Ebony Bird
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Rick Wagner Was Overpaid By Detroit Lions

By Chris Schisler

Sep 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Baltimore Ravens right tackle Rick Wagner (71) defends against Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Ravens 37-33. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Baltimore Ravens right tackle Rick Wagner (71) defends against Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Ravens 37-33. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Losing Rick Wagner wasn’t something the Baltimore Ravens wanted to happen. However the Detroit Lions wanted it a little too badly:

Rick Wagner is exactly why free agency is good. The Detroit Lions got what they needed,. a dependable tackle in his prime. The entire point of free agency is to fill needs. It isn’t to win the Super Bowl in March with the biggest signing. It is to do what the Lions did. Wagner’s contract on the other hand, once signed tomorrow is exactly what’s wrong with free agency.

According to a Pro Football Talk report by Josh Alper, Wagner is going to get paid handsomely.

"“Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that they have agreed in principle on a deal. Rapoport reports the deal will be for more than $9 million per season, which comes in behind Lane Johnson’s deal with the Eagles although that contract is thought to reflect the team’s belief that Johnson will be their left tackle before the contract is up.”"

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The problem here is that Rick Wagner is a right tackle. Left tackles get big money, right tackles get paid less. If the Lions think Wagner is going to move over the left side of their offensive line, they are in trouble. When Ronnie Stanley was hurt in the 2016 season the Ravens moved Alex Lewis to right tackle. Wagner moving to the left side wasn’t an option and John Harbaugh and his staff knew it.

Wagner is solid at everything. The Lions are paying him as if he is great at everything. A quality right tackle is important. You can give good money to a tackle who lives on the right side. Wagner will be missed in Baltimore but his replacement is on the roster, a fourth round pick named Alex Lewis. Right tackles are important but are they that hard to find, that you have to pay Wagner $9 million per season?

The Bottom Line:

If the Ravens gave Wagner this kind of deal they would have been overpaying desperately. It would have made Wagner one of the top 10 cap hits for the 2017 season. According to Sportrac.com that would have given the Ravens a bigger cap hit for Wagner than Terrell Suggs, Eric Weddle or Justin Tucker. Was Wagner really one of the Ravens ten best players? Was he that valuable? Absolutely not.

Next: Ravens Losing In Early Stages Of Free Agency

When the Ravens were negotiating with Wagner, they probably had a set number that they were comfortable with. It’s kind of like a silent auction. You really want those beautiful plates, but you have a breaking point with your checkbook. The Lions outbid the Ravens by a long shot. They may have outbid every team with a paddle up by a long shot.

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