With the official opening of free agency and the new league year nearly upon us, I’ve offered a dozen Ravens thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Though Aaron Rodgers is at a different stage of his career and details of his deal remain to be seen, it’s the latest reference point dismissing hopes of getting Lamar Jackson to sign for anything that isn’t north of Josh Allen’s $43 million per year. It’s the cost of business.
2. As if the AFC lacked premium quarterback talent, Russell Wilson joining Denver could make the AFC West a juggernaut of a division. It also changes the complexion of a 2022 matchup with the Broncos — by way of both teams finishing last in their divisions — in Baltimore.
3. Bobby Wagner is eventually going to Canton and the type of free agent the Ravens target when considering compensatory picks, but the soon-to-be 32-year-old would have to come at quite a discount for me to forgo more premium position needs with limited salary cap dollars. It’s a fun thought though.
4. According to Sports Info Solutions, Baltimore ranked 31st in allowing 9.2 yards per target to slot receivers last season. While it was great seeing Tavon Young stay on the field after missing three of the previous four years, his $5.845 million salary still feels awfully risky considering durability and performance.
(Update: Young was released on Wednesday afternoon.)
Villanueva retires, Young released as Ravens gain nearly $12 million in salary cap space: https://t.co/V1vYvkqwCt
5. Though there are players the Ravens would prefer to keep, their 2022 list of free agents looking somewhat underwhelming is a product of locking up Marlon Humphrey and Mark Andrews, who each could have hit the market next week without their long-term deals. Keep that in mind as others exit.
6. Speaking of Andrews, seeing David Njoku (Cleveland), Dalton Schultz (Dallas), and Mike Gesicki (Miami) receive franchise tags at nearly $11 million makes you feel that much better about locking up your All-Pro tight end at $14 million per year. That market is rising, and he’s far superior to those players.
7. While we learned Marquise Brown’s fifth-year option for 2023 will officially cost $13.413 million, it’s worth noting the linebacker price — for one not making any Pro Bowls — is $11.706 million, which could be important for Patrick Queen a year from now. This will be a pivotal season for him.
8. Eric DeCosta painted an encouraging picture at the combine regarding the rehab of Ronnie Stanley, who is scheduled to make $9.5 million in base salary and carry an $18.552 million cap number for 2022. As noted before, there isn’t much the Ravens can do contractually beyond hope for the best.
9. The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen pondered the trade value of Tyler Huntley earlier this week, but I have a difficult time buying a team being interested enough to pay a price that would truly make a deal worth it. The Ravens aren’t exactly on the verge of a Jackson extension either.
10. After we noted how cautious he was speaking on J.K. Dobbins last month, DeCosta expressing confidence that he will “really flourish this year” was a positive development. Dobbins showed as a rookie why Baltimore just couldn’t pass on him late in the 2020 second round.
11. That said, Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey being the subjects of trade rumors is the latest reminder why you don’t devote top five picks or lucrative contracts to running backs in today’s game. Everyone believes their guy is different before watching that surplus first-contract value go down the drain.
12. While I laughed at Wilson “Cast Away” tweets from the Broncos and Seahawks Twitter accounts, the latter making light of trading the quarterback who’s meant everything to that organization was a reminder to not chase outside social media clout at the expense of your fans. No wonder that was deleted.
