So what are the 'tough' decisions the Ravens have this offseason?

[baltiMOREO&R]

1) Resign Kruger: answer is no, a ZERO factor until Suggs came back. Can't afford him. INSERT UPSHAW and/or draft pick.

2) Resign Williams: answer is no way, offered $15M, turned it down, should have been throw out of Super Bowl, INSERT Graham and/or Smith

3) Resign Ed Reed: answer is maybe, if no other team offers him big dollars, pay him what we can. INSERT draft pick, free agent or convert Jimmy Smith or Webb.

4) Resign McKinney: answer is maybe, if no other team offers him big dollars, pay him what we can. We cannot depend on him for 16+ games anyone, INSERT 1st draft pick at LT, pick up vet free agent. WOuld love to have McKinney play first 4 games, grrom rookie and have him available for later in year. 9 games is all McKinney can last.

5) Resign Ellerbee: answer is MUST SIGN.

6) Keep Jones and Boldin. answer is MUST KEEP, restructure if necessary

7) Release Leech, Bobbie Williams, Koch (if required), Ayanbadejo, Cody to make some CAP room (as required)

8) DRAFT: forget best player available garbage talk (would the Ravens draft a QB or HB in Round 1? No... they would trade down or pick next best) Need to draft a LT, Center, pass rusher and safety

[OriginalColtsFan]

McKinnie: Must sign
Ellerbe: Must sign
Ed Reed: Must NOT sign, under any circumstances. He's a liability even if he were to play for free
Jones: Should sign
Boldin: If the price is right
Leach: Cut
Bobby Williams: Cut
Ayanbadejo: Cut
Cody: Not sure; could go either way
Koch: He did not impress this year, that's for sure. Keep if the price is right
Cary Williams: ONLY if the price is VERY right; otherwise...c'ya

Draft: ILB, LT, center, DT, Rush End/LB, safety.

[bmore_ken]

If you're worried about cap space you might want to cut that $4M FB and sign another one on the cheap

[Pauliseum]

" DRAFT: forget best player available garbage talk "

To the OP: really?
One of the most successful GM's in the NFL is supposed
to abandon the bedrock philosophy that got him (and the club)
two Lombardi trophies?

Now it's "garbage talk"?
Really?

Note: Please don't think that Madden and fantasy football have taught you anything about football, because it clearly has not.

[baltiMOREO&R]

" DRAFT: forget best player available garbage talk "

To the OP: really?
One of the most successful GM's in the NFL is supposed
to abandon the bedrock philosophy that got him (and the club)
two Lombardi trophies?

Now it's "garbage talk"?
Really?

Note: Please don't think that Madden and fantasy football have taught you anything about football, because it clearly has not.

OK... so with the 32nd pick in the 2013 NFL draft the Baltimore Ravens select QB x (after signing Flacco to a $100M contract) or HB x (with tons of money invested in Rice and Pierce pushing him already for playing time).

Are you serious?

The great Oz would trade down 5 moves and pick up another 2nd rounder and get 2 guys he wants and needs instead of a guy who would make millions and sit.

[ivanbalt]

Ed Reed: Must NOT sign, under any circumstances. He's a liability even if he were to play for free

Nice.

[Taylor]

1) Resign Kruger: answer is no, a ZERO factor until Suggs came back. Can't afford him. INSERT UPSHAW and/or draft pick.

2) Resign Williams: answer is no way, offered $15M, turned it down, should have been throw out of Super Bowl, INSERT Graham and/or Smith

3) Resign Ed Reed: answer is maybe, if no other team offers him big dollars, pay him what we can. INSERT draft pick, free agent or convert Jimmy Smith or Webb.

4) Resign McKinney: answer is maybe, if no other team offers him big dollars, pay him what we can. We cannot depend on him for 16+ games anyone, INSERT 1st draft pick at LT, pick up vet free agent. WOuld love to have McKinney play first 4 games, grrom rookie and have him available for later in year. 9 games is all McKinney can last.

5) Resign Ellerbee: answer is MUST SIGN.

6) Keep Jones and Boldin. answer is MUST KEEP, restructure if necessary

7) Release Leech, Bobbie Williams, Koch (if required), Ayanbadejo, Cody to make some CAP room (as required)

8) DRAFT: forget best player available garbage talk (would the Ravens draft a QB or HB in Round 1? No... they would trade down or pick next best) Need to draft a LT, Center, pass rusher and safety

I agree with all the moves you propose. Didn't consider Koch being cut before...interesting. Koch has a high # for a punter. In the draft, we need to add NT as a priority to possibly replace Cody and Kimo. I like Jesse Williams from AL in the 1st.

[bmore_ken]

OK... so with the 32nd pick in the 2013 NFL draft the Baltimore Ravens select QB x (after signing Flacco to a $100M contract) or HB x (with tons of money invested in Rice and Pierce pushing him already for playing time).

Are you serious?

The great Oz would trade down 5 moves and pick up another 2nd rounder and get 2 guys he wants and needs instead of a guy who would make millions and sit.

