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Signings, Cuts, Trades
- Thread starter RavensMania
- Start date
rmcjacket23
Ravens Ring of Honor
Except agents spend pretty much all of their time negotiating contracts and have contacts within the industry to know what's a good deal and what's a bad deal.
You can do what agents do... if you don't sleep or you do only what agents do. It's about time. It's the only commodity that there's nothing you can do to achieve more of it.
Every hour Lamar spends in contract negotiations is an hour he doesn't spend getting better at football. That's why players generally hire agents.
It makes sense not to hire one for rookie deals, because they're all slotted in and there's really nothing to negotiate.
UPennChem
Hall of Famer
I agree. That's what I said earlier is that the plan is probably see if you can get a really top tier guy. If you can't trade back and take Linderbaum.
If that's not your plan or if there isn't somebody else you have high confidence in in RD2, you just are devaluing the position. Which they very well may be. Idk
rmcjacket23
Ravens Ring of Honor
I don't know that for sure. I think that's premature. You're going to get some starters and some impact players in year 1 from this draft class (or at least you better, or you won't be better than last year). Why would Center be any different?
At the moment, I feel very poorly about our pass rush, and we have literally no depth at Corner. Both of those things are extremely likely to be heavily impacted by what we do in the draft, and some of those players aren't going to be day 1 or even day 2 draft picks either.
I think the thought process of either we have to add somebody in FA or they have to be a first round pick in order to "improve" is a very outdated approach to roster management and talent evaluation in this league.
No different than a real estate agent. Nobody really NEEDS a real estate agent. Most people are competent enough to sell their house on their own. The reason people hire one is because they have jobs and lives that don't allow them to spend 8 hours a day showing houses, taking calls from other agents, drumming up interest, etc.
UPennChem
Hall of Famer
Again I very much don't disagree with what you're saying and especially so with your last thought.
I just believe that as you say you can get really good players after the first round and I believe finding good corners and pass rushers will be easier later in this draft than Centers.
Yea it is about time for sure but its the point where the problem must be that they arent offering lamar the amount of money he believe he is worth.. shit just give me 40 a yr, 100+ guaranteed, no trade clause and an injury settlement..
rmcjacket23
Ravens Ring of Honor
And I seriously doubt Lamar would take that deal, because it would be below market value. I think if the Ravens could get him for that, he'd have already taken it.
It takes two to tango. How do we know whatever Lamar is asking for is reasonable? You certain he's not asking to be paid more than Mahomes, because I'm not.
Watson just got like $230M guaranteed. You sure Lamar is cool with taking less than that? Because I'm not.
Worth is whatever somebody is willing to pay you. It's not just whatever arbitrary value you assign to yourself.
rmcjacket23
Ravens Ring of Honor
Maybe so. But maybe the Ravens also don't think that way. I think they know they're going to take Corners and edge rushers later in the draft, mostly because you need many of those, while most teams basically have 1, maybe 2, Centers. Sheer volume alone is going to make it more important to get them later.
I couldn't remember the last time this team actually invested significant assets in a center, so I wasted an hour doing some digging and have drawn the conclusion that they've only done so a handful of times (signing Birk as a Free Agent, resigning Mike Flynn, drafting Chris Chester in the 2nd Round, tagging Wally Williams). Seems like, based on their track record, they are willing to bet on finding someone to hold the spot down for a low cost.
2021: Bozeman (6th Round Pick)
2020: Mekari (UDFA)
2018-2020: Skura (UDFA)
2017: Jensen (6th Round Pick, exposed to waivers several times)
2014-2016: Zuttah (acquired in trade swapping 6th Round Picks)
2013: Gino Gradkowski (4th Round Pick)
2009-2012: Matt Birk (signed as a 32 year old Free Agent, albeit for a fairly large contract at the time)
2008: Jason Brown (4th Round Pick)
2004: Casey Rabach (3rd Round Pick)
2001-2003, 2005-2007: Mike Flynn (UDFA)
1998-2000: Jeff Mitchell (5th Round Pick)
1996-1997: Wally Williams (UDFA - but was franchise tagged in 1998 and played at guard)
The highest they've ever drafted a "center" based on my research is Chris Chester in the 2nd round in 2006, but he never played a full season as a starting center. Just played some guard and tight end.
Edit: Also forgot to add that 5 time pro bowl, 2 time 2nd team all-pro center Andre Gurode played half a season of guard on a one year contract in 2011.
2021: Bozeman (6th Round Pick)
2020: Mekari (UDFA)
2018-2020: Skura (UDFA)
2017: Jensen (6th Round Pick, exposed to waivers several times)
2014-2016: Zuttah (acquired in trade swapping 6th Round Picks)
2013: Gino Gradkowski (4th Round Pick)
2009-2012: Matt Birk (signed as a 32 year old Free Agent, albeit for a fairly large contract at the time)
2008: Jason Brown (4th Round Pick)
2004: Casey Rabach (3rd Round Pick)
2001-2003, 2005-2007: Mike Flynn (UDFA)
1998-2000: Jeff Mitchell (5th Round Pick)
1996-1997: Wally Williams (UDFA - but was franchise tagged in 1998 and played at guard)
The highest they've ever drafted a "center" based on my research is Chris Chester in the 2nd round in 2006, but he never played a full season as a starting center. Just played some guard and tight end.
Edit: Also forgot to add that 5 time pro bowl, 2 time 2nd team all-pro center Andre Gurode played half a season of guard on a one year contract in 2011.
rmcjacket23
Ravens Ring of Honor
Also worth pointing out that many Centers in the NFL are converted Guards or even in some cases Tackles from College. College teams frequently just play their best lineman at their most needy positions, as opposed to playing them in spots where they'd be the best at.
I hope we keep it this way..
I didn't dig into that information (although I am really curious, now, how many of the guys they brought in at Center were college Centers- I know Bozeman and Skura were and that Mekari was not off the top of my head). It's not a bad idea for them to find a guy who fits their profile (big mfs) and see if they can snap a ball. I know they tried Powers at C at one point and it didn't work very well. Maybe Phillips gets a chance now?
Also worth noting here that we’ve had big Cs for most of our franchise history except the Kubiak/zbs era and early on in our history. Further proof that these tiny guys just remain unlikely
Oh no i was speaking just in general.. 230 guaranteed, i dnt know if he is worth that tbh.. has he been these past 4 seasons? Hell yea? but going forward, we are gonna have to rely more on his arm talent and thats why he probably betting on himself
UPennChem
Hall of Famer
Agreed. I think we're just sensitive to the OL because we saw it among other things ruin a couple of seasons in a row now and it's not obvious that we're not taking some of the steps we could to improve it.
That may or may not be a good/bad thing. Thrtes a reason they get paid to do it and not I, but it is undoubtedly concerning.
UPennChem
Hall of Famer
Was thinking that too. Why not send him to the Jets so that he can't hurt anyone?
marklar
Pro Bowler
Because the Jets have a former Raven as GM and probably has enogh sense to not trade for pond scum like Hill