Post 7 - What's what in free agency? Baltimore Ravens Free Agency Preview

Hello! And welcome to my corner.

The Franchise Tag deadline has passed and we're on to Free Agency. This year the Ravens have several big names potentially leaving Baltimore; Torrey Smith, Justin Forsett, Pernell McPhee and Owen Daniels, along with a few other big name players on the chopping block to save cap room; Haloti Ngata and Lardarius Webb. This off-season could see some huge changes to this team.

Here are the moves I think we should make and players I think are worth keeping an eye on:

Torrey Smith

First of all, I think Torrey Smith and Owen Daniels should be resigned. Torrey is a huge part of our
offense and I don't think there are any receivers in free agency that we can afford. And he's a fan favourite, I'd hate to see Torrey in anything other than purple and black. Furthermore, I think if we lose Torrey we'd have to draft a receiver with our 1st pick, and I don't think we should, that pick should be used on a corner or running back.

Owen Daniels and Joe Flacco

Daniels, though not as important, was a good enough filler for Pitta. Also, this years crop of free agent and rookie tight ends has very little depth. I'd love to see us sign Julius Thomas, Jordan Cameron or Charles Clay but they'll likely be out of our price range and apart from Maxx Williams there is very little in the draft, and he'd likely be gone by the time we pick in the second round, as he isn't worth our 1st rounder. If Pitta can't play next year, then Daniels may be our number 1 tight end, as Crockett Gilmore is more of a blocking tight end. Using Kyle Juszczyk as a tight end more may be interesting though...

Justin Forsett

Forsett is a tricky one. Though I'd like to see him back, he turns 30 next year and he wants a long
term commitment and could possibly get that elsewhere, the Falcons have shown interest. So, I say we offer him maybe a two year, mid range contract but aim to draft Melvin Gordon or Todd Gurley in the first round, or possibly Abdullah, Coleman or Jay Ajayi in the 2nd round if we're lucky.

McPhee though, is pretty much gone already. He'll get paid a lot more than we will pay him elsewhere. And we can always draft an outside linebacker like him later in the draft.

As for Webb and Ngata, I think we need to do

Haloti Ngata

everything we can to keep them, particularly Ngata. Ngata is one of the best in his position and has been consistently for years. Furthermore he is one of the leaders of our team. Though Jernigan showed he is capable, he isn't the same. Webb is also a leader and can hopefully return to being one of the best corner backs. If he goes we'll have to draft a corner high and look at signing some too. If Webb is back, he and Smith at full health should show a marked improvement from last year.

I think that most of our rebuilding this year will have to come from the draft. Though I think free agents have to be brought in, mainly a free safety, I think our main needs; receiver, running back and corner back can be addressed with a good draft.