Signings, Cuts, Trades

[UPennChem]

Defense has been trending upward for about 5 weeks, but hasn't broken through yet. We know the weakness has been in the middle of the field and on the edge. Here comes Roquan, Bowser, and Ojabo. Marcus Williams is icing in top.

Anything less than elite defense by the final quarter of the season would be a total failure.

 

[UPennChem]

Also I'm predicting another move of some kind tomorrow. I think Eric knows what to do

 

[QtR Nevermore]

Can’t believe how upset some people are…..2nd round pick for a proven talent and quality player? I’ll take that any day ending in Y

For 9 games.
Then he wants $20M per, reportedly, and the Ravens will feel more pressure to get a deal done because they've already invested a 2 and a 5.

You could get 2 or 3 good players for $20M and a 2nd.

If they're willing to meet Roquan's price anyway, they could have got him in Free Agency. If they're not willing to pay up, he'll move on. Either way, the 2 and the 5 are really only getting them these 9+ games.

 

[Sandtown]

Also I'm predicting another move of some kind tomorrow. I think Eric knows what to do

If it is another move I doubt it involves The Ravens given up their 2013 picks. I doubt they want to go into 2013 with just two or 3 picks in next year draft. I honestly think this the only move the gonna make

 

[Adreme]

For 9 games.
Then he wants $20M per, reportedly, and the Ravens will feel more pressure to get a deal done because they've already invested a 2 and a 5.

You could get 2 or 3 good players for $20M and a 2nd.

If they're willing to meet Roquan's price anyway, they could have got him in Free Agency. If they're not willing to pay up, he'll move on. Either way, the 2 and the 5 are really only getting them these 9+ games.

No the Bears would have tagged him and traded him and not just let him walk.

Teams do not let elite talent in their prime hit free agency. If you want them you have to trade a pick for them. Even in the worst case, they traded a late 2nd for a late 3rd (comp pick) for a shot at getting over the top.

 

[rmcjacket23]

Curious how Queen responds. Maybe this will relieve some of the pressure he’s feeling and allow him to play with a clear head.

Also think it helps that now he won't need to be (or be) playing like 80-90% of snaps either.

 

[rmcjacket23]

I mean this is great and all, except the tag for Lamar is between $45-50M. So $63M becomes $15M just by signing one player.

Roquan on an extension would figure to count at least $5-10M. So after Lamar/Roquan, you're left with between $5-10M, which ain't a lot at all. There are other moves to be made, of course.

Not to mention Peters isn't under contract, along with some other key veterans at this point (JPP, Houston, etc.).

 

[rmcjacket23]

I'm a little surprised that everyone seem to like this move.

On the one hand, I'm sure he'll upgrade the position.
On the other it seems like an overpay for a 9 (regular season) game rental. That's more than Philadelphia gave the Bears for Robert Quinn, who got 18.5 sacks last season. It looks like DeCosta is overcompensating for his failure to adequately address the ILB position for years on end.

I also don't like the long term ramifications of the deal. If he stays, we're either paying a lot (too much) at ILB or franchising him, which is worrying for Lamar's future.

I'd rather have the picks.

Keep in mind that IF he's a rental, you'll have the potential to get a good comp pick back in 2024 (3rd or 4th rounder). So that decreases the draft capital you gave up to get him.

If he's not a rental, you got a quality linebacker for 4-5 years, at a position the Ravens have struggled to fill for like a decade now. ILB was going to be among the highest priorities in the draft anyway.

 

[rmcjacket23]

For 9 games.
Then he wants $20M per, reportedly, and the Ravens will feel more pressure to get a deal done because they've already invested a 2 and a 5.

You could get 2 or 3 good players for $20M and a 2nd.

If they're willing to meet Roquan's price anyway, they could have got him in Free Agency. If they're not willing to pay up, he'll move on. Either way, the 2 and the 5 are really only getting them these 9+ games.

You could also whiff on several players for that price, and where are the quality 2nd round picks the Ravens have made in like the last decade?

I'll believe the $20M when I see it. I don't think he gets particularly close to that either. Not to mention that $20M is the average, not the 2023 cap hit. His cap hit next year would likely be half of that.

