Oct 12, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Haloti Ngata (92) rushes as Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Logan Mankins (70) blocks during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Year after year, the Baltimore Ravens let players who were starters or major role players walk in free agency. The reasoning is simple – they can’t afford to pay everyone. Consistently competing in the NFL means that you have to maximize your talent within the confines of the salary cap. Few teams do a better job of this balancing act than the Ravens.
Somehow, some way, the Ravens always seem to plug the holes left by the departure of talented players each season. This year will once again prove to be a challenge, as free agency saw multiple starters from 2014 head for greener pastures. That means a lot of snaps are there for the taking, and a mixed group of rookies, free agent signings, and established veterans are already fighting for them.
Overall, the situation looks dire. According to Pro Football Focus, the total number of snaps that the Ravens must fill due to lost players is the 8th highest in the NFL when adjusted to compensate for variances by team and how many plays they run. We’re talking about thousands of snaps up for grabs.
We thought it would be informative to take a look at the actual number of snaps the Ravens must fill by player lost, and what player(s) are the best candidates to step in and fill them. In some cases the choice is quite obvious, but in others, there is no defined replacement. Click next and we’ll start the break down.
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