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The 2023 Offseason Thread

Watch queen have an all pro like year and price himself out
We would get a good comp pick for him in that situation right?
 
We would get a good comp pick for him in that situation right?
I mean the max is a late 3rd.

I've been saying this for years now, but I think the public is a little too "cavalier" with the whole idea of "well we'll just get a comp pick". You don't just get comp picks for FAs leaving. First they have to be qualifying FA (i.e. a bit more expensive), and most importantly, you have to be at a net loss of FAs.

So if we lose 3 really expensive FAs, but we sign 4 totally inexpensive FAs, we get no comp picks.

So like I'm fine with the idea of getting one, but that just means there's a mid-to-high tier FA that we basically can't sign in order to get that comp pick. Realistically the cap will make it difficult anyway.

Would point out also that 2024 has some interesting decisions in terms of UFAs.
Odell Beckham
Zeitler
Queen
Our entire RB room (Dobbins and Edwards)
Our entire Dline essentially (Madubuike, Pierce, Urban, Washington)
All FAs in 2024.
 
I mean the max is a late 3rd.

I've been saying this for years now, but I think the public is a little too "cavalier" with the whole idea of "well we'll just get a comp pick". You don't just get comp picks for FAs leaving. First they have to be qualifying FA (i.e. a bit more expensive), and most importantly, you have to be at a net loss of FAs.

So if we lose 3 really expensive FAs, but we sign 4 totally inexpensive FAs, we get no comp picks.

So like I'm fine with the idea of getting one, but that just means there's a mid-to-high tier FA that we basically can't sign in order to get that comp pick. Realistically the cap will make it difficult anyway.

Would point out also that 2024 has some interesting decisions in terms of UFAs.
Odell Beckham
Zeitler
Queen
Our entire RB room (Dobbins and Edwards)
Our entire Dline essentially (Madubuike, Pierce, Urban, Washington)
All FAs in 2024.
2024 is a rough year
 
Watch queen have an all pro like year and price himself out
I think we’re gonna have a really crazy defensive year. The grouping of roquan, hamilton, queen, Simpson, Humphrey, and bowser is pretty insane.

I think roquan smith could have a DPOY season in store, pro bowl from queen, all pro from Kyle hamilton and Humphrey. Our off-ball lineup is absolutely insane and this feels a lot like what folks were envisioning when we first started talking positionless defense.
 
I think we’re gonna have a really crazy defensive year. The grouping of roquan, hamilton, queen, Simpson, Humphrey, and bowser is pretty insane.

I think roquan smith could have a DPOY season in store, pro bowl from queen, all pro from Kyle hamilton and Humphrey. Our off-ball lineup is absolutely insane and this feels a lot like what folks were envisioning when we first started talking positionless defense.

Josh Ross Breakout SzN!
 
I think we’re gonna have a really crazy defensive year. The grouping of roquan, hamilton, queen, Simpson, Humphrey, and bowser is pretty insane.

I think roquan smith could have a DPOY season in store, pro bowl from queen, all pro from Kyle hamilton and Humphrey. Our off-ball lineup is absolutely insane and this feels a lot like what folks were envisioning when we first started talking positionless defense.
now imagine if CC was still a Raven
 
I mean the max is a late 3rd.

I've been saying this for years now, but I think the public is a little too "cavalier" with the whole idea of "well we'll just get a comp pick". You don't just get comp picks for FAs leaving. First they have to be qualifying FA (i.e. a bit more expensive), and most importantly, you have to be at a net loss of FAs.

So if we lose 3 really expensive FAs, but we sign 4 totally inexpensive FAs, we get no comp picks.

So like I'm fine with the idea of getting one, but that just means there's a mid-to-high tier FA that we basically can't sign in order to get that comp pick. Realistically the cap will make it difficult anyway.

Would point out also that 2024 has some interesting decisions in terms of UFAs.
Odell Beckham
Zeitler
Queen
Our entire RB room (Dobbins and Edwards)
Our entire Dline essentially (Madubuike, Pierce, Urban, Washington)
All FAs in 2024.
yes and OBJ will count 11-14m in dead cap if he's not extended
 
Would point out also that 2024 has some interesting decisions in terms of UFAs.
Odell Beckham
Zeitler
Queen
Our entire RB room (Dobbins and Edwards)
Our entire Dline essentially (Madubuike, Pierce, Urban, Washington)
All FAs in 2024.


