Signings, Cuts, Trades

[rmcjacket23]

But also we kept saying oh if he wants a 1 year deal we can't afford because it'll be too big a cap hit. We'll we could obviously afford that. I think EDC has a real problem of not making offers. We heard about it with Justin Houston last year. He thought he was being respectful by not offering a small contract. Well his agent had to beg him to make an offer. And guess what happened he signed with us.

Fuck being respectful. I'm 100% sure that is exactly what happened here again. We made our offer he turned it down. We "moved on" like Jeff likes to say and never fucking inquired about a cheap 1 year deal. I mean this is your job to field the best team and I'm CERTAIN that Bozeman at the number is absolutely the best possible thing we could have had. That's ridiculously low for how well he played and maintaing leadership and continuity.

Just throwing this out there, but it's also possible that they simply think they can do better in the offseason than Bozeman. Like I get the price considerations, but it's quite possible they think they can just simply find a better Center.

When DeCosta said Oline would a priority, I seriously doubt he meant just finding an upgrade at RT and maybe a contingency at LT. I think he was talking about getting a better Center also.

 

[cdp]

But also we kept saying oh if he wants a 1 year deal we can't afford because it'll be too big a cap hit. We'll we could obviously afford that. I think EDC has a real problem of not making offers. We heard about it with Justin Houston last year. He thought he was being respectful by not offering a small contract. Well his agent had to beg him to make an offer. And guess what happened he signed with us.

Fuck being respectful. I'm 100% sure that is exactly what happened here again. We made our offer he turned it down. We "moved on" like Jeff likes to say and never fucking inquired about a cheap 1 year deal. I mean this is your job to field the best team and I'm CERTAIN that Bozeman at the number is absolutely the best possible thing we could have had. That's ridiculously low for how well he played and maintaing leadership and continuity.

Who knows it's not always as obvious as we think. Maybe Bozeman didn't want to stay here because of our coaching staff or he wanted a change of scenery. Or he only wanted to sign a one year deal because of the new TV money thats going to significantly increase the salary cap.
Or maybe DeCosta thinks we can do better.

 

[RavensMania]

Yeah... thats insane. What were the "reports" about our offer during season? No way in hell we didn't compete or beat that.

EDIT: we have to be pursuing Tretter. None of this makes sesne.

I believe we probably came in higher than Mekari's deal but less than what Bozeman thought he was worth. Back around that time there were reports saying his camp wanted top 5 center money. That was a complete miscalculation on his agents part. It was right around that time frame that we also offered Mekari his deal so it does seem he is the backup option, although I'd rather sign Tretter and have Mekri as the swing tackle / backup to all OL positions.

 

[D1City55]

Kinda surprised they didn't bring Bozeman back at that price. They must seriously want an upgrade at C, probably going after J.C Tretter or an equivalent.

 

[Willbacker]

What the hell did Bozeman do between now and our extension offer?

 

[UPennChem]

Just throwing this out there, but it's also possible that they simply think they can do better in the offseason than Bozeman. Like I get the price considerations, but it's quite possible they think they can just simply find a better Center.

When DeCosta said Oline would a priority, I seriously doubt he meant just finding an upgrade at RT and maybe a contingency at LT. I think he was talking about getting a better Center also.

It's certainly possible. Maybe they view Linderbaum differently than us.

 

[UPennChem]

Who knows it's not always as obvious as we think. Maybe Bozeman didn't want to stay here because of our coaching staff or he wanted a change of scenery. Or he only wanted to sign a one year deal because of the new TV money thats going to significantly increase the salary cap.
Or maybe DeCosta thinks we can do better.

Maybe! It's so hard to know

 

[Simba]

Just throwing this out there, but it's also possible that they simply think they can do better in the offseason than Bozeman. Like I get the price considerations, but it's quite possible they think they can just simply find a better Center.

When DeCosta said Oline would a priority, I seriously doubt he meant just finding an upgrade at RT and maybe a contingency at LT. I think he was talking about getting a better Center also.

I mean, if we're counting on the draft at this point, it's really not that good unless there's someone out there that we're all missing on. It's a weak class sans Linderbaum and he would be a pretty big departure from the type of C we typically go for.

And then in FA, it's Tretter and then some eh at best guys like Billy Price and Ethan Pocic.

So I still think they're banking on Mekari as of now and probably have had him in mind all along.

 

[Deebo813]

Huh the league must really not think highly of him. There aren't many quality Cs in this league. We all know he's not the best one, but still 2.8 max is almost replacement level.

I think only ravens fans believed he was really good

 

[rossihunter2]

I mean, if we're counting on the draft at this point, it's really not that good unless there's someone out there that we're all missing on. It's a weak class sans Linderbaum and he would be a pretty big departure from the type of C we typically go for.

And then in FA, it's Tretter and then some eh at best guys like Billy Price and Ethan Pocic.

So I still think they're banking on Mekari as of now and probably have had him in mind all along.

it's not just that Linderbaum isnt necessarily a traditional fit in this offence
it's that we wouldnt draft a C early at all - let alone with the earliest pick we've had since 2016 and 2nd earliest since we drafted Haloti Ngata lol

 

[rmcjacket23]

I mean, if we're counting on the draft at this point, it's really not that good unless there's someone out there that we're all missing on. It's a weak class sans Linderbaum and he would be a pretty big departure from the type of C we typically go for.

