Ravens Mock Off-Season 2010 1.0 (Early)

[JoeCool]

Notes: Not sure about some Uncapped Rules but I think I got it and I made the RFA/UFA assuming we have an uncapped year. Also, not sure if i have the exact draft numbers right. I got them from a website that had compensatory picks in it. Worst case, some picks would be higher.

2010 Baltimore Ravens Mock Off-Season

Team’s Un-Restricted Free Agents

QB John Beck → Re-Sign. Serviceable enough 3rd String QB.

WR Derrick Mason → Re-Sign. Our best WR since he came to Baltimore and reports suggest he’s returning.
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Coach_Expects_Reed_Mason_Return/1941893

WR Kelly Washington → DON’T Re-Sign. Unneccesary is my plan.

TE LJ Smith → Re-Sign. Todd Heap is injury prone.

DE Dwan Edwards → Re-sign. Surpassed Pryce for Starting DE.
DE Justin Bannan → Re-Sign. Suitable backup.

CB Frank Walker → DON’T Re-Sign. Penalties and spotty coverage.

Team’s Restricted Free Agents

QB Troy Smith → Trade. Look below.

FB Le’Ron McClain → Re-Sign. One of the NFL’s top FB.

WR Mark Clayton → Trade. Explained below.
WR Demetrious Williams → Re-Sign. Small role.

OT Jared Gaither → Re-Sign. Starting LT.
OT Adam Terry → Re-sign. Serviceable backup.
OT Tony Moll → Re-Sign (At right price). If not, let him walk.

OG Marshall Yanda → Re-Sign. Not great, but a starter.
OG Chris Chester → Re-Sign. Backup.

OLB Antwan Barnes → Re-Sign.

ILB Jameel McClain →Re-Sign (At right price). If he’s cheap.

CB Fabian Washington → DON’T Re-Sign. Too expensive for a small role.

P Sam Koch → Re-Sign. One of the NFL’s top P.


Trades
QB Troy Smith to CLE for CLE 2010 5th Round Pick (#139).
Smith has requested a trade and CLE is a team who could use QB depth. There have been rumors of these two being a match and I think a 5th rounder is Smith’s value.
HB Willis McGahee to DET for DET 4th Round Pick (#102).
McGahee has been surpassed as the lead back and is making a fairly high salary for a 3rd down back. DET could be a fit with the injuries to Kevin Smith and a lack of depth.
BAL 1st Round Pick (#25), BAL 5th Round Pick (#161), and WR Mark Clayton to DEN for DEN WR Brandon Marshall.
The Ravens have needed a true #1 WR for a decade and Marshall is that guy. He does have character concerns, but who better than Ray Lewis to straighten him out. His value drops because of those concerns which is why I think he could be attainted for the deal posted above. It seems like more of a haul for Marshall than what’s been rumored possible from other teams. An Offensive core with Flacco, Rice, and Marshall all 25 and under, to go with a young OL could be a force for years to come.


Draft

2nd Round - #57: CB Devin McCourty, Rutgers. Webb played well last year, but an injury makes him questionable for the start of the 2010 season. Not to mention Foxworth’s big contract which could be purged if McCourty and Webb play well together. Regardless, CB depth is needed.

3rd Round - #89: ILB Daryl Washington, TCU. The Ravens need someone to put next to Ray Lewis on the inside.

4th Round - #102: WR Jordan Shipley, Texas. Shipley could come in and be a Wes Welker type slot receiver.

4th Round - #129: DT Mike Neal. Kelly Gregg is getting up there in age and Talavou is unproven.

5th Round - #139: WR Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas. The Ravens need multiple Offensive weapons and Briscoe is great value here.

6th Round - #200: K Hunter Lawrence, Texas. The kicking situation was cost the ravens a few games last year and needs to be addressed.

7th Round - #239: OG Reggie Stephens, Iowa State. OG Depth is needed.