All of this is a moot point if Lamar signs an extension too. You get Lamar extended, and you can start being super creative and pretty much sign anybody you want to 2-3 year deals.

 

[QtR Nevermore]

Keep in mind that IF he's a rental, you'll have the potential to get a good comp pick back in 2024 (3rd or 4th rounder). So that decreases the draft capital you gave up to get him.

If they don't re-sign him they'll have around $20M in cap space (after Lamar). I don't think they'll sit on that, so a comp pick is unlikely.

 

[Adreme]

If they don't re-sign him they'll have around $20M in cap space (after Lamar). I don't think they'll sit on that, so a comp pick is unlikely.

They could use that money to sign cuts versus free agents as cuts do not count against the comp pick formula.

 

[QtR Nevermore]

No the Bears would have tagged him and traded him and not just let him walk.

Teams do not let elite talent in their prime hit free agency. If you want them you have to trade a pick for them. Even in the worst case, they traded a late 2nd for a late 3rd (comp pick) for a shot at getting over the top.

The linebacker tag is almost $19M this year, so if Chicago did tag and trade they'd only be hoping for a Day 3 pick at best. The Ravens could have done that and kept their 2nd.

I still think it's an overpay for 9 games. The Ravens only got the equivalent of a 2nd for a full season of Orlando at (most would agree) a more important position.

 

[QtR Nevermore]

I'll believe the $20M when I see it. I don't think he gets particularly close to that either. Not to mention that $20M is the average, not the 2023 cap hit. His cap hit next year would likely be half of that.

Leonard and Warner are both at over $19M AAV, Mosley is next at $17 (years ago). I don't think Roquan is going to accept less than $19M, even if he comes in slightly below the top 2.

Generally I like the way the Ravens big salaries match with positional value but I'm not sure I love making Inside Linebacker one of the positions where they're spending big.

 

[ndub]

If it is another move I doubt it involves The Ravens given up their 2013 picks. I doubt they want to go into 2013 with just two or 3 picks in next year draft. I honestly think this the only move the gonna make

I wouldn't trade my 2013 picks either, considering none of those players from that draft class are on the team now.

Wait, is this 2012 again?

 

[RavensMania]

Also I'm predicting another move of some kind tomorrow. I think Eric knows what to do

I don't think there will be anymore moves

 

[ndub]

I don't think there will be anymore moves

Especially with our 2013 draft picks, right @Sandtown ?

 

[RavensMania]

The linebacker tag is almost $19M this year, so if Chicago did tag and trade they'd only be hoping for a Day 3 pick at best. The Ravens could have done that and

I believe I've read that his tag would be inlign with the edge class.

 

[cobrajet]

Still smiling about Smith deal. Hopefully we can sign him long term. There is no second round pick in this upcoming draft that would come close to what Smith can bring to this team. The guy is a beast and is only 25!

 

[BoredMarine13]

For 9 games.
Then he wants $20M per, reportedly, and the Ravens will feel more pressure to get a deal done because they've already invested a 2 and a 5.

You could get 2 or 3 good players for $20M and a 2nd.

If they're willing to meet Roquan's price anyway, they could have got him in Free Agency. If they're not willing to pay up, he'll move on. Either way, the 2 and the 5 are really only getting them these 9+ games.

We just filled a significant weakness with one of the best at the position in the NFL. Your spending draft picks next year at LB if you don’t make this move. So yea I love giving up a 2nd rounder, which is something like a 35% success rate of the course of a first contract, for a proven commodity that helps a win now.

Many folks don’t think MLB is of high value these days but I adamantly disagree. I’m pumped for the move. He and Marcus are the best tandem we’ve had since Ray and Ed

 

[drjohnnyfever]

Still smiling about Smith deal. Hopefully we can sign him long term. There is no second round pick in this upcoming draft that would come close to what Smith can bring to this team. The guy is a beast and is only 25!

I agree. I think this is a great get for this team, whether or not he is part of the future. I was in the minority thinking that LB was an even greater need than WR, but I just think that even with guys coming back, that was an area where we were just really undertalented. Not understaffed, but definitely thin on talent. I know people will disagree and were hankering for a WR, but even a mediocre WR would have cost what this did and we don't really need any more mediocre guys there.