The 2022 Offseason Thread

[rmcjacket23]

I completely agree I literally can’t think of anything else

I can. Frankly if we end up with a decent Tackle in FA, I think it would greatly reduce the possibility of a Tackle in the first round.

I've said this several times already... there's no way I think our FO doesn't address Oline, in some fashion, in FA. There's no way they go into the draft with our current Tackles as is and pigeon hole themselves into thinking they must take a Tackle in the first. I would be utterly shocked to see that happen.

For all I know, we may do a lot of our Oline upgrades via FA, and then it becomes a non-issue in the draft, other than maybe a mid round pick. If that's the case, I can see a wide spectrum of defensive options in the first round. Frankly, there isn't a single level of our defense that couldn't use a playmaker. Dline, Linebacker, Pass rush, Corner, Safety. All are options.

 

[rossihunter2]

Its why i think we its either ot or pass rusher in first rnd..

would make sense - both high value positions, both positions where some of the best talent at the top of the class is...

 

[Deebo813]

I completely agree I literally can’t think of anything else

I can. Frankly if we end up with a decent Tackle in FA, I think it would greatly reduce the possibility of a Tackle in the first round.

I've said this several times already... there's no way I think our FO doesn't address Oline, in some fashion, in FA. There's no way they go into the draft with our current Tackles as is and pigeon hole themselves into thinking they must take a Tackle in the first. I would be utterly shocked to see that happen.

For all I know, we may do a lot of our Oline upgrades via FA, and then it becomes a non-issue in the draft, other than maybe a mid round pick. If that's the case, I can see a wide spectrum of defensive options in the first round. Frankly, there isn't a single level of our defense that couldn't use a playmaker. Dline, Linebacker, Pass rush, Corner, Safety. All are options.

Yea i agree.. we def gonna go oline in free agency. Wouldnt be surprised if we went cb too but then i still believe we would then go pass rusher or if hamilton fall and we love him..

 

[Simba]

I'm very curious to see how we approach FA this year. I know we typically like to fill some holes to make sure we still have the ability to go BPA in the draft, but not sure that's going to be doable this year.

OL - Is there anyone better than a Mekari or James out there? I can't see paying big money for one of the top guys but there are a bunch of older veterans that you can probably swing on a 1 year deal as insurance. But you still also have to play it where if Stanley does come back healthy, you didn't invest too much into a guy that will end up being a swing T.

DL - This is arguably the weakest position right now. But this is also a position where the goal clearly has to be getting younger. If I had to guess, if we go for a FA here, it's likely more of a rotational guy than any sure fire starter.

CB - The need here has been lessened with the almost confirmation that Peters will be back. But you still need at least one more guy here so wouldn't count it out in the draft... and very early.

OLB - Right now we have Oweh and that's about it. Bowser is going to be cutting it close for the season. A veteran is needed here at a minimum but you also need to keep adding young talent.

Beyond those positions, C could be another possibility although I have that much more on the unlikely side, regardless of what happens with Bozeman.

So to recap, you have 4 positions that all make sense early at a high level. But they also all make sense in FA to some extent. All in all, I can't imagine us neglecting all of these spots and trying to hit them in the draft, but I also can't see us having the financial resources to fill multiple holes leading into the draft.

 

[rmcjacket23]

I'm very curious to see how we approach FA this year. I know we typically like to fill some holes to make sure we still have the ability to go BPA in the draft, but not sure that's going to be doable this year.

OL - Is there anyone better than a Mekari or James out there? I can't see paying big money for one of the top guys but there are a bunch of older veterans that you can probably swing on a 1 year deal as insurance. But you still also have to play it where if Stanley does come back healthy, you didn't invest too much into a guy that will end up being a swing T.

DL - This is arguably the weakest position right now. But this is also a position where the goal clearly has to be getting younger. If I had to guess, if we go for a FA here, it's likely more of a rotational guy than any sure fire starter.

CB - The need here has been lessened with the almost confirmation that Peters will be back. But you still need at least one more guy here so wouldn't count it out in the draft... and very early.

