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Baltimore Ravens: 3 Reasons The Ravens Must Keep Dennis Pitta

By Jake McDonnell

Dec 25, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) makes a first down reception during the second quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won the contest 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 25, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) makes a first down reception during the second quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won the contest 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Ravens have to keep Dennis Pitta and here is why:

As the Ravens get ready for the new league year, a number of questions surround the team. One of those questions is how much roster shakeup Baltimore’s front office will conduct this off-season. According to Over The Cap, the Ravens have around $13 million of cap space. A chart on Sportrac has a slightly different number for Baltimore’s available cap space, but the Ravens are ranked 28th in the NFL in regards to their cap flexibility.

Because the Ravens have such limited cap space, rumors have been circulating that several “cap casualties” are in order. One of the names floating around about possibly being a cap casualty is tight end Dennis Pitta. Pitta currently has the seventh-highest cap number of Baltimore’s roster at $7.5 million. Pitta signed a five-year deal in 2014 and reduced his base salary before last season because of the uncertainty surrounding his hip. This season, he is due to make $5.5 million with a $2 million signing bonus, hence the $7.5 million total cap hit.

Last season Pitta proved that he can still play, despite his two major hip surgeries. He played in all 16 regular season games, racking up 86 receptions for 729 yards and two touchdowns.

The criticism Pitta has been receiving is that while he finished with the third-most receptions on the team, he averaged just 8.5 yards per catch last season. He was a security blanket for Flacco, but was not the legitimate down field threat that he was when the Ravens won Super Bowl 47 in the 2012-13 season. Pitta was never much of a run blocker, but he looked lost in his blocking duties last season, understandably so with his hip issues.

All of this has led many pundits to wonder if the Ravens should cut Pitta, but that would not be the right move for Baltimore.

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