And then in FA, it's Tretter and then some eh at best guys like Billy Price and Ethan Pocic.

So I still think they're banking on Mekari as of now and probably have had him in mind all along.

OK, but "weak class" is based on what, exactly?

Have we entertained the possibility that maybe the Ravens don't view it as a weak class?

I'd be more inclined to say they feel better about TCC than Mekari.

 

[Simba]

OK, but "weak class" is based on what, exactly?

Have we entertained the possibility that maybe the Ravens don't view it as a weak class?

I'd be more inclined to say they feel better about TCC than Mekari.

That's my "if there's someone out there that we're all missing on"

I can't say confidently that I know it's weak but there's been no indication from any analyst that C is anything close to a strength.

But it's still Mekari to me even if I'm in the minority.

 

[allblackraven]

I will be pretty disappointed in EDC if come game 1 we don't have our line upgraded. I don't want to hear it from the crowd of people who can't wait to say you can't have a perfect line you can't have a perfect line.

I'm not asking for one, but look no further than 2 years ago. Chiefs awful line loses them the superbowl. They in one season fix it completely and should have been in the superbowl. Mahomes just mentally fell apart in that game.

Last year, the Bengals awful line and in one season totally rebuilt the line. Obviously it's yet to be seen them play, but obviously they're better than last year.

We're going in 2 years now of trying to fix the line and we're nowhere close to just those 2 examples I gave and I'm sure there are more.

At best you have an 80% of former Ronnie which is a great player and a guy you happily want at LT. At worst his injury prevents him from playing and you legitimately don't have a LT on the roster, it's probably Mekari right this second.

LG will likely be an average at best player.

C currently will likely be a below average to average player.

RG will be an above average player.

RT will be a slightly above average player.

It doesn't take a genius to see that if Ronnie goes down you're in big trouble and if he doesn't you've got your 2 weakest spots next to each other on the line another no no.

I mean I just don't get it. In totality over the last 2 years the entirety of attention to the OL which we've known is a huge problem is:

Let Skura walk
Add Cleveland
Add Villanueva
Add James
Let Bozeman walk
Lose Villanueva
Lose Bredeson
Add Moses

Obviously the draft is still to come and hopefully some Stanley insurance is on the menu there. But even with that this line is still likely to have below average LG and C play. With a Stanley injury, then below average LT play.

To me its incredibly frustrating because we've seen what a running for his life LJ does. Throw terrible interceptions, get sacked, and get hurt.

Lose Villanueva
Lose Bredeson

This improves our O line.

 

[JAAM]

Lose Villanueva
Lose Bredeson

This improves our O line.

/thread

 

[JAAM]

it's not just that Linderbaum isnt necessarily a traditional fit in this offence
it's that we wouldnt draft a C early at all - let alone with the earliest pick we've had since 2016 and 2nd earliest since we drafted Haloti Ngata lol

But isn’t Linderbaum considered to be one of the best center prospects in a long time? How dominant he was at the collegiate level could very well translate to an early pick imo

 

[rossihunter2]

OK, but "weak class" is based on what, exactly?

Have we entertained the possibility that maybe the Ravens don't view it as a weak class?

I'd be more inclined to say they feel better about TCC than Mekari.

jeff zrebiec has said they view Mekari as an option - which would suggest that they like him at C more than TCC in 2022

and a lot of the C prospects in this class aren't guys with the body types or scheme-fit traits and tape that would suggest they're the guys that the ravens would be interested in - that doesnt preclude them from taking someone in late day 2 or day 3 but it means they're unlikely to be confident they can find an upgrade via the draft this year unless they're sure they're taking Linderbaum in R1 or they think Zion Johnson truly can be converted to C (or Jamaree Salyer) - but again they'd have to be confident that those guys will be available to pick because there really aren't that many options in the first 2 days

 

[rossihunter2]

But isn’t Linderbaum considered to be one of the best center prospects in a long time? How dominant he was at the collegiate level could very well translate to an early pick imo

i think creed humphrey was better tbh

Linderbaum has rare movement skills at the position but he's also been playing at around 280lbs and played at iowa so it's unlikely there's a huge opportunity to get more mass on him without losing athleticism - he's up at 296 right now which is obviously better and may help but no one's seen him move at 296 because he didnt work out at the combine because of injury

if it's linderbaum, then cool, but it just doesnt seem like they'd be that high on him

then again they've got a good relationship with the iowa program so maybe they've got some inside info that changes everything

 

[Michael M.]

I think only ravens fans believed he was really good

I liked him better at LG, but that was when Stanley was playing as well. And last year the line was so jacked up it was hard to determine as there was nothing to compare since it was his first yr as starting center.

 

[JO_75]

Is there a reason the Tackle market hasn't moved much? Some good quality left tackles out there... but nothing.

 

[rossihunter2]

Is there a reason the Tackle market hasn't moved much? Some good quality left tackles out there... but nothing.

waiting on armstead's deal i imagine