Baltimore Team Needs Report

5 picks
#25, 57, 156, 157az, 194

Tight End
Todd Heap is widely considered one of the best at his position in the NFL, even with a slew of younger, more dynamic threats taking the league by storm in recent seasons. However, if the pattern holds he is due to miss 10 games with an injury this season. Every third year (2004, 2007) has been his pattern. I'm kidding of course, but his health continues to be a lingering issue and has caused a huge dip in his offensive production. After dominating from 2005-2006 with 1,620 yards and 13 touchdowns on 147 receptions he has dipped to 1,235 yards and 10 touchdowns on 111 receptions from 2007-2009 while playing six more games. Signing L.J. Smith, who for some reason had been franchised previously with the Eagles, was a desperate move and did nothing. He will be gone. Edgar Jones, a converted linebacker who plays on special teams, was not tendered. It was probably a good thing Brandon Pettigrew was snatched up by the Lions because they wound up with a quality player at a tougher position to fill, tackle Michael Oher, but you can bet if Oklahoma's Jermaine Gresham crosses their path at #25 it is a done deal. They might even trade up, even with a short stack of chips because of the Boldin trade.

Cornerback
There are a lot of question marks at this position, to put it mildly. Things are so bad the Ravens put a first round tender on Fabian Washington even though he is coming off a torn ACL. Their best corner, Ladarius Webb, is also recovering from a knee injury. Frank Walker is an unrestricted free agent, and his return is unclear. It would only be at the right price as the team could seek someone with more speed in the draft, although physical play does fit this defense in a backup role. Chris Carr is a bottom of the depth chart guy best suited for special teams. Dominique Foxworth's play is lackluster. Veteran Samari Rolle, who did not play last year because of a neck injury, had his contract terminated. It is very possible they take one shot early and another late to bolster this area.

Defensive Line
As nasty as the Ravens were defensively in the 00's they are facing some significant issues up front which need to be addressed for them to be successful down the road. No one questions how solid their run defense is, but without a fountain of youth some reinforcements are needed. Trevor Pryce is technically still in the mix. Considering he is old, and making too much for a backup role in this the final year of his contract anything they get from him is gravy. Cutting him is a real possibility. Bannan was lost in free agency, ironically to the team Pryce came from, the Broncos. Maybe four years later they are still mad about it. Gregg has struggled with injuries and missed the 2008 season. At 34 this November this might be his final season. Divens was tendered as an exclusive rights free agent, but someone who can stick in the middle for years to come is needed to pair with Ngata. Edwards took on a starting role at end, and he is lingering in free agency. To sum up, they could stand to add at least one, probably two new bodies up front. A lot depends on if they sign Edwards and what they really expect to get out of Pryce/Gregg.

Offensive Tackle
After passing out a bunch of tenders on the line it is a given the team will be searching for competition. They put a first rounder on Gaither, who starts on the left side. He has been knocked for a lack of work ethic, but with such high demand at the position it was worth the price. Besides, they have Oher as a potential replacement currently penciled in on the right side and if the two have to switch places at some point in the future so be it. Point being their starters should be set. Terry, Moll and Rodgers were all restricted free agents. Terry, who was a decent backup when healthy prior to missing last season with a knee injury, was not tendered and signed with the Colts. Rodgers, who is a practice squad type, was not tendered either. Moll was picked up from Green Bay and did warrant a tender. It is just an issue of depth, and with other questions on the interior of the line a little versatility will be a bonus in a rookie draft pick.

Interior Offensive Line
Their two starting right guards were both hit with a second round tender as restricted free agents. Chester is viewed as a finesse player and lost the starting job to Yanda who brings a nastier run blocking element to the table. If you follow this team you can see why the move was made. Chester does bring some value as a backup center, which is also an area of concern down the line. Birk is a tremendous starter, but the time is now to poke around for his eventual successor. Typically rookie centers are used at guard early in their careers so expect them to grab one if the right player is there on day three.

