Having accomplished their primary goals of locking up left tackle Eugene Monroe and tight end Dennis Pitta, the Ravens may now turn their attention toward other needs as the first day of free agency concluded on Tuesday.
Signing Monroe to a five-year, $37.5 million contract to clear up their left tackle picture for the long haul, the Ravens still hope to re-sign inside linebacker Daryl Smith despite the sides reportedly not being close to an agreement at the start of free agency. However, the recent signings of two other veteran linebackers have established a reasonable idea of Smith’s price tag.
Indianapolis signed former Browns standout D’Qwell Jackson, 30, to a four-year, $22 million contract last week, and Cleveland responded by inking the 32-year-old Karlos Dansby to a four-year, $24 million deal on Tuesday. The 31-year-old Smith would have good reason to ask for a similar deal after a strong first season with the Ravens in which he excelled in pass coverage and admirably occupied Ray Lewis’ former inside linebacker position.
The Ravens will need to decide if Smith is worthy of a deal approaching $5 million to $6 million per season, but they could make the decision to pass on the veteran’s services in favor of the draft or being able to find a value free agent like last offseason when they were able to sign Smith on a cheap one-year deal at the start of the summer. Baltimore is already penciling in 2013 second-round pick Arthur Brown as the starting weakside inside linebacker while Josh Bynes also brings starting experience to the unit.
Baltimore remains interested in wide receiver Jacoby Jones, but the Pro Bowl return specialist is scheduled to visit the New York Giants, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
Corey Graham is another player the Ravens would like to retain at the right price, but the No. 3 cornerback is exploring the market for the best opportunity to start and will visit the Washington Redskins and other visits could be in place, a source told WNST.net.
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
8
Paid Advertisement
Podcast Audio Vault
88Paid Advertisement
Share the Post:
8Paid Advertisement
Right Now in Baltimore
Podcasts, Pearl Jam passion and the present tense with The Mayne Event
They met on the backstretch at Pimlico three decades ago and The Mayne Event always returns and never disappoints for sports, comedy, charity and why Eddie Vedder shouldn't trust Nestor. Longtime ESPNer Kenny Mayne checks in for another round of tales of wiffle ball with Ken Griffey, podcasts with the other Manning and still being pissed off about the Sonics (and Pilots) departure from Seattle.
Running back Tampa 25 years later with Ravens RB coach Matt Simon
These milestones continue to add up as the 25th anniversary of the Baltimore Ravens' Super Bowl XXXV win is coming later this month and Nestor is catching up with many of the Purple Reign legacies about life – on and off the field – as we celebrate the night we all felt the civic pride of that first miracle in Tampa. Reflections here with the man who coached Jamal Lewis, Priest Holmes, Sam Gash and Femi Ayanbadejo a quarter of a century ago.
The Ravens weren't good enough on the field
Firing the head coach and changing leadership will certainly create an interesting offseason in Owings Mills. No one covers the Xs and Os of the NFL like Mike Tanier of Too Deep Zone. The one-time geometry teacher of Joe Flacco joins Nestor to discuss the depth and salary cap numbers of the Baltimore Ravens roster and the structural changes Eric DeCosta will need even after Steve Bisciotti finds a new captain to lead Lamar Jackson.
888Paid Advertisement
