Khyber53

Good teams desperately need someone who can evaluate without emotion, someone who can be the accountant and read the real numbers. Hopefully with Rhule out of the way Suleiman can go back to doing his job like that, both in drafts, FA and contracts. There's no way Suleiman didn't have a fit and get overr(h)uled on the Robbie Anderson and Ian Thomas contracts.

By not having an agent, he also doesn't have someone whispering in his ear, "You are mortal, take this offer and get your ring... this is a fantastic team, great coach, excellent organization, loyal fanbase... you won't find that elsewhere."

This ^ more than anything. And the QB market has been a buyer's one rather than a seller's this year. Carr, Jones, Garropolo, Rodgers, Smith were out there in play at the beginning with four popular draft QBs in the waiting, too. Some of those things are settling into place as we speak, a few others are out there as more affordable options. Lamar is also his own agent and that can be problematic, too. He may be a great QB, but he may not be a deal maker or much of a salesman. He might be saving 10% of his contract wages by doing so, but he may have also driven down his market value by more than that by representing himself.

In the end, Lamar has been holding his team hostage for a while on this. Not a lot of teams are willing to risk running into that wall someday themselves.

The Ravens are known for smart moves. They will come out ahead on this. I just think that sometimes the smart move at the table is to let the other guys play out the hand when you don't know what all the cards are.

I just want to say that from everything I've seen, Lamar has been not just an outstanding QB but also a really positive part of the Baltimore community. I mean, the guy has publicly and on the field been everything an organization wants out of a franchise QB. So, back to my statement, why won't the Ravens give him what should be an expensive but reasonable (considering the state of the NFL pay levels) contract? Is there something healthwise that we don't know about? Are they looking at that long-term 100% guaranteed part and thinking there is no way he'll still be on the field at the end, when they are still forced to be paying him? That's a good team with an excellent front office and they are saying that the cost is too high for them...

Man, that photo sure is a whole world of future regret.

If he was worth what he is asking and is worth the long term risk, everything says the Ravens would have taken the deal Lamar was offering. It's as simple as that. Their entire offense build and coaching is designed around getting Lamar under center and dictating the game that will be played. They cannot replicate that with anyone else in the league taking that spot. Why would the Ravens balk at paying a price that other teams might very well be willing to pony up for the opportunity to build their own teams around the guy? First, look at the teams that are supposedly chomping at the bit to get him. That's not exactly a murderer's row of playoff contenders there. That's a bunch of teams that perpetually overpay the wrong guy and draft players that don't pan out. You know, like we've been for a while now. Let's take note of not just who the suitors are, but who the suitors aren't... New England and Pittsburgh could have or could now use a better QB option. Neither one are even mentioned at going after him. Seattle had a chance to upgrade but chose to spend their money on Geno Smith instead (after one good to decent season). Why don't we just let this little carousel play itself out and just watch and see if someone over reaches for the brass ring and face plants in the sawdust?

Spitting truth and fire here. Nice first post! Bold, man.

Sooner or later, that Voodoun Mambo is going to come back and get her pound of flesh for the magic she did to get the Saints to that one Super Bowl. The swamp, it always claims back its own...

This ^ 100%. I still think we grab Robinson if he's available at #9. That guy's a weapon that we could really use. Hooker and one of the excellent tight end prospects in the second. Trading back in the first is also not off the table.

Not sure how they have the money to do that, they were mortgaged to the hilt. He's a good QB but man, the cupboards are bare there. That team is going to be living a post-Mardi Gras hangover for the next few seasons.

I just keep looking at the costs of moving up and thinking there's no way we mortgage our future for such a gamble. Look at how historically those moves have gone in the last 15 years or so... Jared Goff is the best of those picked and well, that's just disappointing. And I don't think we're just a QB away, we need TE, DE, LB, S and probably a replacement for Taylor Moton down the road (he will someday be a cap casualty -- tackles are just sooo expensive to retain). We need future first round picks for the savings and that four year rookie contract with the fifth year options for long term survivability.

Total smokescreen. I'll believe it when I see it.

The problem with America is that too many idiots want AR-15s.

Our TEs are extremely successful in a very important way. All of them are making much more money than they would be in a normal 9 to 5 job. Heck, they're successful in the very fact that they are on an NFL roster when so many young men with talent and drive aren't. From a football per dollar standpoint of the team, though, whew they suck as a group.

But, if we have a veteran QB, with the offensive line intact (if injury recovery and resigning go well), then grabbing the best RB in the draft (and a very CMC similar skill set with a bit more mass) could be the biggest asset possible in getting our offense on tract. I'm also looking that we grab him now, work him hard for the four years standard on the rookie contract and let him go out into the free agency world with a great resume, heavy stats and a higher price tag to someone else. He'd end up costing us less than $6 million a year, which after Foreman's performance may be less than he'd cost us to retain with a smaller skill set and more mileage. Foreman also wouldn't net us any compensatory picks when released later on while the first round RB would net us an additional 3rd. I just think it makes a lot of sense on paper and on the field and in the salary cap department.

Thanks to the Big Cat. He was a man of many accomplishments beyond football as well and his philanthropy has benefitted the region so greatly. Rest in Peace and thanks for all you did Mr. Richardson.

If you could get CMC again at rookie wages... That's why I said earlier this week that's why I'd take him with our pick, especially if we could trade back four or five spaces.

Just avoid the Cleveland Steamer room...

Darnold may well be teachable with the right coaches and tools around him. I think it would behoove us to give him a one year prove it contract starting with back-up QB rates and some heavy incentives for number of starts, win percentage and play offs. If he can get us to those, he deserves the extra money and a better contract. In the meantime, you work with Corral and Eason to develop them to their potential, perhaps one of them wins out. Grabbing another good QB in the third is a good move, in my opinion, Bennett, Tune or Duggan could be great value picks. In the draft this year, there will be at least one of the big name QB prospects available at #9. Be smart, trade it away to a desperate team. Move back in the draft, pick up another second, maybe another third in the process. And here's what I would do: Grab RB Bijan Robinson who can be the do everything CMC replacement at rookie wages, look to run him hard and often, then let him head to the free market after four years. In the second, use our top pick on Darnell Washington, the TE out of Georgia who could well be even better as a RT (think of reducing cost of Taylor Moton or finding that big target we need). With the next second rounder, dip into the DL pool that is so deep and look for that NT we are going to desperately need if we move to a 3-4. Mazi Smith out of Michigan might just fit that bill perfectly and still be on the board. In the third, grab one of the three QBs listed before, one or more of them will still be there. After that, it's too much of a crap shoot as to availabilities. This should be a building year for us, and it is also a get out from cap hell year, if we are smart and don't overdo it in free agency or resigning players. The biggest part of that will be going in with little attention paid to the hype machines or the buddy-buddy relationships in the NFL that can drive up demand and prices. Fitterer needs to reign in those long term deals that carry soooo much potential dead cap with them.

I completely missed Carr and he's an important one. He's a case of probably a very, very good QB who just ended up stuck on bad teams with coaches who couldn't develop QBs. Jimmy G. ended up in the opposite situation with excellent coaching but stuck behind good or legendary QBs. And this may well be that kind of draft with the best guys being relegated to the second or third echelon. There are steals to be found.

Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater in the first, Garropolo in the second. And those are the highlights... Remember how much hype there was over Bortles and Manziel? Woof. Yeah, it could be that year again. Heck, 2022 could have been that year for all we know.

Except what championships did they win? Did Megatron even get them to the playoffs more than once? A WR, even the great ones, isn't worth what the market value says anymore.

I'm not against that plan.