What Will the Ravens Roster Look Like Going Forward?

So we keep hearing about how talented the Ravens really are, and the more I thought about that, what I found to be impressive was how young the talent was and how much of it was under contract in 2017.

But before I get into who will still be here in 2017, let’s talk briefly for a moment about picks. It’s more than likely in the 2016 draft the Ravens will land at least two major comp picks. 

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Smith and McPhee left for fairly sizable money. And Owen Daniels got what seemed to me to be an inexplicable $12 million on the market. We signed Arrington, but he was cut and Kendrick Lewis and his 3/5.2 deal is likely negated by Stewart’s 2/4.2 deal. Either way, this is likely a third, a fourth and a seventh round pick, plus we moved up from the fifth round in the Gradkowski trade. 

Sidebar, how ridiculous is this “Gino Gradkowski the new anchor of the Broncos revamped OL” headline published in USA Today? I almost feel bad for Manning.

So that’s 3 new picks and moving up from the fifth to the fourth (a seemingly appropriate sweet spot for the Ravens). Not being aware of any picks going out, that’s a solid 10 picks the Ravens have heading into the draft. A nice haul of talent for a team that’s been heralded as talented heading into the year.

Let’s start with who isn’t under contract in 2017. 

Special Teams: Tucker. 

Offense: Yanda (16), Osemele (16), Wagner (17), M. Brown (16), Aiken (16), S. Smith (17). 

Sure on offense, there are definitely some question marks. You assume at least one very big deal is in line for a OL. And that Wagner will get paid potentially to stay if there isn’t a groomed replacement. But of those guys only 4 of them will need to be replaced in 2014. And likely only one of Aiken/Brown will be sticking around long-term. So really, that only leaves one hole in the roster on offense heading into 2016. Everyone else will be back (if we want them to be).

That means that Flacco, Forsett/Allen/Taliaferro, Zuttah/Urschel, Monroe, Williams/Gillmore/Pitta, Perriman will all be here together. With the only turnover appearing to be one of the two guards potentially, and Steve Smith and whichever guy doesn’t win the long-term WR spot. 

In terms of future upside you’ve got Campanaro, Waller, Carter, Myers, Boyle waiting in the wings. 

Defense: Canty (17), KLM (17), Arthur Brown (17), Upshaw (16), Will Hill (16), Elam (17), Brandon Williams (17), Tyson (16).

On defense, this is impressive. Every starter in the secondary but Will Hill is signed through 2017. Most of our top end LB corps are intact through 2017, including Daryl Smith if we want him, but his cap space can be traded to Brown as he saves $3.5 against the cap if he’s gone. Upshaw will either get overpaid and stay. Will Hill and Brandon Williams are likely the only guys on that list that could get big money. And something tells me that within two years the Ravens will be ready to fill one of those two spots. And you almost hope Tyson has a huge year this year and then walks.

Now think about that for a second. Suggs, Dumervil, Smith, Webb, Lewis, Arrington, D. Smith, Mosley, Jernigan, Davis, Urban, Brooks are all under contract in 2017. You add Brandon Williams to that group, and we’re in position to bring back every starter but Hill in 2016 and every starter but Hill and Williams in 2017. All within the comfy confines of our current cap. 

In terms of future upside, you’ve got the Means, Smith, Guy, Urban, Walker on the roster already. 

A lot of this hinges on Dumervil and Suggs being good to very good players over the next 3 years and the Ravens backfiling the talent. But you’re set at a lot of positions already. Assuming no development of any current roster guys, you appear to be set at ILB, DL, QB, RB, S. I think areas of need for future drafts are going to be the OLB and OL. And I kind of am assuming you’re always bringing in WR and CB in droves to fill depth for health reasons. 

Throw on top of that 25-30 picks over the next 3 years and you’ve got to think the Ravens are going to be able to keep this group together. 

So in 2016 you’re looking at needing to potentially sign or extend Yanda, Osemele, Tucker, Brown or Aiken, Hill, Upshaw, Tyson. 

If you move on from Zuttah, Forsett, Canty, S. Smith and D. Smith next year you could save as much as $12 mill in cap space. That’d put the Ravens at a comfortable $123 mill headed into the year with no Flacco extension. Meaning you could be looking at easily having $20 million in space. 

I think given the outlook of talent we have under contract for the next two years, and the upcoming picks that it makes sense to take a look at getting a deal done for KO and Yanda. Tyson can walk. And if Smith has a good year, Upshaw goes and if Brooks looks good Hill can walk. You get Flacco on a new deal to create even more space and in 2017 you give a solid deal to Wagner and Williams. And you’re in pretty great shape. 

If the Ravens Front Office follows my plan listed above (and keep the OL together), there just aren’t that many ifs on this team that get us to be very good. In the short-term we need our CBs to stay healthy and we need Perriman to develop; long-term we need to develop a younger outside pass rush presence. 

But we can keep this group together through a couple smart extensions, still have some top end comp picks from Smith/McPhee to build and really put together a team that can play together and play smart for about a 3-year window together that can bring some continuity (to a team that really hasn’t felt like it’s had it) to make the Ravens serious contenders for the next 3 years.