Notable Cuts
K Billy Cundiff

Notable Free Agent Signings

QB David Carr. The former #1 Pick comes in to backup Flacco.
RB Chester Taylor. The former Raven returns to backup Ray Rice.
LB Adalius Thomas. The former Raven will likely be cut by the Pats and could return to help the pass rush.


2010 Baltimore Ravens Depth Chart

QB: 1.) Joe Flacco 2.) David Carr 3.) John Beck
HB: 1.) Ray Rice 2.) Chester Taylor 3.) Jalen Parmele
FB: 1.) Le’Ron McClain
WR: 1.) Brandon Marshall 2.) Derrick Mason 3.) Jordan Shipley 4.) Dezmon Briscoe 5.) Demetrious Williams 6.) David Tyree
TE: 1.) Todd Heap 2.) LJ Smith 3.) Edgar Jones
LT: 1.) Jared Gaither 2.) Oniel Cousins
LG: 1.) Ben Grubbs 2.) Chris Chester
C: 1.) Matt Birk 2.) David Hale
RG: 1.) Marshall Yanda 2.) Reggie Stephens
RT: 1.) Michael Oher 2.) Tony Moll

DT: 1.) Haloti Ngata 2.) Justin Bannan
NT: 1.) Kelly Gregg 2.) Kelly Talavou 3.) Mike Neal
DE: 1.) Dwan Edwards 2.) Trevor Pryce
RLB: 1.) Terrell Suggs 2.) Paul Kruger
JACK: 1.) Dannell Ellerbe 2.) Daryl Washington 3.) Tavares Gooden
MIKE: 1.) Ray Lewis 2.) Jameel McClain
SLB: 1.) Jarrett Johnson 2.) Adalius Thomas 3.) Antwan Barnes
CB: 1.) Dominique Foxworth 2.) Ladarius Webb 3.) Devin McCourty 4.) Chris Carr 5.) Corey Ivy 6.) Cary Williams
SS: 1.) Dawan Landry 2.) Marcus Paschal
FS: 1.) Ed Reed 2.) Tom Zbikowski

P: Sam Koch
K: Hunter Lawrence
KO: Hunter Lawrence
H: Sam Koch
KOR: Ladarius Webb
PR: Chris Carr
LS: Matt Katula

[Jeremiah W]

I do not like those trades. I would rather keep Willis and Smith than get extra 4th and 5th round picks this year. 2nd rounder for both of them and we can make a deal, but I do not see a roster spot for a role player right now.

QB 3
Flacco
Smith
Beck

RB 3
Rice
Willis
Parmale

FB 1
McClain

WR 5
Mason
Demarius Thomas #1
Clayton
Stallworth
Harper

TE 3
Heap
Peek #3
Jones

OL 8
Gaither
Grubbs
Birk
Yanda (stud)
Oher
Chester
Cousins
Hale

OLB 6
Suggs
JJ
Kruger
Barnes
Burgess
Ayanbedejo

ILB 5
Lewis
Ellerbe
Gooden
McClain
Phillips

DL 6

Nagta
Gregg
Peppers
Pryce
McKinney
Talavou

CB 6

Foxworth
Washington (RFA not expensive)
Webb
Parish Cox or some 2nd round CB
Carr
Walker

S 5

Reed
Landry
Zibs
Nakamura
Kam Chancelor 4th round

Sp 3
Cundiff
Koch
Katula

[NC Raven]

A few points:

-- Shipley probably will go in the 3rd, so we surely won't get him late in the 4th. As for the Welker comparison, yeah, he's white too. That's about it. I know everybody's going to say it, but just because everybody is going to say it, doesn't make it true. Shipley is a speed guy; Welker was a TE in college -- the last guy Texas Tech listed as a true TE before they scrapped the position from their depth chart. He carried the ball quite a bit and was used kind of like an H-back, although he did also return kicks. But he does not have the flat out speed of a guy like Shipley, and therefore is not used as an outside WR.