The 24 FA list isn't too painful because none of them are franchise cornerstones who must be re-signed (there are scenarios where none of them return and the Ravens are still OK).

I also expect this season to answer a lot of questions. Some will play themselves out of the Ravens price range and others might play themselves out of the league, so this dilemma will look easier after the season.

Beckham is either going to be good and looking for c.$15 M again, which would price him out of Baltimore, or bad and we don't want him back, so he's gone whatever happens. In any case, he's done his job and lured Lamar back.

If Zeitler stays good, healthy and wants to keep playing, we should offer him a short, affordable contract and hope he accepts.

Queen. I don't see how it makes sense to keep him. If he plays like last season, he'll be too expensive. If he regresses to the year 1 or 2 version, we'd be better giving Simpson a chance to develop and saving some money.

The RBs - I don't see how we can afford to keep Dobbins. Teams with expensive QBs can't pay RBs, and JK is too good to be cheap. Gus might still be good enough and cheap enough, but he's getting older, so it's not too likely.

The D Line is the problem area in 24 and beyond. I've been hoping, for the last 2 drafts, that they'd try to get ahead of it by adding late rounders to the room but, at the moment, it looks like they'll be doubling up in the draft.

Urban would return at vet min, if we want him. Pierce is too old and injured to be worth paying what he will want. It's Madubiuke and Washington that are the question. EDC should see if either wants to sign early at a cheaper rate but otherwise the Ravens can afford to let it play out. They're good not great and the Ravens don't need to let a positional shortage force them into overpaying anyone.
 
I mean the max is a late 3rd.

I've been saying this for years now, but I think the public is a little too "cavalier" with the whole idea of "well we'll just get a comp pick". You don't just get comp picks for FAs leaving. First they have to be qualifying FA (i.e. a bit more expensive), and most importantly, you have to be at a net loss of FAs.

So if we lose 3 really expensive FAs, but we sign 4 totally inexpensive FAs, we get no comp picks.

So like I'm fine with the idea of getting one, but that just means there's a mid-to-high tier FA that we basically can't sign in order to get that comp pick. Realistically the cap will make it difficult anyway.

Would point out also that 2024 has some interesting decisions in terms of UFAs.
Odell Beckham
Zeitler
Queen
Our entire RB room (Dobbins and Edwards)
Our entire Dline essentially (Madubuike, Pierce, Urban, Washington)
All FAs in 2024.
Yea but what’s the alternative? Pay him or franchise tag him? Even if he balls out, neither sounds like a good option. I’d prefer the comp
 
The 24 FA list isn't too painful because none of them are franchise cornerstones who must be re-signed (there are scenarios where none of them return and the Ravens are still OK).

I also expect this season to answer a lot of questions. Some will play themselves out of the Ravens price range and others might play themselves out of the league, so this dilemma will look easier after the season.

Beckham is either going to be good and looking for c.$15 M again, which would price him out of Baltimore, or bad and we don't want him back, so he's gone whatever happens. In any case, he's done his job and lured Lamar back.

If Zeitler stays good, healthy and wants to keep playing, we should offer him a short, affordable contract and hope he accepts.

Queen. I don't see how it makes sense to keep him. If he plays like last season, he'll be too expensive. If he regresses to the year 1 or 2 version, we'd be better giving Simpson a chance to develop and saving some money.

The RBs - I don't see how we can afford to keep Dobbins. Teams with expensive QBs can't pay RBs, and JK is too good to be cheap. Gus might still be good enough and cheap enough, but he's getting older, so it's not too likely.

The D Line is the problem area in 24 and beyond. I've been hoping, for the last 2 drafts, that they'd try to get ahead of it by adding late rounders to the room but, at the moment, it looks like they'll be doubling up in the draft.

Urban would return at vet min, if we want him. Pierce is too old and injured to be worth paying what he will want. It's Madubiuke and Washington that are the question. EDC should see if either wants to sign early at a cheaper rate but otherwise the Ravens can afford to let it play out. They're good not great and the Ravens don't need to let a positional shortage force them into overpaying anyone.
Largely agree. The premise is that it looks like we'll potentially lose a lot of players after '23, either to better deals or better players.
My point was also that lets say you have 2-3 Dlineman to replace, an entire RB room, and you need another quality WR. Are we getting all of that in the draft? No chance. Some of those will be FA signings. And the more FAs you sign, the less likely you are to get a high comp pick for Queen, or even a comp pick at all.

