The first piece of the puzzle is in place, as quarterback Joe Flacco is under contract.
Now that the other pieces can start sliding in, who should be first?
The Ravens have several other marquee free agents with safety Ed Reed, linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Paul Kruger, offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie and cornerback Cary Williams.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley and CSNBaltimore’s Bo Smolka believe Ellerbe should be the next priority for the Ravens.
"On paper, he doesn't appear too important," Hensley wrote. "He's a former undrafted player who has 14 career starts. But, by the Super Bowl, Ellerbe was the Ravens' best player on defense."
Ellerbe, 27, finished the 2012 regular season with a career-high 92 tackles, 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble. He started seven games. Ellerbe started every game in the postseason and had 32 tackles and an interception. He showed he could be a three-down linebacker.
Kruger, 27, had a breakout season in which he led the Ravens with nine regular-season sacks and notched another 4.5 in the postseason, including two in Super Bowl XLVII. ESPN Insider Gary Horton said Kruger should be the team’s second priority.
Reed, 34, has been a stalwart in the Ravens defense for 11 years. He notched four interceptions and 15 pass deflections last year, starting all 16 games for the second straight year.
McKinnie, 33, came on strong once inserted into the starting lineup for the playoffs. Prior to that, however, he dealt with a hip flexor injury and said there were "weeks where I wasn’t motivated at all."
Sports Illustrated's Peter King said Flacco's deal should allow the Ravens to keep a player or two "they really want to keep," and named McKinnie. The tackle is reportedly set to hit the open market.
Williams, 28, has started every game for the Ravens the past two seasons. He had a breakout season, notching four interceptions and deflecting 17 passes this year.