Shipley, to me, is not a slot guy, but a wide guy you use as the speed guy opposite your #1 possession receiver, like a Santonio Holmes across from Hines Ward; we'd want him opposite Mason. Whether he can play that position in the NFL, maybe. I wouldn't bet against him -- he's a very good player, and very intelligent, which will serve him well. But we aren't getting him at the end of round 4 unless he tears his ACL at the Combine.


-- Dezmon Briscoe will be so long gone by the end of the 5th round that when that pick is called, we won't even remember how long ago Briscoe was drafted or by who.

-- Trades? Who knows. Doubtful anybody wants Troy. Willis has value, but who wants his contract? Marshall might be gettable, but I think the Broncos will say no thanks to taking Clayton off our hands. That's our mess; they're not gonna flush it for us.

-- LJ Smith, re-sign? Why? Is he the last tight end on earth?

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Why would we go with yet another rookie kicker?

Cundiff has to be the odds on favorite here...

[effo5231]

-- Shipley probably will go in the 3rd, so we surely won't get him late in the 4th. As for the Welker comparison, yeah, he's white too. That's about it. I know everybody's going to say it, but just because everybody is going to say it, doesn't make it true. Shipley is a speed guy; Welker was a TE in college -- the last guy Texas Tech listed as a true TE before they scrapped the position from their depth chart. He

First of all.... In what universe did Texas Tech list Welker as a TE? This Texas Tech page (http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/welker_wes00.html) has him listed as a running back who primarily handles returns. I googled "Wes Welker" "Tight End" and got nothing, and besides.... 5'8 170 pounds doesn't get you a TE spot in the 30's when offensive linemen topped out at 255 much less today.

Secondly the Welker comparison is valid. Shipley was used in college the same way Welker is used today, as a chain mover and return man who racks up a whole lotta YAC by bringing the ball down across the middle.

[Neelson88]

marshal yanda = "not great" ?????? no way! yanda was amazing down the stretch and will be a force opposite grubbs next year.

[grayplay]

LJ Smith to replace Heap, beacause Heap is injury prone...right. You just replaced the pot with the kettle, good job.

Why would we get rid of the only kicker last year that was dependable? We did that with Stover and look how well it turned out.

Yanda is much better than you give credit.

Lastly, ray Lewis is not a therapist. He is not a miracle worker. He is a respected MLB who inspires players that love the game. He's not gonna fix Marshall is he truly is a headcase. He played with CMAC for how many years and never fixed him?

[HoustonRaven]

Welker was a TE in college -- the last guy Texas Tech listed as a true TE before they scrapped the position from their depth chart. He carried the ball quite a bit and was used kind of like an H-back, although he did also return kicks

Huh? :187734:

Welker played a little TE in high school, not college. And you're overstating his use at H-back. The most carries he ever had in one game was 6 in 2003 (against my Longhorns).

Welker played TE about as much as I did in college.

[Mr. Mojo Rizon]

I think JoeCool's brain needs to thaw out. Hey maybe the Bengals could hire him as GM.

[Carey]

Notes: Not sure about some Uncapped Rules but I think I got it and I made the RFA/UFA assuming we have an uncapped year. Also, not sure if i have the exact draft numbers right. I got them from a website that had compensatory picks in it. Worst case, some picks would be higher.

2010 Baltimore Ravens Mock Off-Season

Team’s Un-Restricted Free Agents

QB John Beck → Re-Sign. Serviceable enough 3rd String QB.

WR Derrick Mason → Re-Sign. Our best WR since he came to Baltimore and reports suggest he’s returning.
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Coach_Expects_Reed_Mason_Return/1941893

WR Kelly Washington → DON’T Re-Sign. Unneccesary is my plan.

TE LJ Smith → Re-Sign. Todd Heap is injury prone.

DE Dwan Edwards → Re-sign. Surpassed Pryce for Starting DE.
DE Justin Bannan → Re-Sign. Suitable backup.

CB Frank Walker → DON’T Re-Sign. Penalties and spotty coverage.

