With the free-agent negotiating — or “legal tampering” — window opening on Monday afternoon, I’ve offered a dozen Ravens thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Given their history and lack of top-shelf players on their own list of free agents, the Ravens having a quiet day shouldn’t be surprising. Entering the week with nearly $16 million in salary cap space, Eric DeCosta has flexibility to make a meaningful move or two, but he’ll be selective.
2. Starting with ex-Raven Ryan Jensen re-signing with Tampa Bay Sunday, a number of centers quickly came off the board — most staying with their 2021 teams — while Bradley Bozeman waited out the market as of late Monday. Veteran options are dwindling if Baltimore doesn’t retain its own starter.
3. There’s no shortage of offensive tackles available, but I’d still target those with legitimate experience on the left side. I see little sense in signing an exclusive right tackle unless he’s a clear upgrade over Patrick Mekari and Ja’Wuan James. This team desperately needs a strong backup for Ronnie Stanley.
4. Haason Reddick to Philadelphia (three years, $45 million) was my favorite signing Monday and Emmanuel Ogbah indicated Baltimore showed interest before he signed a $65 million extension with Miami, so it’ll be interesting to see if the Ravens will meet Za’Darius Smith’s asking price. His versatility would be welcomed back.
5. Replacing a Hall of Famer is never easy and the Ravens had their share of quarterback woes over the first half of their existence, but Pittsburgh adding Mitch Trubisky to compete with Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins? That’s not exactly going to boost season-ticket sales at Heinz Field.
6. Alex Cappa and Ted Karras didn’t come particularly cheap, but credit Cincinnati for upgrading its interior offensive line and spending real money in free agency for a second straight offseason. Like Baltimore with Lamar Jackson, the defending AFC champions become that much more dangerous if they can protect Joe Burrow.
7. Despite telling NFL insider Josina Anderson he was “very comfortable” with the Ravens, Calais Campbell saying he’s exploring all options is completely understandable after only two seasons in Baltimore. A 35-year-old still playing at a high level and coveting a Super Bowl ring should leave no stone unturned.
8. Any Ravens fan still complaining about a fifth-year option for Marquise Brown costing $13.413 million should look no further than the four-year, $72 million deal Jacksonville gave Christian Kirk, who’s never recorded a 1,000-yard season. Good wide receivers are really expensive.
9. Albert Breer noted how teams spending lucratively to start free agency are often compensating for a run of poor drafts in which they didn’t give out many second contracts. As I’ve previously written, you can have much more to spend or you can extend Marlon Humphrey and Mark Andrews.
10. Tom Brady ending his brief retirement puts a different spin on the Ravens’ scheduled trip to Tampa Bay during the 2022 season. Leave it to the 44-year-old to overshadow both the NCAA tournament bracket release and the open of free agency, but I do look forward to his 23rd season.
11. No disrespect to ex-Ravens Chris Moore and Terrence Brooks for carving out nice careers as role players, but am I the only one confused by Houston being so eager to re-sign middling veterans at the start of free agency after consecutive four-win campaigns? What exactly am I missing?
12. While the pandemic wreaked havoc on the sports calendar over these last two years, NFL free agency coinciding with baseball’s wheeling and dealing at the end of its lockout is surreal. Of course, you hope the Ravens come away with slightly more impactful additions than Jordan Lyles and Robinson Chirinos.
