Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink here with Garrett Downing and breaking news on the free agency front for the Baltimore Ravens tonight. They have reportedly reached an agreement with DeAndre Hopkins on a one year contract, bringing the Pro Bowl wide receiver to Baltimore to compliment this offense. And Garrett, this is a player that, uh, We've talked about a lot over the years. I feel like and Ravens fans have have thrown out that name and said, what about D hot Man? We can we go get D hop and and this just to me feels like such a Ravens move.

Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink here with Garrett Downing and breaking news on the free agency front for the Baltimore Ravens tonight. They have reportedly reached an agreement with DeAndre Hopkins on a one year contract, bringing the Pro Bowl wide receiver to Baltimore to compliment this offense. And Garrett, this is a player that, uh, We've talked about a lot over the years. I feel like and Ravens fans have have thrown out that name and said, what about D hot Man? We can we go get D hop and and this just to me feels like such a Ravens move.

Yeah, this is a guy that is obviously super productive in his career. It's just exciting, Like it's exciting to get a player of his caliber in free agency. And we did a podcast earlier in the day talking about how it'd been a little bit quiet and the Ravens kept their own guys and they want to draft and develop.

Yeah, this is a guy that is obviously super productive in his career. It's just exciting, Like it's exciting to get a player of his caliber in free agency. And we did a podcast earlier in the day talking about how it'd been a little bit quiet and the Ravens kept their own guys and they want to draft and develop.

And I still think all that is true. But what they get in DeAndre.

And I still think all that is true. But what they get in DeAndre.

Hopkins is a proven player, high caliber, monster production. He has more receiving yards than any other active player in the NFL. So you can't argue with the production. And I kind of put this into the category of what the Ravens did last year with Derrick Henry, where he wasn't the most expensive free agent, he wasn't even the most expensive free agent at his position, but he was a great fit, highly productive player on the tail end of his career, but still had plenty of gas left in the tank. And it's just it's exciting to get a player of that caliber at the price that the Ravens got him at. And I think he'll be a great fit for this team.

Hopkins is a proven player, high caliber, monster production. He has more receiving yards than any other active player in the NFL. So you can't argue with the production. And I kind of put this into the category of what the Ravens did last year with Derrick Henry, where he wasn't the most expensive free agent, he wasn't even the most expensive free agent at his position, but he was a great fit, highly productive player on the tail end of his career, but still had plenty of gas left in the tank. And it's just it's exciting to get a player of that caliber at the price that the Ravens got him at. And I think he'll be a great fit for this team.

Yeah, I mean I think that. Certainly your first thought goes to, all right, is this another Derek Henry esque move. Here's a future, potential, certainly Hall of Fame player that they just added to the offense. I think that it's a little bit different in that DeAndre Hopkins isn't being brought in here to be the workhorse lead guy at his position like Derrick Henry was. Right, Derek Henry was the clear number one in the running in the backfield. Now, DeAndre Hopkins is a complimentary piece and a really highly high level, awesome, complimentary piece to what the Ravens have already was Zay Flowers and Rashat Bateman. So I think that needs to be made clear, right, like, yeah, this now, I think that the Ravens needed to make a move at wide receiver, even though you had your two starters and you feel really good about those two guys A and bait, like, you need three really strong wide receivers, just a you know, in case of injury, for depth for three wide looks like the Ravens offense in this next iteration of version three point zero with TODM munkin, maybe they go back to using more three wide looks, I would assume. So now with DeAndre Hopkins in the fold, but you needed more depth and proven playmakers there. I think it would have been asking a lot to say, okay, you know, Devontes Walker, step right up, you're a number three wide receiver this year, right for example, Like, you know, I think that Devonte's Walker is an intriguing prospect and he's going to continue to develop. But DeAndre Hopkins has proven it and now you have a bona fide, really top notch wide receiver trio.