You really think the BPA at 32 will be one of those positions?

[OriginalColtsFan]

Oh...I forgot about Kruger. He's a "No", unless his price comes WAY down from the reported $9M he's seeking. MAYBE for around $5M. That's it.

[ivanbalt]

Oh...I forgot about Kruger. He's a "No", unless his price comes WAY down from the reported $9M he's seeking. MAYBE for around $5M. That's it.

Yeah, he'll probably have to be a casualty like JJ last year.

[bmore_ken]

I said months ago when Kruger started playing out of his mind that he's history. Some owner is going to open up the check book for him

[baltiMOREO&R]

I agree with all the moves you propose. Didn't consider Koch being cut before...interesting. Koch has a high # for a punter. In the draft, we need to add NT as a priority to possibly replace Cody and Kimo. I like Jesse Williams from AL in the 1st.

Koch is a highly paid punter. He used to be the best as far as ball placement... not sure what happened this season.

Yes NT is priority... look for right player/right price free agent signing.

[baltiMOREO&R]

You really think the BPA at 32 will be one of those positions?

Best player available could be at any position in round 1. If that player is a QB or HB, Oz will not select him. In this case, he will not pick BPA. He will go to the next player that fills a need/potential need.

[OriginalColtsFan]

Funny...the biggest decision really hasn't been addressed, and it affects everything else.



The Ravens need to sign Joe to a long term contract in which he gets at least $20M/year. And it has to be done before the March deadline, and not wait until July, so that the Ravens can sign any F/A's that become available between March and July. They do NOT have a great track record in that area. As a result, everything gets condensed when there's no reason for it. They EVENTUALLY end up signing the players they want, but it's never been a timely cost effective process. They tagged Suggs TWICE before eventually signing him. And they tagged Ngata once. They cannot afford to go the same route with Joe. They need to do it cleanly and orderly and timely.

[Struds]

Funny...the biggest decision really hasn't been addressed, and it affects everything else.



The Ravens need to sign Joe to a long term contract in which he gets at least $20M/year. And it has to be done before the March deadline, and not wait until July, so that the Ravens can sign any F/A's that become available between March and July. They do NOT have a great track record in that area. As a result, everything gets condensed when there's no reason for it. They EVENTUALLY end up signing the players they want, but it's never been a timely cost effective process. They tagged Suggs TWICE before eventually signing him. And they tagged Ngata once. They cannot afford to go the same route with Joe. They need to do it cleanly and orderly and timely.

The OP asked what are the "tough" decisions. That decision isn't tough - the execution on the other hand...

[baltiMOREO&R]

Funny...the biggest decision really hasn't been addressed, and it affects everything else.



The Ravens need to sign Joe to a long term contract in which he gets at least $20M/year. And it has to be done before the March deadline, and not wait until July, so that the Ravens can sign any F/A's that become available between March and July. They do NOT have a great track record in that area. As a result, everything gets condensed when there's no reason for it. They EVENTUALLY end up signing the players they want, but it's never been a timely cost effective process. They tagged Suggs TWICE before eventually signing him. And they tagged Ngata once. They cannot afford to go the same route with Joe. They need to do it cleanly and orderly and timely.

Flacco not listed because it is not a decision... thye have already decided he is on the team next year.

NOBODY wants this done more than Flacco. If he signs long term, he and his family is set for life. If he is franchised and God forbid, something bad happens, he could be out $40M (signing bonus) and $20M (next season franchise money).

I bet Joe is walking carefully, driving slowly and takin' it easy with so much on the line. I say he signs very soon!

[OriginalColtsFan]

Flacco not listed because it is not a decision... thye have already decided he is on the team next year.

NOBODY wants this done more than Flacco. If he signs long term, he and his family is set for life. If he is franchised and God forbid, something bad happens, he could be out $40M (signing bonus) and $20M (next season franchise money).

I bet Joe is walking carefully, driving slowly and takin' it easy with so much on the line. I say he signs very soon!

It's done once the decision is made. So far, it has NOT been made. There's a huge difference between tagging and signing Joe to a long term contract. Until it's done, it's still up in the air.

[BankyConan1]

Koch is a highly paid punter. He used to be the best as far as ball placement... not sure what happened this season.

Maybe he was concentrating more on tackling the returner since the ST turned in some pretty poor games this year also?

[Rael]

I'm not sold on the idea that losing Kruger is that big of a deal. He had a great 2/3rds of a season but we should have Suggs back at full strength next year. Part of me feels Kruger is going to add to that long line of players whose play drops off when they leave Baltimore. Ellerbe would be a big deal though. We need him back much more than the other two defenders being discussed.

[OriginalColtsFan]

I'm not sold on the idea that losing Kruger is that big of a deal. He had a great 2/3rds of a season but we should have Suggs back at full strength next year. Part of me feels Kruger is going to add to that long line of players whose play drops off when they leave Baltimore. Ellerbe would be a big deal though. We need him back much more than the other two defenders being discussed.

Agreed.