Ravens Already Sign Maxx, Over Half Of Draft Class
UPDATE: The Ravens have confirmed the seven drafted rookie signings below.
The Ravens are wasting no time in inking their newly drafted rookies, already managing to get more than half of the 2015 class signed to contracts.
In addition to drawing up a one-day contract for retired and future Hall of Fame safety 
2nd round TE
4th round OLB Za’Darius Smith: $2.763 million
4th round RB Buck Allen: $2.75 million
4th round CB
5th round TE
5th round OG
6th round WR
That leaves first-round wide receiver
All the deals are for four years, as set forth by league rules under the 2011 collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Teams and drafted players have been able to get deals done much more quickly since the CBA implemented a rookie wage scale.
Gone are the days where you see rookie holdouts like wide receiver Mark Clayton in 2005. Gone are the days where rookies get out-of-this-world guaranteed money without playing a single NFL snap (see first-round draft bust quarterback JaMarcus Russell getting $32 million guaranteed in 2012.)
That means, whenever the three remaining rookies sign, the money is already essentially slotted out, including Perriman. Wilson took a look at Perriman’s pending contract, and the valuation should be similar to the 26th overall pick from last year, Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Marcus Smith.
Perriman is likely to receive a four-year, $7.881 million contract that includes a $3.992 million signing bonus and a club option for a fifth-year, per Wilson. That includes $6.371 million in total guaranteed money and a modest $1.433 million cap charge in 2015.
With Perriman looking like Torrey Smith’s replacement, and Williams looking like Owen Daniels’ replacement, the Ravens are saving a considerable amount of money.
The Ravens will get Perriman for four years at just under $8 million total, while Torrey Smith is reportedly averaging $10 million annually in San Francisco. Meanwhile, Williams will cost about $4 million total for four years, and the Broncos are reportedly giving Daniels $4 million annually in Denver.
“The Ravens are easily going to save a lot of money over the next four years with hopefully similar or better production,” wrote Baltimore Beatdown’s Matthew Stevens.
“Ozzie does it yet again!”
Projected Offensive Depth Chart After Draft
The depth chart is starting to get clearer now that the draft is in the books.
General Manager Ozzie Newsome isn’t done adding pieces yet. He may add players that are cut or add veterans after June 1 when they don’t count against the compensatory pick formula. There are also the reported 18 undrafted rookies (see below) who will be fighting for their NFL lives to get a spot on the roster.
That said, CSNBaltimore.com’s Bo Smolka put together a two-deep offensive depth chart if the season started tomorrow. This depth chart has three starting wide receivers, with
Quarterback:
“Schaub gives the Ravens a more proven commodity at backup quarterback than [Tyrod] Taylor, and as someone who played in Gary Kubiak's system, he should be ready to step right in if Joe Flacco were to go down with an injury.”
Running Back:
“Forsett returns as the obvious starter, and given that the Ravens waited until the fourth round to draft another running back, Forsett figures to be the workhorse. Taliaferro will serve as Forsett's No. 1 understudy, with rookie Javorius ‘Buck’ Allen at No. 3.”
Wide Receiver
WR 1:
WR2:
WR3: Breshad Perriman,
“Rookies don't often jump right into the mix as starters with the Ravens, but Perriman brings the size and speed that the Ravens need after losing Torrey Smith to free agency. … Marlon Brown came on strong late last season and figures to have a larger role. Michael Campanaro has the chance to make a big impact as a slot receiver if he can stay healthy.”
Tight End: Maxx Williams,
“No
Offensive Line
LT:
LG:
C:
RG:
RT:
“To be clear, there's no way the Ravens keep all 10 of these linemen. John Urschel can double as either a guard or a center and is probably the top backup in both spots.”
Ravens Have Signed Whopping 18 Rookie Free Agents
Baltimore is filling up its allowed 90-man offseason roster, reportedly signing a whopping 18 rookie free agents.
“The Ravens likely will bring in a big undrafted free agent class,” wrote The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec earlier this week. “No team has had more success with undrafted free agents than the Ravens, and it appears that they’ll have another impressive class this year.”
