oldno82

I would add incentives to get his pay back up if meets them.

Well, pretty much as expected. I still don't like the kickoff from 50 yard line rule.

Really not looking forward to replacement refs. It was a disaster last time. I will say that the current refs are over--reaching on their demands. They should be rated the same way most workers are, by performance, not seniority. And, holding out for a 10% pay increase each year is pretty bold. They currently make $350,000/yr with guaranteed 6.5% increases. I think that's pretty good pay for how long their work-year is. Tough job but pay and performance are pretty compatible to say the least.

Yeah, looking forward to the new regime too. Good things will happen if the players buy in.

Well that is a problem they ought to be able to work out. He might take a fair reduction as opposed to being cut. I just don't think there is a viable trade market for him whereas he has some value to us for leadership in the locker room. And, sure, play him closer to the LOS and have him also cover tight ends.

I don't think we would get much in a trade whereas he may still be of use for his leadership and his performance ain't that bad. As the saying goes, you can never have too many corners.

So it looks like slim pickings in the current free agent market. That makes the draft all the more important. Possibility of a trade too, I guess, but have no idea who might be available for a fair price. I hope EDC and our scouts and coaches are on top of things especially this year for the draft.

Are we interested in Njuko for TE if the price is right?

Have any of the ones we've had in signed elsewhere as far as you know? Maybe it's just slow all around or teams are waiting for the draft?

I would agree they should be easy to replace but the speed EDC is operating at can only be described as glacial. Or, maybe there's not much out there in FA.

The offense looks shaky especially at O-line (which we knew) wide receiver, and running back. Henry will be a year older and who knows if he can keep going. Hill is competent but far from a game breaker and that goes for Ali as well. As for WR, once you get past Flowers, it's definitely thin. A lot of work to do on offense before training camp. The defense looks surprisingly decent...not great, but in better shape than the Offense. https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-depth-chart-unofficial-free-agency-2026-offseason.

Yeah. Me neither.

OK. That's a good rule of thumb. How about Mauigoa?

#1 is OK with me as are #4 and #5. I don't understand #2 or #3 and don't understand why #5 wouldn't be in effect all the time, work stoppage or not.

What do we do if Jeremiyah Love falls to available at 14? I know we have Henry but how much longer can he go on? Love at 14 is probably not going to happen but would you take OT Francis Mauigoa if he's available?

Some opportunities there. I wonder if they'd go after Sadiq if he fell to them in the first?

I'd be very surprised if we can't find a big DT in the draft somewhere. But if Madds comes back we wouldn't have such a high priority on that need.

FWIW here's Kiper's thinking on the Ravens draft: " “There’s a lot of depth on the interior, be it at center or guard,” Kiper said. “I’d come out of this draft with three interior linemen if I were the Ravens. I’d come out of this draft with a tight end, wide receiver obviously — wide receiver depth is great, and the strongest position in this draft. It kind of fits this draft does to the needs of the Ravens perfectly.” All that remains is execution."

They have potentially a lot of options. Ionane the G from Penn State, Sadiq the TE, Fanto the OT, or see if somebody drops to them. I don't know if 14 is the optimal spot to take any of those 3 but our BPA philosophy hasn't been working real well lately. But that philosophy is more appropriate for later rounds when the crap shoot starts. I'd be happy with any of those 3 though I honestly think 14 is too soon to draft a guard. But we need O-line help so bad I'd take him. Speaking of Andrews...what has caused his production fall off last year? Is he aging out or were they trying to hit the WR's more.

But the way any team might look at it is that they saved >$22mil by letting him go but got to use him for the full 4 cheap years after being drafted. He might also have decreased trade value if the other team knows you feel you must make a deal and aren't willing to let him walk.

I think it's getting harder to sign them early too. Their agents push them to free agency--more money for them if teams are bidding. Plus some players, maybe most, are motivated by taking the highest amount they can get. There's not a lot of loyalty up or down in the league. But I like the idea of not being chained to the philosophy of BPA for all the teams. Sometimes you gotta draft for need.

Good analysis. For sure this is Stanley and Henry's last year here. As you said Madds is up in the air. Hamilton will restructure or negotiate and extension. Unfortunately, I think Roquan's problem is age related. We'll need to replace him with a cheaper version. I don't think Lamar will sign an extension this year or next year. I think he wants to taste free agency. So I guess we just suffer with his $85mil cap hit next year. I don't see a way out with him that gets rid of that cap hit. I think even if we trade him it's dead cap money.

From the Ravens' website on the 2027 cap: Ravens Will Have Work to Do to Manage 2027 Salary Cap The Ravens are in good salary-cap shape for 2026, but there is work to be done to make the 2027 cap manageable. The restructuring of quarterback Lamar Jackson's contract opened up just under $40 million in cap space for this season, but it made his 2027 cap number rise from $74.5 million to $84.49 million. The Baltimore Banner’s Giana Han pointed out that other players also have significant cap numbers next year. "Two of the top three contracts remain just as high [next season]," Han wrote. "[Inside linebacker Roquan] Smith's cap hit stays steady at $32.7 million, while [defensive tackle Nnamdi] Madubuike's makes a small jump from $30.975 million to $31.475 million. It's unclear if Madubuike will return this season after suffering a season-ending neck injury early in 2025. "Meanwhile, safety Kyle Hamilton's cap hit more than doubles, from about $10.7 million to $26 million. [Left tackle Ronnie] Stanley's goes from about $9.8 million to over $24 million. Tight end Mark Andrews' goes from just under $7 million to about $14.7 million. Running back Derrick Henry's and defensive lineman Travis Jones' cap hits will also jump more than $10 million in 2027." Han noted that "being tight against the cap is the price to pay for stars." The Ravens have time to figure out how to make the 2027 cap work. The first domino that could fall is a contract extension for Jackson.

Well would you draft BPA or draft for need?

I hope we're concentrating on the offensive and defensive lines in the early rounds.