Ravens’ Potential Salary-Cap Casualties
Every year, the Ravens have to make tough roster decisions based on play and pay. This year will be no different.
NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith told USA today Thursday that he “conservatively” expects a $10 million salary-cap increase in 2016. If that’s the case, it would be at around $153 million, and cap analysts already expect the Ravens to be right up against that limit, and maybe even over.
“The Ravens will be looking to free up salary-cap space this offseason, and a 5-11 season guarantees roster turnover,” wrote CSNMidAtlantic.com’s Clifton Brown.
Brown named five Ravens who could be considered potential salary-cap casualties, and several other Baltimore reporters have already done the same since the season ended. Below is a list of those candidates, along with reported salary-cap implications and the skinny on each player.
It should be noted the Ravens haven’t said any of these players are in danger of being cut. And in the end, they could all stay. Other measures could be taken, including renegotiating quarterback 
CB
2016 Cap Hit = $2.77 million, Dead Money = $1.33 million, Cap Savings = $1.43 million
“Arrington’s playing time dwindled as the season progressed, as
DE
2016 Cap Hit = $2.92 million, Dead Money = $765K, Cap Savings = $2.15 million
“Canty was cut last year before the Ravens re-signed him. Canty wants to play at least one more season, but at age 33, he’s at the tail end of his career, and the Ravens have two younger defensive ends in
RB
2016 Cap Hit = $3.7 million, Dead Money = $1.4 million, Cap Savings = $2.3 million
“I still see the Ravens bringing back Justin Forsett. This isn't an iron-clad lock. This is based on risk versus reward. … From my perspective, a couple million in cap room isn't worth trading a 1,000-yard rusher (and a great role model at that position) for three options [
S
2016 Cap Hit = $1.87 million, Dead Money = $934K, Cap Savings = $933K
“If the Ravens let go of Lewis after just one season, it won't be because it would generate a lot of cap savings. They'd gain less than $1 million of cap room. It would be to alleviate the logjam at safety, which includes
LT
2016 Cap Hit = $8.7 million, Dead Money = $6.6 million, Cap Savings = $2.1 million
“Cutting Monroe with three years left on a five-year, $37.5 million contract, would be a bold move. … My guess is that Monroe stays. But talk of cutting him is open for discussion due to his injury-plagued past two seasons.” -- Brown
TE
2016 Cap Hit = $7.2 million, Dead Money = $6.6 million, Cap Savings = $600K
“There’s always a chance that Pitta agrees to an incentive-laden deal with no guaranteed money to continue with a potential comeback, but he is more likely to be released or to retire. The question will be whether the Ravens want $6.6 million in dead money to be absorbed in 2016 or to give him a post-June 1 designation to push $4.4 million of that to 2017. Either way, Pitta’s exit isn’t going to be of great assistance when it comes to making moves this offseason.” – WNST’s Luke Jones
2016 Cap Hit = $4.38 million, Dead Money = $1.75 million, Cap Savings = $2.63 million
“Smith will turn 34 years old in March, and younger inside linebacker Zach Orr could be ready to take over next to C. J. Mosley. Smith is still a solid player and person, but the Ravens could save $2.6 million in cap space by letting him go, and they need to get faster defensively.” -- Brown
DB Lardarius Webb
2016 Cap Hit = $9.5 million, Dead Money = $6 million, Cap Savings = $3.5 million
“Webb said he planned on switching from cornerback to safety next season. But there is no guarantee that will happen with the Ravens. … To stay, Webb will likely have to accept a pay cut.” – Brown
Below is a table created by Russell Street Report’s cap guru Brian McFarland that lays out the financial implication for several players for both 2016 and 2017.
Which Former Ravens Playing In Super Bowl Do You Want Back?
With several former Ravens preparing to play in Super Bowl 50 Sunday, Hensley looks at which players it’d be nice to have back in Baltimore.
Turns out, Hensley wouldn’t take back very many. He ranked the ex-Ravens based on how they played this season, and gave his reasoning for either wanting or not wanting their return.
