a round early", then so what? What have all the B to B+ draft grades resulted in recently aside from us needing playmakers year in and year out? They have to get with the times of what other teams are doing in the league.