Why the Ravens should get Nnamdi Asomugha

Nnamdi Asomugha, is obviously the biggest fish in this free agent frenzy (Probably the hardest to spell too), but with many suitors waving money around, he’d be a pretty hard catch for even the likes of Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome. Nevertheless, Asomugha is a once-in-a-lifetime talent and I think the Ravens have one of the best chances of getting him in the purple and black by Friday.

If you would have told me a month ago that Baltimore would even be in the mix for Nnamdi, I would’ve said you’re crazier than Ochocinco’s last offseason job experiment. Though now in the wake of the heart-wrenching cuts of Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Willis McGahee, and Kelly Gregg, I’d say the Ravens are looking to prove that in the front-office world, they kick butt and take names. Clearing over $18 million with those cuts and looking at the other horses in the Asomugha Grand Prix, putting your money on the Ravens would be a smart bet in my eyes. They’ve already signed Yanda to a long-term deal so now they go from being a half-there dark horse to being ahead of the pack. This is because they meet 3 huge criteria for Mr. Nnamdi to be a Raven next year. 1.) They are a winning, playoff bound team 2.) They can pay him without having to worry too heavily on their other free agents 3.) He can start and help mentor day 1.

First off, the Jets reportedly have talked to Asomugha later Tuesday evening or Tuesday night. The Jets may seem on the surface as the best fit, but look deeper. Nnamdi would be entering a crowded secondary with Derrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, and Kyle Wilson all have proven to be solid starters. The Jets would still have to worry about signing either a Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, even an un-named wideout after they sign Asomugha. Even so, with the Patriots looking for redemption, it’s not looking good to be in a green New York jersey next year.

To my next point, the Houston Texans are supposedly a big name player in the Nnamdi Asomugha discussion. Let’s see, do they match any of the 3 criteria previously stated? Well, he would be used on day 1. That’s for sure. Then he’d run into the same problem he ran into in Oakland. Offenses starting to throw it to the opposite side of the field. The Texans secondary is horrific. With Asomugha maybe being the player to actually understand what man-to-man is in Houston (Including Wade Phillips), it looks like offensives would just tear up all the other defensive backs. Even then, the Texans play in the same division as Peyton Manning and the Colts. You know #18 owns the AFC South with a death-grip. It’s true that it looks like Houston will stay out of most of the free agent buzz, but still number 1 is a huge factor.

Lastly, the Ravens have money to spend. With Josh Wilson and Chris Carr maybe out the door, who will be our cornerback? Ladarius Webb and Domonique Foxworth? You mean “Old and Older”. Jimmy Smith is just a rookie trying to learn the system. Da-Da-Daaa-Dun!!! It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s a shut-down corner! Nnamdi Asomugha to the resuce! (Hey, it’s been a long 48 hours.) The Ravens have been playoff bound every year since 2008 (You read that part, Flacco Haters?), now have the money to play with since Yanda is a done deal, and Asomugha can step in and be our number 1 corner while he teaches Jimmy Smith the ropes to being the next shut-down machine. After we get Nnamdi, we’ll resign Mason and Heap, then do whatever else we can this offseason like restructuring contracts, maybe resign Dawan Landry and Le’Ron McClain, and possibly pick up another couple free agents or two. On top of nabbing the biggest prize on the market, every team will respect us if they don’t already. It’ll send a message that we’ll do whatever it takes to win in Baltimore. With everything I’ve said, it sounds like that message will be ringing loud and clear, even in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.