OLB - Right now we have Oweh and that's about it. Bowser is going to be cutting it close for the season. A veteran is needed here at a minimum but you also need to keep adding young talent.

Beyond those positions, C could be another possibility although I have that much more on the unlikely side, regardless of what happens with Bozeman.

So to recap, you have 4 positions that all make sense early at a high level. But they also all make sense in FA to some extent. All in all, I can't imagine us neglecting all of these spots and trying to hit them in the draft, but I also can't see us having the financial resources to fill multiple holes leading into the draft.

I mean at Tackle, I think it looks better than a year ago. Guys like Armstead and OBJ are obviously FAs, but they'll be way out of our price range.
Nate Solder, Trent Brown, Riley Reiff, Chris Hubbard, and Morgan Moses would be guys I would be probably looking at. Also got some other lower tier guys like Sam Tevi and a few others.

I would think we could potentially be in that market.

That being said, they could also look to sign another quality Center or Guard, and push Tackle to FA. With Stanley, James and Mekari, I don't know that Tackle is a priority day-1 signing. If you roll with that, I think it could be a day 2 pick. Really just depends on how they think the rehab/recovery is coming for guys like James and Stanley.

On the DLine, I think they'll try to keep Campbell, they'll bring back Wolfe and Madubuike, and then it's just a question of how many young guys you add. I think it'll be two, but not necessarily early.

Pass rush I would think should come mostly from the draft, though they could add another Houston-type in FA.

Safety is where I think they'll look to FA, and I think they'll look to Corner in the draft. Question at Corner is whether we lose both Tavon and Averett.

 

[RavensMania]

I mean at Tackle, I think it looks better than a year ago. Guys like Armstead and OBJ are obviously FAs, but they'll be way out of our price range.
Nate Solder, Trent Brown, Riley Reiff, Chris Hubbard, and Morgan Moses would be guys I would be probably looking at. Also got some other lower tier guys like Sam Tevi and a few others.

I would think we could potentially be in that market.

That being said, they could also look to sign another quality Center or Guard, and push Tackle to FA. With Stanley, James and Mekari, I don't know that Tackle is a priority day-1 signing. If you roll with that, I think it could be a day 2 pick. Really just depends on how they think the rehab/recovery is coming for guys like James and Stanley.

On the DLine, I think they'll try to keep Campbell, they'll bring back Wolfe and Madubuike, and then it's just a question of how many young guys you add. I think it'll be two, but not necessarily early.

Pass rush I would think should come mostly from the draft, though they could add another Houston-type in FA.

Safety is where I think they'll look to FA, and I think they'll look to Corner in the draft. Question at Corner is whether we lose both Tavon and Averett.

We are definitely mostly in agreement, but we are definitely limited in cap. We definitely will be making some cuts to free up some cash and restructure a bit to free up more. I absolutely don't see Averett coming back, but the real question is if they outright cut or restructure Tavon Young.

Plenty of good option at OT in free agency that aren't in the Tier 1 category as you mentioned.

 

[RavensMania]

Are there any reasonable trade candidates on the OL or any position on defense that people would be interested in?

 

[JAAM]

Ah Jamm said no one knows if Ronnie is going to play next year after stating the contract talks about Lamar, so I thought Jeff Z made a comment on the uncertainty of Ronnie

WHOM, my good SIR?

 

[ChainedBird]

Are there any reasonable trade candidates on the OL or any position on defense that people would be interested in?

I'm not entirely sure if it's reasonable, but I wouldn't mind trading Ben Powers away. He's in the last year of his rookie contract at 2.7M. I doubt we'd get much back, but I feel like teams are always looking for okay OL.

 

[Simba]

I'm not entirely sure if it's reasonable, but I wouldn't mind trading Ben Powers away. He's in the last year of his rookie contract at 2.7M. I doubt we'd get much back, but I feel like teams are always looking for okay OL.

Id be surprised if you can’t trade him. Might not be anything more than a pick swap or something conditional, but any OL that has started in this league and has put up a half decent game has at least some value.

