With the first week of free agency now in the rear-view mirror, I’ve offered a dozen Ravens-related thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Though the Za’Darius Smith agreement crumbling was a letdown, the Ravens signing deals exceeding $100 million over the first few days marked the second time in four years Eric DeCosta has made an early free-agent splash after inking Earl Thomas and Mark Ingram in 2019. Much work remains, of course.
2. I’m fine with re-signing Patrick Ricard considering how heavily Baltimore leaned on him because of offensive line concerns and Nick Boyle’s health. However, paying both him and Boyle is a value concern, especially with the latter carrying a $5 million salary and $7 million salary cap number in 2022.
3. Bradley Bozeman settling for a one-year, $2.8 million deal in Carolina made it evident that the Ravens were done with their former starting center after the sides didn’t reach an extension months earlier. And they’ll certainly be second-guessed if center is a problem in 2022.
4. The Ravens haven’t devoted much money or meaningful draft capital to the center position since Matt Birk. Perhaps that changes with a JC Tretter signing or a Tyler Linderbaum selection in the first round, but a competition among Patrick Mekari, Trystan Colon, and a mid-to-late-round pick wouldn’t be remotely surprising.
5. With Chris Board on his way to Detroit to compete for a starting role with the Lions, Baltimore will now be without two of its top three players — Anthony Levine being the other — in terms of special-teams snaps from last year. Adding a veteran depth linebacker is probably in order.
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6. Say what you want about unique circumstances or Cleveland being foolish, but if Deshaun Watson and his 22 civil suits for sexual assault warrant a guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract, how do you tell Lamar Jackson and other top-shelf quarterbacks they’re not worth that moving forward? That’s a sea change.
7. Michael Pierce didn’t have his best season in 2019, opted out because of COVID-19 in 2020, and played in only eight games because of an elbow injury last year. A $16.5 million contract is solid on paper for an above-average run stopper, but the 29-year-old hasn’t played much football lately.
8. Pierce’s return reminds of the era in which the Ravens seemingly found late-round and undrafted defensive line contributors in their sleep. They’ve had to pump considerable money into that group in recent years, so you hope one or two young rotation candidates emerge this summer.
9. It wasn’t surprising to hear DeCosta and offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris mention the words “durable” and “available” in their opening remarks about new right tackle Morgan Moses. Players are only durable until they aren’t anymore, but the 31-year-old having not missed a game since 2014 is quite impressive.
10. Asked about filling in at left tackle for Ronnie Stanley if necessary, Moses quipped, “Sometimes you just have to throw yourself in the water and just know that you can swim.” I’d definitely draft a developmental left tackle, but Moses held up well in spot duty there two years ago.
11. DeCosta is betting on Marcus Williams continuing his ascent into “ballhawk” status — 15 interceptions and 38 pass breakups in five seasons marked a promising start — in his age-26 season. I liked hearing the former New Orleans Saint say, “When the ball’s in the air, I think it’s mine every time.”
12. My favorite part of press conferences for free-agent signings and draft picks is witnessing the player’s family interaction at a life-changing moment. An emotional Williams talking about his family’s support after he was on the short end of the “Minneapolis Miracle” as a rookie was as relatable as it gets.
