Athletic: finding homes for top-10 remaining free agents.

**Shas** · 03-19-2019, 09:00 AM

Story on the Athletic predicted these homes for what they are calling the ten best remaining free agents. (Removed commentary for all but #10 -- which actually appears as their #1 remaining free agent.)

Ezekiel Ansah (DE): Indianapolis Colts
Ndamukong Suh (DT): Los Angeles Chargers
Jared Cook (TE): New Orleans Saints
Bruce Irvin (OLB/DE): San Francisco 49ers
Tre Boston (FS): Cleveland Browns
Clay Matthews (OLB): Los Angeles Rams
Zach Brown (LB): Cincinnati Bengals
Jamie Collins (OLB): Detroit Lions
Morris Claiborne (CB): Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Justin Houston (OLB/DE): Baltimore Ravens

As The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec explained, pass rush remains the Ravens’ top priority. Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith combined for 15.5 sacks and 40 quarterback hits last season. Suggs is now in Arizona, and Smith signed with the Packers. Houston has 18.5 sacks the last two years, which ranks 19th league-wide. His 24 tackles for loss since the start of 2017 also rank tied for 19th. Houston is a well-rounded edge rusher who would fit well in the Ravens’ scheme. Baltimore made a splash last week by adding free safety Earl Thomas and could fortify its front seven by signing Houston.

**GreatWhiteNorthRaven** · 03-19-2019, 09:04 AM

We were close last week. Hopefully we can get it done.

**WNCRavensFan** · 03-19-2019, 09:04 AM

Do eet

**Laxdad24** · 03-19-2019, 09:10 AM

This isn’t even a maybe. Should be done already. I mean what are we gonna do ...wait and grab some “never was” Wr after the draft? We have $$ spend it on proven playmakers.
If we went to the draft with ET AND Houston ...EDC won the FA period. Those two are bigger upgrades over who left IMHO.

“You gonna do something .....or just stand there and bleed” Wyatt Earp

**Shrubbs** · 03-19-2019, 09:11 AM

I don't know, I was talking to my roommate and I don't think it's unreasonable that Houston gets $12-$15M a year. I think he might be out of our price range.

**HbgPARavenfan** · 03-19-2019, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Laxdad24

This isn’t even a maybe. Should be done already. I mean what are we gonna do ...wait and grab some “never was” Wr after the draft?

Thats exactly what they will do lol

**WNCRavensFan** · 03-19-2019, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Shrubbs

I don't know, I was talking to my roommate and I don't think it's unreasonable that Houston gets $12-$15M a year. I think he might be out of our price range.

The Ravens have the space even after the Thomas deal. Ingram they got with little impact.

do eet

**Shrubbs** · 03-19-2019, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by WNCRavensFan

The Ravens have the space even after the Thomas deal. Ingram they got with little impact.

do eet

I know we have the space, I'm just saying I don't know that he's worth that kind of money.

**Bhcforlife** · 03-19-2019, 09:22 AM

I did see where Jeff said on Twitter in response to someone (I think Chibs) last night that "they know they badly need 1 if not 2 pass rushers" and went on to say it's his opinion that Williams and Bowser are essentially bubble players heading into the 2019 camp.

Sounds dire, they really need to get Houston locked up. Not the singular answer to the pass rush problem but at least they would then have one guy they can more or less reliably count on as a rusher.

**WNCRavensFan** · 03-19-2019, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by Shrubbs

I know we have the space, I'm just saying I don't know that he's worth that kind of money.

We all know that AAV is only a fraction of a contract's true value. I guess we'll have to see right?

**Ravenswintitle** · 03-19-2019, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by Bhcforlife

I did see where Jeff said on Twitter in response to someone (I think Chibs) last night that "they know they badly need 1 if not 2 pass rushers" and went on to say it's his opinion that Williams and Bowser are essentially bubble players heading into the 2019 camp.

Sounds dire, they really need to get Houston locked up. Not the singular answer to the pass rush problem but at least they would then have one guy they can more or less reliably count on as a rusher.

I don't know how they can say Williams and Bowser are bubble players when they haven't gotten a shot yet.

**Shrubbs** · 03-19-2019, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Ravenswintitle

I don't know how they can say Williams and Bowser are bubble players when they haven't gotten a shot yet.

I think they mean they're going to have to show something in camp. Their roster spot isn't guarunteed. They haven't gotten a shot, presumably, because they haven't shown enough in practice/camp.