 

[RavensMania]

I'm not entirely sure if it's reasonable, but I wouldn't mind trading Ben Powers away. He's in the last year of his rookie contract at 2.7M. I doubt we'd get much back, but I feel like teams are always looking for okay OL.

i agree he's definitely could be traded but as simba said it may just be a pick swap That being said we did get a 4th for Eleumenor a few yrs back.

 

[rossihunter2]

i agree he's definitely could be traded but as simba said it may just be a pick swap That being said we did get a 4th for Eleumenor a few yrs back.

he's pretty cheap, and highly likely he'll be surplus to requirements - it may be that we keep him and then when we work out during preseason he's not going to make it to the 53 (or maybe even earlier than that), we see if we can't get a day 3 pick from someone for him... he's got a lot of starts and a low pricetag and OL is at a premium across the league

id be surprised by a 4th but would not be surprised if a team threw us a 5th or a 6th to not let him hit waivers

 

[A1A]

Just gotta chime in here for a sec...the top priority in this off-season is obviously O-line. Armstead is a FA and I believe we could land him that and draft Linderbaum. I've said it time and time again Bozeman just doesn't cut it. Colon should have started from day one. When Harbs called Bozeman the starter in the off-season I knew we were in trouble. Now we either go all in on a vet tackle or draft another one. If Linderbaum isn't there I believe Colon could be our guy. We have enough guards so at the point its tackle tackle tackle and no project tackles either. Defensively we're good Wink had to go, his talk is old just like everyone else's, thats what people keep dismissing. This team is full of young guys and the coaching staff can't relate. Just a bunch of white old dudes in charge that none of the players can come to for advice on anything. Offensively we're screwed, we only look good when Lamar and co. play to their natural abilities, never because the team had a "plan". So happy that we didn't lose Martin or any other assistants because our OC could be on the staff already. All in all I'm expecting another season of the same exact thing. Sad because Lamar is the truth and deserves better. Bring in a real HC and we're back to the SB.

 

[D1City55]

My personal take is that they will certainly try to address OT/OLB and get younger at those positions. A lot of Ravens fans on social media are clamoring for Tyrann Mathieu and I don't see how that's a realistic possibility. Not only is will he be really expensive but that's one place where we've flunked at in FA. I liked what I saw from Brandon Stephens and I would like to see us give him a shot to win that job, we could also bring back Elliott, draft a safety in the mid rounds and have them compete for that job. Don't get me wrong, I personally think Tyrann can help us in so many ways but given the cap and what we have, safety is one position I'm willing to role the dice on.

As far as Tackles I see us probably building depth there. We have Mekari who's a pretty damn good backup tackle though I prefer him not to be the starter, he very well could be our starting C next year so finding another option might be necessary. I think we sign a mid-level Tackle but draft one in the first two rounds.

Edge is where help is badly needed and I think the Ravens want to create more pressure without trying to rely too much on confusion. If an edge guy is there that we think is worth it, then I for sure see the Ravens taking the edge player over a tackle. We just don't have much depth there given Houstons uncertainty, and Tyus Bowser injury(Though I do see him coming back by the time the season starts, it's tough to imagine where he'll be). I think the front four needs as much help as possible and needs to get younger so R1 I think we'll prioritize edge over anything else. Now if the Ravens see an elite caliber T at 14 then I think they'll go with that, but it's hard for me to see them passing on David Ojobo if he's there.

 

[JAAM]

I really hope we give Von a look this off-season.

 

[Davesta]

Anyone see this? I need confirmation

 

[rossihunter2]

Anyone see this? I need confirmation

just seen some other uk ravens fans confirm he said he wasnt retiring - basically said something like, having never played in a superbowl, he wants to see if he cant get himself to one again

just to be clear though, he hasnt said anything about returning to the ravens - just that he was coming back to play another year in the league (i hope it's with us)

 

[Simba]

Anyone see this? I need confirmation

The proof

 

[Davesta]

The proof

hope Lamar can bring him one.

 

[JO_75]

Anyone see this? I need confirmation

Problem is, he's a free agent so as of now it's not sure if he's coming back to us or not. I hope so, I imagine he has let the front office know about it so we already have an idea of things with or without him.