1. Broncos S Darian Stewart: “Definitely. He was the 10th-best safety, according to Pro Football Focus.”
2. Panthers T Michael Oher: “Not really. The Ravens have uncertainty at left tackle with Eugene Monroe's disappointing season, but they have to hope they can do better than Oher.”
3. Broncos TE Owen Daniels: “No, there's just no room with
4. Panthers TE Ed Dickson: “No. See above with Daniels.”
5. Panthers DE Dwan Edwards: “No. The Ravens have good, young depth along the defensive line.”
6. Panthers QB Derek Anderson: “The Ravens could've used Anderson this season when Joe Flacco suffered a season-ending injury. … He would've been an upgrade over
7. Panthers K Graham Gano: “No. Baltimore has the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history in
8. Broncos G Robert Myers: “Baltimore would be interested in bringing him back as a developmental lineman, but the Ravens seemed to prefer undrafted rookie Kaleb Johnson (who was promoted to the active roster by Baltimore) over Myers this year.”
Recent QB Buzz Is Good News For Ravens
The Ravens don’t need a franchise quarterback. They already have one.
But several teams at the top of the draft could use one, and they may want to take advantage of their early draft picks while they can. Meanwhile, North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz is creating a ton of buzz after standing out at the Senior Bowl last week.
Add him to the consensus top quarterback Jared Goff from Cal, and it would only mean good things for the Ravens if two quarterbacks were picked before they’re on the clock at No. 6.
The Cleveland Browns need a quarterback with news that they’ll cut Johnny Manziel, and the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers may both want to draft a quarterback now to groom him over the next year or two behind aging quarterbacks Tony Romo and Philip Rivers. Meanwhile, there’s a thought that the 49ers (No. 7) may want a quarterback, which would put the Ravens in prime position as a trade partner.
“Since the Ravens aren’t in the quarterback market, they have to be pleased with the way the last week or so has played out,” wrote Russell Street Report’s Ryan Jones. “There was some serious QB buzz coming out of the Senior Bowl, and the early prediction that recently hired 49ers coach Chip Kelly would help resurrect Colin Kaepernick’s career appear to have been premature.
“Quarterbacks in general seeing their draft stock rising is good news for the Ravens, and so is the potential departure of Kaepernick from San Francisco. It’s quietly been a productive week on both of those fronts.”
Steelers WR Antonio Brown Still Upset With Bengals
Here’s a little AFC North update …
Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown still isn’t over the ferocious hit from Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict that knocked him out of the playoffs. We’ll never know whether the Steelers would have beaten the Broncos in the divisional playoff round had Brown been playing, but it’s crossed Brown’s mind.
“It’s unfair, unfortunately,” Brown told the NFL Network’s “HQ.” “But that is where I’m at now. Guys don’t want to stop me, guys want to kill me and take me out of the game.”
To make the hit worse, Bengals cornerback Adam Jones accused Brown of faking a concussion. Jones apologized after it was clear the concussion was real when Brown missed the Broncos game, but Brown didn’t seem all that impressed by the apology.
Does Brown have anything to say to Jones?
“Not at all, I think he texted me, but I was really upset,” Brown said. “A guy goes on national TV and says I’m an actor. … I don’t play no acting games and I take pride in my work and being a professional.”
Quick Hits
That's right 89 will be getting his analyst on!!! @CBSsports #Agent89 https://t.co/SPn2elN9kc pic.twitter.com/YprirDNVSG
—Steve Smith Sr. (@89SteveSmith) February 5, 2016
The snowset from our backyard. pic.twitter.com/Jp02w97oEU
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 4, 2016
#Browns' Manziel allegedly hit woman, threatened suicide, per reports https://t.co/6Q9Q4FnAYx pic.twitter.com/zpimWKTMC5
— CSN Ravens (@CSNRavens) February 5, 2016
ICYMI: From Johnny Manziel to Kyle Boller, a ranking of the AFC North's QB busts https://t.co/LVE9Ltxt0k #bengals #browns #ravens
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) February 4, 2016
Who does the best 'Carlton' dance in the NFL? #Panthers Mike Tolbert thinks the answer is obvious! #SB50https://t.co/yqxhf9Z8um
— AtTheBuzzer (@TheBuzzerOnFOX) February 2, 2016
