If they cost so much, why do they call them 'free' agents?
You can tell how an NFL team is doing by the stories in the local newspapers. If the hometown team is firmly in the playoffs, the talk is about playing for home-field advantage and bye weeks. If it's a bubble team, then the stories try to figure out all the playoff scenarios and tie-breakers.
But if your team is like the Ravens, then the attention turns to the offseason, namely the draft and free agency.
We started looking at the draft last week and earlier today mentioned that the loss to Miami moves the Ravens up in the draft pecking order -- likely somewhere between the fifth and eighth positions.
So how about those free agents?
After perusing Web sites that track the free-agent market, as usual, there are some Pro Bowl names and among them, there are a few that will probably be re-signed by their current teams or possibly slapped with a franchise tag. Others have anti-franchise tag language in their contracts, such as Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel.
Also in New England, wide receiver Randy Moss will be an unrestricted free agent, but are the Patriots going to let him go after this season? Meanwhile, Samuel is also an unrestricted free agent, but can New England possibly keep them both, considering the salary cap ramifications? Some of this is a guessing game, but the best guess in that situation is Moss stays and Samuel goes.
Other Pro Bowl-types on the road to free agency at the moment include safety Bob Sanders and tight end Dallas Clark from Indianapolis, Kansas City DE Jared Allen, Tennessee DT Albert Haynesworth, Chicago LB Lance Briggs, Pittsburgh OG Alan Faneca and Dallas RB Julius Jones.
If you're one of those folks who think the Ravens should have a veteran quarterback on their shopping list, don't get too hopeful. The top ones who may be available are Chicago's Rex Grossman and Oakland's Daunte Culpepper. Also on the list is yesterday's winning QB, Miami's Cleo Lemon. Cleveland's Derek Anderson, a former Raven, is a restricted free agent.
For their part, the Ravens have LB Terrell Suggs coming up as an unrestricted free agent. Offensive guard Jason Brown, their most consistent and durable offensive lineman throughout the season, is a restricted free agent.
Considering that the Ravens' cornerback situation has been terribly exposed and there are concerns about Samari Rolle's return, the free agent I find intriguing is Seattle's Marcus Trufant, who has a career-high seven interceptions this season and has missed just one game in five seasons. He may have franchise tag written all over him, though.
Of course, the Ravens' own salary cap circumstances will dictate how aggressive they can be in free agency, plus Baltimore is usually cautious coming out of the gate when the free agency chase starts, preferring to let the marketplace settle down. It'll be interesting to see whether what may end as a four-win season changes past practice.
Comments
I'm interested in seeing McAllister and Asante Samuel line up on both sides next season for us. I think that the Pats will keep Moss and get rid of Samuel as well, and he's well worth the money to pick up in Free Agency. What do you think?
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Joe,
If a team can afford Samuel, he's one the top three FAs available. I think Trufant may be better value.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Joe | December 17, 2007 2:59 PM
Peter King @ SI listed the cap room for each team last week in his column. Sadly the Ravens currently are next to last in cap room. The only team worse off is the Redskins, who are a projected $20million plus OVER the cap already!
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I was aware of Pete Kingr's report ... since that cap info is closely held information, I'm not in a position to speculate on exactly where they sit. But Peter usually knows what he's talking about.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Glassman | December 17, 2007 3:47 PM
The ravens lost to the Phins???? LOL.
Hilarious! Billick is the man! Only 3 more years of him guys.... LOL
Posted by: Dan Snyder | December 17, 2007 3:53 PM
Don't expect much of a splash on the free agent front, as the Ravens, as of this writing, are in the second worst cap shape in the league for next year, and with only 42 players under contract. Of course, the Ravens could create cap space by making certain cuts, but we'll have to wait and see.
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As I mentioned to another reader, the unconfirmed reports are as you suggest.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: TK | December 17, 2007 4:08 PM
Bill- Great analysis as always. With the Ravens cap situation. It looks like they will cut Mason, Rolle, Pryce and McNair. That should free up some room to sign Suggs and Brown (they should sign Brown). The last time the Ravens made a move on the 1st day of FA is when they signed Mason. I think they need to sign a player of two before the draft, and they need to be aggressive to do so. What is you take on what the Ravens Should do?
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Ben,
They may have to do something with Brown because the info I saw was that as a RFA, he's only a fourth-round pick. You know that's a bargain for a starting LG so someone will want to take a run at that. Suggs they have to sign for sure and Pryce they may want to keep unless they sign a big time DE. I'm on the soap box for DB depth. With the defenses they play, they need it. They need to do something for the pass defense either on the front end, meaning a DE, or back end, CB. Whatever way they go in free agency, they have to go for the other in the draft.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Ben | December 17, 2007 4:20 PM
Bill - I think this analysis is great, but what i want to know is whats the deal with a QB. I think we have to sighn suggs, price and brown, and you let mason and mcnair go. Maybe you go for samuel but then you have to go QB in the draft. Usually i would say wait and see how smith is but with such a high pick how do you not take on of the 3 top QBS? Donovan mite work? or maybe we trade down? i don't know, just throwing ideas out there
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Dan,
McNabb is an interesting option but he doesn't come for free ... he's not a free agent. You have to trade for him unless Philadelphia waives him, maybe for cap purposes. None of the free agents are worth going after. A first-round QB is a risky proposition. If you can't get McNabb., my next choice is to trade down the high pick and take a QB in the second round.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Dan | December 17, 2007 5:19 PM
Billick must go! Then talk about next year's roster.
Posted by: R.C. Fillmore | December 17, 2007 5:27 PM