Who could be the lucky one (or two or three) to make the roster this year? Will any of them become the latest gem in a long line of successful undrafted players, including Marlon Brown, Bart Scott,
Per Wilson, below are the 18 signed players (not including five players Baltimore invited to this weekend’s rookie camp for a tryout):
- Alabama S
Nick Perry - Michigan DE/OLB
Brennen Beyer - Sacramento State WR
DeAndre Carter - Alabama LB
Trey DePriest - LSU RB
Terrence Magee - Colorado State-Pueblo OLB/DE
Darius Allen - Oklahoma CB
Julian Wilson - East Carolina WR
Cam Worthy - Iowa State OLB/DE Cory Morrissey
- Ohio State T
Darryl Baldwin - Harvard OL
Nick Easton - Louisiana-Monroe P/K
Justin Manton - Rutgers OL
Kaleb Johnson - BYU OL
De'Ondre Wesley - Mississippi State T
Blaine Clausell - Troy OL Terrence Jones
- San Jose State OL David Peterson
- Northern Colorado DT Lexington Smith
Do You Want Brady Suspended vs. Steelers?
The internet is running rampant with opinions about the Ted Wells report, and speculation that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady could be fined or even suspended.
Many outside of New England believe Brady could be withheld from the season-opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which wouldn’t benefit the Ravens much as they set off to reclaim the top spot in the AFC North.
Brady may have used under-inflated balls to beat Ravens in playoffs, and Steelers might not face Brady in season opener #LoseLoseForRavens
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) May 7, 2015 Our own Ryan Mink asked Ravens fans on Twitter if they would still want Brady suspended even if it benefits the Steelers. Here were a couple of their replies:
@ryanmink Yup because as tough as the rivalry is, both teams have respect for each other. You can't respect a team known for cheating.
— BossMan (@JuanB251) May 7, 2015 @ryanmink Yeah. I actually respect the Steelers. I do NOT respect the Patriots.
— Bryan (@RavensFreak00) May 7, 2015 And finally, in case you’re wondering about Brady’s first public reaction to the Wells report findings …
Tom Brady addresses the Ted Wells report in his first public appearance since the report was released. VIDEO: http://t.co/q9zM24trzp
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 8, 2015 Luck Played Factor In Getting Ed Reed
Did you know the Ravens tried to make a move in the 2002 NFL Draft that, had it been realized, would have greatly altered Ravens history?
Drafting Reed wasn’t the Ravens’ first choice. In fact, they had three players they preferred, and even tried to trade up to get one of them.
“It's still mind-blowing to think about how the Ravens ended up with a future Hall of Fame player,” wrote ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
Hensley retells the story …
Newsome was targeting either Boston College running back William Green, Arizona State offensive tackle Levi Jones or Northwestern linebacker Napoleon Harris. Green went to Cleveland (No. 16), Jones went to Cincinnati (No. 10) and Harris went to Oakland (No. 24), just one spot ahead of the Ravens.
None of those guys made the Pro Bowl, and only Jones was able to have a lasting career (8 years).
On April 20, 2001, Newsome said his board got “wiped out.” The Baltimore Sun had this headline after the draft: "Reed: Solid, not sizzling."
Sometimes luck can be very helpful.
And in case you missed it, check out our coverage of yesterday’s retirement events:
All-Time Best Ed Reed Highlights
Ed Reed Retires As One Of A Kind
Ed Reed Watches & Reacts To Legendary Moments
Eisenberg: No Question Ed Reed Will Be Inducted Into Hall Of Fame
Which QBs Did Reed Love? All Cleveland QBs
Ed Reed On Possibility Of Becoming A Coach
Reed On Ray Lewis: We Were Like Mufasa & Simba
Reed To Ozzie: Give Me 3-Day Deal ... Or 1 Year
What's Next For Ed Reed?
110 Incredible Memories of Ed Reed
Full Ed Reed Retirement Press Conference
Quick Hits
It's great to see Ed Reed on the active roster. #ThankYouEd pic.twitter.com/gwibPzUqiQ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 7, 2015 #Polamalu or #Reed? pic.twitter.com/FrywbVDTHY
— NFL (@nfl) May 7, 2015 Thanks For the love I see your tweets! A lot of folk to respond to thank u guys and gals! Bless u all!
— 20 reed (@TwentyER) May 8, 2015 I will be sending you guys fan mail out that I've collected throughout the years! Said I would when I retired, haven't forgot! #Blessup
— 20 reed (@TwentyER) May 8, 2015 #RavensNation, which track should be the single? pic.twitter.com/AkOw73KR2Q
— Joe Flacco (@TeamFlacco) May 7, 2015 Beautiful day at this place today. Rookie minicamp tomorrow. Busy days ahead. pic.twitter.com/xHWM1FQj0n
— Garrett Downing (@gdowning14) May 8, 2015 
