Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (59) celebrates after the San Francisco 49ers were unable to complete a fourth down play in the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
It is pretty well known that the Ravens biggest priority now that Joe Flacco is signed, is going to be to get Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe signed to a long term deal. That got more complicated when the Baltimore Sun reported that there is speculation that Ellerbe is looking for 25-30 million on a long term deal. The article doesn’t stipulate the expected years, but one would assume it is either 3 or 4 years.
The problem there, is that 25-30 million is elite ILB pay, and Ellerbe has only played at that level for about 10 games. For those of you who dont remember, Ellerbe was a pretty consistent presence in John Harbaughs doghouse for the past few seasons because he lacks focus. I am not sure that problem goes away anytime soon which makes paying him that much money a huge risk. I would value Ellerbe at about 5 million per season give or take, the deal he wants looks like it would pay him about 8.
I have been a huge supporter of Ellerbe, but I am not a huge supporter at 8 million per year. That is a massive overpayment and i have a hard time believing any team, much less the Ravens, would pay that for him. The best option, if these numbers are true, is to let Ellerbe go to free agency. They cant afford to pay him that much, so they either have to, a.) let some other team overpay him, or b.) let him go and figure out he isn’t worth as much as he thinks he is and lower his asking price to something more reasonable.
To Put Ellerbes number in retrospect, 25-30 million is reportedly what Paul Kruger is seeking. i think if the Ravens were going to spend that much(which I doubt they are), their money would be better invested in Paul Kruger than in Ellerbe.