Team’s Restricted Free Agents

QB Troy Smith → Trade. Look below.

FB Le’Ron McClain → Re-Sign. One of the NFL’s top FB.

WR Mark Clayton → Trade. Explained below.
WR Demetrious Williams → Re-Sign. Small role.

OT Jared Gaither → Re-Sign. Starting LT.
OT Adam Terry → Re-sign. Serviceable backup.
OT Tony Moll → Re-Sign (At right price). If not, let him walk.

OG Marshall Yanda → Re-Sign. Not great, but a starter.
OG Chris Chester → Re-Sign. Backup.

OLB Antwan Barnes → Re-Sign.

ILB Jameel McClain →Re-Sign (At right price). If he’s cheap.

CB Fabian Washington → DON’T Re-Sign. Too expensive for a small role.

P Sam Koch → Re-Sign. One of the NFL’s top P.


Trades
QB Troy Smith to CLE for CLE 2010 5th Round Pick (#139).
Smith has requested a trade and CLE is a team who could use QB depth. There have been rumors of these two being a match and I think a 5th rounder is Smith’s value.
HB Willis McGahee to DET for DET 4th Round Pick (#102).
McGahee has been surpassed as the lead back and is making a fairly high salary for a 3rd down back. DET could be a fit with the injuries to Kevin Smith and a lack of depth.
BAL 1st Round Pick (#25), BAL 5th Round Pick (#161), and WR Mark Clayton to DEN for DEN WR Brandon Marshall.
The Ravens have needed a true #1 WR for a decade and Marshall is that guy. He does have character concerns, but who better than Ray Lewis to straighten him out. His value drops because of those concerns which is why I think he could be attainted for the deal posted above. It seems like more of a haul for Marshall than what’s been rumored possible from other teams. An Offensive core with Flacco, Rice, and Marshall all 25 and under, to go with a young OL could be a force for years to come.


Draft

2nd Round - #57: CB Devin McCourty, Rutgers. Webb played well last year, but an injury makes him questionable for the start of the 2010 season. Not to mention Foxworth’s big contract which could be purged if McCourty and Webb play well together. Regardless, CB depth is needed.

3rd Round - #89: ILB Daryl Washington, TCU. The Ravens need someone to put next to Ray Lewis on the inside.

4th Round - #102: WR Jordan Shipley, Texas. Shipley could come in and be a Wes Welker type slot receiver.

4th Round - #129: DT Mike Neal. Kelly Gregg is getting up there in age and Talavou is unproven.

5th Round - #139: WR Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas. The Ravens need multiple Offensive weapons and Briscoe is great value here.

6th Round - #200: K Hunter Lawrence, Texas. The kicking situation was cost the ravens a few games last year and needs to be addressed.

7th Round - #239: OG Reggie Stephens, Iowa State. OG Depth is needed.


Notable Cuts
K Billy Cundiff

Notable Free Agent Signings

QB David Carr. The former #1 Pick comes in to backup Flacco.
RB Chester Taylor. The former Raven returns to backup Ray Rice.
LB Adalius Thomas. The former Raven will likely be cut by the Pats and could return to help the pass rush.


2010 Baltimore Ravens Depth Chart

QB: 1.) Joe Flacco 2.) David Carr 3.) John Beck
HB: 1.) Ray Rice 2.) Chester Taylor 3.) Jalen Parmele
FB: 1.) Le’Ron McClain
WR: 1.) Brandon Marshall 2.) Derrick Mason 3.) Jordan Shipley 4.) Dezmon Briscoe 5.) Demetrious Williams 6.) David Tyree
TE: 1.) Todd Heap 2.) LJ Smith 3.) Edgar Jones
LT: 1.) Jared Gaither 2.) Oniel Cousins
LG: 1.) Ben Grubbs 2.) Chris Chester
C: 1.) Matt Birk 2.) David Hale
RG: 1.) Marshall Yanda 2.) Reggie Stephens
RT: 1.) Michael Oher 2.) Tony Moll