So its a double edged sword. The FA class is big, and there will be guys who price themselves out, which means we'll lose a good # of them. But that also means there's more holes to fill on the roster with finite draft picks. Things like replacing RBs I tend to care less about, because they're largely interchangeable most of the time and the draft yields replacements annually without using premium picks. But like the Dline, even the Cornerback room, possibly more receivers, etc. are areas where we won't just be able to rely solely on the draft to replace.

With Zeitler, frankly, I think he'll just be too old to keep. I think he'll consider retirement anyway. 2024 might be a year to start "resetting" the Guard position also, depending on what shapes up at LG this year.
 
Largely agree. The premise is that it looks like we'll potentially lose a lot of players after '23, either to better deals or better players.
My point was also that lets say you have 2-3 Dlineman to replace, an entire RB room, and you need another quality WR. Are we getting all of that in the draft? No chance. Some of those will be FA signings. And the more FAs you sign, the less likely you are to get a high comp pick for Queen, or even a comp pick at all.

So its a double edged sword. The FA class is big, and there will be guys who price themselves out, which means we'll lose a good # of them. But that also means there's more holes to fill on the roster with finite draft picks. Things like replacing RBs I tend to care less about, because they're largely interchangeable most of the time and the draft yields replacements annually without using premium picks. But like the Dline, even the Cornerback room, possibly more receivers, etc. are areas where we won't just be able to rely solely on the draft to replace.

With Zeitler, frankly, I think he'll just be too old to keep. I think he'll consider retirement anyway. 2024 might be a year to start "resetting" the Guard position also, depending on what shapes up at LG this year.
The draft isn't going to fill all those holes, agreed. The big 2024 draft needs look like being D Line and RB and we'll need at least one FA signing (or re-signing) at D Line too.

I don't think we should be planning to replace OBJ with a similarly big name/highly drafted WR at this stage. We've got to be hoping that Yr4 Bateman and Yr2 Flowers can step up as the #1 & 2 with a cheaper option/later pick at WR3.

CB and OG are other positions where we'll be hoping that the in-house options can develop if Zeitler and Rock Ya Body move on. I see what you're saying about Zeitler but if he plays like he did in 22 - keep him. Maybe he's another Whitworth that can play forever?

According to Over The Cap we have $21M which is surprisingly high, but even so, with so many holes in the roster, I think the Ravens will be making post draft Rock Ya Like Hurricane type signings, which should protect the Queen comp.
 
The draft isn't going to fill all those holes, agreed. The big 2024 draft needs look like being D Line and RB and we'll need at least one FA signing (or re-signing) at D Line too.

I don't think we should be planning to replace OBJ with a similarly big name/highly drafted WR at this stage. We've got to be hoping that Yr4 Bateman and Yr2 Flowers can step up as the #1 & 2 with a cheaper option/later pick at WR3.

CB and OG are other positions where we'll be hoping that the in-house options can develop if Zeitler and Rock Ya Body move on. I see what you're saying about Zeitler but if he plays like he did in 22 - keep him. Maybe he's another Whitworth that can play forever?

According to Over The Cap we have $21M which is surprisingly high, but even so, with so many holes in the roster, I think the Ravens will be making post draft Rock Ya Like Hurricane type signings, which should protect the Queen comp.
Obviously way too early to predict 2024, given that 2023 isn't over, but...
OTC has an unusually high prediction for active cap for 2024. They're projecting a salary cap of like $265M, which I don't think anybody else sees. Current year is 224.8M, so that would require like a $40M jump year-over-year. Possible, but I doubt it. Spotrac is at $235M, and my guess is it'll be closer to like the $240-245M range. At that range, we'd be right at the cap or a little over it on total cap liabilities. We have almost $245M of contract obligations today.

In terms of the roster, Stanley's cap hit is basically just too high. He'll probably be an extension candidate with two years left on his deal, assuming he plays well. That number will come down. Could possibly say the same for Andrews, though his cap hit isn't outrageous. They have plenty of restructures they could do to create cap space.
In terms of "cuts", there probably wouldn't be many options.
Moses, Ricard and possibly Bowser would be guys I'd keep my eyes on in 2024. I think the first two likely need strong outputs in 2023 to be considered staying on beyond this season. Bowser fits here pretty well, but he's got a $7.5M cap hit next year with only $2M in dead money.
 
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