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Kyle Juszczyk Is Ravens Only Irreplaceable Free Agent

By Chris Schisler

Dec 25, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44) stretches the ball across the goal line to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 25, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44) stretches the ball across the goal line to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kyle Juszczyk is the Ravens only irreplaceable free agent. There is no player that could come in and fill his shoes.

If the Ravens can only keep one of their free agents it should be Kyle Juszczyk. Just like Tigger, the wonderful thing about Juszczyk is that there is only one. The fullback position is fading in the NFL, it has been for a long time. Juszczyk is a weapon, a lead blocker and a pass protector. You get so much value from him. This article isn’t really about Kyle Juszczyk though. It’s about the tough reality that Rick Wagner and Brandon Williams will be hard to replace.

By now, I’ve told you this a few times. Rick Wagner is replaceable. He is a right tackle. That’s where he works, that’s where he stays. If you moved Wagner to the left side, you’d be asking for trouble. Alex Lewis on the other hand has already showed us that he can do it all on the offensive line. Wagner’s price should be lowered by his lack of versatility but that’s not how free agency works.

Market Value In A Weak Market Is Not Value:

Related Story: Ravens Free Agency: Don't Forget About Kyle Juszczyk

Keeping Lewis on the left side with Ronnie Stanley is ideal. However, how much is the ideal situation worth? The Ravens are trying to keep Wagner but they know more than any other team not to overpay. It is more than likely that a team desperate for offensive line help will give Wagner more money than the Ravens would even imagine dealing out. Moving Lewis to right tackle may be inconvenient but it is more practical than dumping money on a fifth round right tackle, who is good but not great. If you don’t think Wagner is replaceable, you’re fooling yourself. Bringing in free agents is more important than keeping free agents the Ravens can live without.

Brandon Williams would be awfully nice to keep. He is the anchor of the Ravens defense, and is literally a big reason for their success. It would be nice to keep Williams but there has to be a cutoff point on the price. The defensive line is fully stocked. Carl Davis and Brent Urban are not going anywhere. Davis has incredible potential. Michael Pierce is the younger model of Williams. Pierce was undrafted and Williams was a third round pick. Nose guards are important but they are also easy to find.

The Bottom Line:

This brings me back to Juszczyk, he is the only player the Ravens can’t replace. If the Ravens lose Wagner and Williams, there are logical plan B’s. If the Ravens lose Juszczyk, there is no fullback that they can bring in that will be quite like him.

Next: Baltimore Ravens: 3 Free Agents The Baltimore Ravens Should Re-sign

When the Ravens look at their free agents, they should look at what they are actually losing with each of them. With Wagner and Williams that cost is less painful to the roster because they can be replaced. With Juszczyk the cost of his departure would not be lessened by another move.

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