DT: 1.) Haloti Ngata 2.) Justin Bannan
NT: 1.) Kelly Gregg 2.) Kelly Talavou 3.) Mike Neal
DE: 1.) Dwan Edwards 2.) Trevor Pryce
RLB: 1.) Terrell Suggs 2.) Paul Kruger
JACK: 1.) Dannell Ellerbe 2.) Daryl Washington 3.) Tavares Gooden
MIKE: 1.) Ray Lewis 2.) Jameel McClain
SLB: 1.) Jarrett Johnson 2.) Adalius Thomas 3.) Antwan Barnes
CB: 1.) Dominique Foxworth 2.) Ladarius Webb 3.) Devin McCourty 4.) Chris Carr 5.) Corey Ivy 6.) Cary Williams
SS: 1.) Dawan Landry 2.) Marcus Paschal
FS: 1.) Ed Reed 2.) Tom Zbikowski

P: Sam Koch
K: Hunter Lawrence
KO: Hunter Lawrence
H: Sam Koch
KOR: Ladarius Webb
PR: Chris Carr
LS: Matt Katula

Like some of the moves, as far as the draft i dont think Shipley, Neal or Briscoe fall to those spots. I def. see no need to draft a LB, No way LJ is brought back....Im starting to think we can get more like a 3rd for Mcgahee, and in ur scenerio we still cant rush the passer. All in all solid job though.

[Carey]

I do not like those trades. I would rather keep Willis and Smith than get extra 4th and 5th round picks this year. 2nd rounder for both of them and we can make a deal, but I do not see a roster spot for a role player right now.

QB 3
Flacco
Smith
Beck

RB 3
Rice
Willis
Parmale

FB 1
McClain

WR 5
Mason
Demarius Thomas #1
Clayton
Williams
Harper

TE 3
Heap
Peek #3
Jones

OL 8
Gaither
Grubbs
Birk
Yanda (stud)
Oher
Chester
Cousins
Hale

OLB 6
Suggs
JJ
Kruger
Barnes
Burgess
Ayanbedejo

ILB 5
Lewis
Ellerbe
Gooden
McClain
Phillips

DL 6

Nagta
Gregg
Peppers
Pryce
McKinney
Talavou

CB 6

Foxworth
Washington (RFA not expensive)
Webb
Parish Cox or some 2nd round CB
Carr
Walker

S 5

Reed
Landry
Zibs
Nakamura
Kam Chancelor 4th round

Sp 3
Cundiff
Koch
Katula

Great roster JW, personally i'd take another WR where you took cox and took a corner where you took Chancelor but just my preference. Great job

[NCRAVEN]

Why do they need to put someone on the insed next to Ray. Did Ellerbe not show he is capable?

[Carey]

Why do they need to put someone on the insed next to Ray. Did Ellerbe not show he is capable?

Completely agree, Ellerbe looked great towards the end of the year. Gooden still has ability, Jason Phillips will be coming off of IR, I wouldnt touch the LB spot, outside or inside.

[psuasskicker]

No one will pay a 5th for Troy Smith.

Also, no way we pay a 1st rounder plus additional things for Brandon Marshall. I think there's about a 0.001% chance we trade just a first round pick to get Marshall...no way are we paying more than that. More likely we would do that trade with our 2nd rounder.

- C -

[Carey]

No one will pay a 5th for Troy Smith.

Also, no way we pay a 1st rounder plus additional things for Brandon Marshall. I think there's about a 0.001% chance we trade just a first round pick to get Marshall...no way are we paying more than that. More likely we would do that trade with our 2nd rounder.

- C -

I agree, i'd be absolutely shocked if they gave up a first for him and actually i think they will upgrade WR through the draft, It looks to be better then a 50% chance Mason comes back, also i think we may be stuck with Clayton. I think they get 2 WR's in the draft, one in the 1st one in the 3rd or 4th

[Dave Lap]

LJ Smith to replace Heap, beacause Heap is injury prone...right. You just replaced the pot with the kettle, good job.