Kicker
Not many kickers get drafted, even though the position is so important when you think about it. Three went off the board last year, and only one of them actually kicked field goals. He was the last pick of the draft, better known as Mr. Irrelevant which was Kansas City's Ryan Succop. Since Janikowski was a stunning first rounder in 2000, the decade produced just three other kickers taken in the top 100 picks and one of those was #98. This is good news for a team like the Ravens, who made the wrong move by allowing long tenured Matt Stover to depart. They threw a second round tender on Cundiff out of pure desperation. He moved in when Hauschka, who beat out undrafted rookie Graham Gano, was cut. Someone will be brought in to compete for this job because as a playoff contender they can't be derailed by missing chip shots. Also worth noting they tendered their punter Koch (second round) and he is solid.

Linebacker
There are bigger fish for them to fry at this point, but there are just a few things to point out there. They placed a fourth round tender on Barnes whose play has been suspect, even on special teams. Having just drafted Kruger, and with Suggs in his prime their situation outside is not going to be high on their radar during the draft. Inside they have a few question marks, and it might warrant a late move. A lot depends on just how long Ray Lewis can be Ray Lewis, or close to it, and their opinions of some young players on hand. McClain is an exclusive rights free agent, Burgess was handed a sixth round tender, but is not considered fast enough to see the field on defensive. Next year Gooden will be a free agent. When there are future question marks, it sometimes can lead to throwing another contender into the mix.

Safety
Strong side starter Landry, was given a second round tender and is healthy again. He missed almost the entire 2008 season. On the free side Ed Reed seems to be one more injury from early retirement and in the heat of the moment brought it up shortly after the season ended. It is likely he plays this year and probably beyond. However, the possibility has to concern the team, especially with decisions on young safeties Zbikowski and Nakamura next year when they will be free agents. Do they have enough talent at the position with an eye on 2011? Maybe not, and it could lead to a sleeper addition of a rookie capable of manning either spot.

Wide Receiver
After failing to make a big splashy addition in recent seasons the Ravens finally made the upgrades, on paper at least. I am a huge fan of Anquan Boldin, who used to regularly fill up my stat sheet in FFL because whenever he plays you can bet on 6 catches. However, he has mostly been paired with Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona. It is difficult enough changing teams (and offenses) but moving to #1 can be very difficult. I'm not comparing him to Peerless Price, but remember how it went when he made the move from Buffalo to Atlanta? Still, Boldin is a huge shot in the arm and a bargain considering he came with a fifth round pick and cost them their third and fourth. Health is a concern. It is also an issue with picking up Donte' Stallworth (cut by the Browns) who sat out 2009 serving a suspension. When healthy he is a great deep threat. Annual receiving leader Derrick Mason was retained because he surely realized no one else would give him money, and that's just the nature of the beast at his age (36). The question becomes what to do for depth and youth. Clayton was given a higher tender (second round) than Williams (fourth round) as restricted free agents. However, if the light bulb has not gone on in four seasons for the speedy Williams whose career numbers (63 receptions, 1,008 yards, 4 TD) would be decent in a single season it does not seem like he is long for this roster. Clayton spending a season as the third option could ignite him, but in 2011 this team needs someone to take over for Mason who might not fulfill the second year of his contract. Tyree and Washington, both free agents, are iffy to return and not long term answers. A lot of words for a position they scratched off the "high need" list, but look for them to go bargain hunting for someone to shake up the bottom of their depth chart.

Backup Quarterback
Joe Flacco is their unquestioned starter for the foreseeable future. They placed second round tenders on two other young quarterbacks on the roster, Troy Smith and John Beck. Smith has tried to whine his way out of town, and probably for good reason. Beck has more history with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron because of their brief stint together with the Dolphins. He is also keeping his mouth shut, which is what teams generally want their backup quarterback to do. Should they move Smith it seems more likely they would add a veteran off someone's scrap heap rather than spend a valuable draft pick, but I'm bringing it up because they could be adding another selection to address another need if he is in fact dealt.

Backfield
Some brief notes to make here. McGahee's salary ($3,600,000) is too much for a backup role and something might need to be figured out. He could renegotiate. Their multiple Pro Bowl fullback McClain was given a first round tender as a restricted free agent. Right now they have strength in numbers even though Ray Rice from Rutgers running rampant, as Rich Eisen might say, is their main threat. He can't do it alone and while McClain isn't going anywhere they either need to keep McGahee or figure out a reliable player to fill his role.