Why would we get rid of the only kicker last year that was dependable? We did that with Stover and look how well it turned out.

Yanda is much better than you give credit.

Lastly, ray Lewis is not a therapist. He is not a miracle worker. He is a respected MLB who inspires players that love the game. He's not gonna fix Marshall is he truly is a headcase. He played with CMAC for how many years and never fixed him?

I agree with all your points here. That's exactly what I was thinking.

Thanks Joe Cool for posting a thought provoking piece.

[Gabrosin]

TE LJ Smith → Re-Sign. Todd Heap is injury prone.

:rolling:
:rolling:
:rolling:

Backing up an injury-prone TE with another injury-prone TE is NOT a solution.

[psuasskicker]

also i think we may be stuck with Clayton.

FWIW, Clayton is a RFA. We'll probably slap a 3rd round tender on him or something, but we certainly don't have to, nor do we have to be stuck with him. I think he's back next year, but likely in a dramatically reduced role.

If we're really lucky, we slap a low round tender on him and someone signs him away from us and we get something in return.

- C -

[Carey]

FWIW, Clayton is a RFA. We'll probably slap a 3rd round tender on him or something, but we certainly don't have to, nor do we have to be stuck with him. I think he's back next year, but likely in a dramatically reduced role.

If we're really lucky, we slap a low round tender on him and someone signs him away from us and we get something in return.

- C -

All of that i already knew, i meant we as fans are stuck with him from my standpoint that i think the front office will bring him back. Hopefully its with a reduced role.

[psuasskicker]

All of that i already knew, i meant we as fans are stuck with him from my standpoint that i think the front office will bring him back. Hopefully its with a reduced role.

Gotcha. I buy that completely. Although I'll say that I think if he's brought back, it'll be in a deeply reduced role. He wasn't the #2 at the end of this past year, he's had 5 years, he's clearly not going to be the guy. Stallworth's just come on. We'll probably bring in someone bigger than Stallworth even if through the draft. Clayton may not even be the #3 next year if Mason's back.

- C -

[Carey]

Gotcha. I buy that completely. Although I'll say that I think if he's brought back, it'll be in a deeply reduced role. He wasn't the #2 at the end of this past year, he's had 5 years, he's clearly not going to be the guy. Stallworth's just come on. We'll probably bring in someone bigger than Stallworth even if through the draft. Clayton may not even be the #3 next year if Mason's back.

- C -

Yea to piggy back off of Jon Boys scenerio with my own twist i could see something like....

Derek Mason and Demaryius Thomas as starters, a 3rd round pick like Carlton Mitchell and Donte Stallworth competing for the 3rd and 4th, If Clayton cant make it to the 4th spot he'd likely be gone because he cant play on special teams.

[jonboy79]

Yea to piggy back off of Jon Boys scenerio with my own twist i could see something like....

Derek Mason and Demaryius Thomas as starters, a 3rd round pick like Carlton Mitchell and Donte Stallworth competing for the 3rd and 4th, If Clayton cant make it to the 4th spot he'd likely be gone because he cant play on special teams.

Bingo, can only have 5 WR's on gameday if one can play on ST's. It also doesn't make sense to carry a guy like Clayton inactive. Inavtive spots are supposed to be for minorly injured players and developing players of value that negates PS.

I don't think Thomas would start the season a starter, but could easily end the season that way.

[psuasskicker]

I highly doubt we're going to draft 2 receivers unless one is a very late round pick.

1 / 2 - Mason + draft/FA noob
3 - Stallworth
4 - Clayton

Clayton may pass Stallworth if Stall is really out of game shape, but Stall definitely has more talent.

If we get two more WRs via FA or the draft that are Stallworth quality or better, I agree, Clayton's likely finished.

- C -

[Carey]

I've heard that Stalworth worked out in miami this whole time and is in pretty good shape and ran 40's in the 4.3 range in his workout with the Ravens