Yeah, I mean I think that. Certainly your first thought goes to, all right, is this another Derek Henry esque move. Here's a future, potential, certainly Hall of Fame player that they just added to the offense. I think that it's a little bit different in that DeAndre Hopkins isn't being brought in here to be the workhorse lead guy at his position like Derrick Henry was. Right, Derek Henry was the clear number one in the running in the backfield. Now, DeAndre Hopkins is a complimentary piece and a really highly high level, awesome, complimentary piece to what the Ravens have already was Zay Flowers and Rashat Bateman. So I think that needs to be made clear, right, like, yeah, this now, I think that the Ravens needed to make a move at wide receiver, even though you had your two starters and you feel really good about those two guys A and bait, like, you need three really strong wide receivers, just a you know, in case of injury, for depth for three wide looks like the Ravens offense in this next iteration of version three point zero with TODM munkin, maybe they go back to using more three wide looks, I would assume. So now with DeAndre Hopkins in the fold, but you needed more depth and proven playmakers there. I think it would have been asking a lot to say, okay, you know, Devontes Walker, step right up, you're a number three wide receiver this year, right for example, Like, you know, I think that Devonte's Walker is an intriguing prospect and he's going to continue to develop. But DeAndre Hopkins has proven it and now you have a bona fide, really top notch wide receiver trio.

Yeah, it's hard to argue against this, this three receiver set here that the Ravens could roll out there with Zay Flowers, who's a Pro bowler in the second season, where Shan Bateman is coming off the best season of his career. In DeAndre Hopkins, who's been ultra productive in his career and I still think has has good football left in and when you look at his the Chiefs traded for him last year. In ten games with Kansas City, he had forty one catches for four hundred and thirty seven yards four touchdowns. The year before in Tennessee he was over one thousand yards. The two years before that in Arizona he dealt with some injuries five seventy two seven to seventy teen, but then he was on a straight there from twenty seventeen to twenty twenty where he was well over one thousand yards in each of those seasons. So you're talking about a guy that's got almost thirteen thousand receiving yards in his career in eighty three touchdowns, and from a football standpoint, like what kind of role was he going to play?

Yeah, it's hard to argue against this, this three receiver set here that the Ravens could roll out there with Zay Flowers, who's a Pro bowler in the second season, where Shan Bateman is coming off the best season of his career. In DeAndre Hopkins, who's been ultra productive in his career and I still think has has good football left in and when you look at his the Chiefs traded for him last year. In ten games with Kansas City, he had forty one catches for four hundred and thirty seven yards four touchdowns. The year before in Tennessee he was over one thousand yards. The two years before that in Arizona he dealt with some injuries five seventy two seven to seventy teen, but then he was on a straight there from twenty seventeen to twenty twenty where he was well over one thousand yards in each of those seasons. So you're talking about a guy that's got almost thirteen thousand receiving yards in his career in eighty three touchdowns, and from a football standpoint, like what kind of role was he going to play?

I think that he gives.

I think that he gives.

The Ravens a guy that can a proven chain mover in clutch situations, Like he is going to be somebody that can like they it's third and eight and the Ravens need a big play, and DeAndre Hopkins has come up with that catch time and time and time again in his career, and I think he'll be able to do the same thing this year.

The Ravens a guy that can a proven chain mover in clutch situations, Like he is going to be somebody that can like they it's third and eight and the Ravens need a big play, and DeAndre Hopkins has come up with that catch time and time and time again in his career, and I think he'll be able to do the same thing this year.

Yeah. I think the word that you said there that resonates with me is clutch. You know, you're talking about how much have we talked about how did the Ravens get over the hump? You know when they get into the playoffs, who's going to make that play? He's going to be that clutch performer. DeAndre Hopkins can certainly.

Yeah. I think the word that you said there that resonates with me is clutch. You know, you're talking about how much have we talked about how did the Ravens get over the hump? You know when they get into the playoffs, who's going to make that play? He's going to be that clutch performer. DeAndre Hopkins can certainly.

Be that guy.

Be that guy.

I mean, he's made tons of plays like that over his career. He caught a touchdown Super Bowl this past year, and I you know, when you're talking about fifty to fifty balls, like how much time have we spent here in Baltimore talking about can we get a wide receiver? He goes up and high points those fifty to fifty jump balls, contested catches. Kind of guy that's DeAndre Hopkins, you know, And he still has that ability. I mean, I'm just thinking back to watching Chiefs games this past season and seeing some of these catches that he makes between two defenders and taking hits, and I'm like, geez, Louise, this guy's still doing it, you know, Like, gosh, it's crazy some of the highlight real plays that he made. And so, you know, obviously, DeAndre Hopkins is a player. He wants to get to that super Bowl badly. He wants that super Bowl ring, just like Lamar Jackson, just like tons of players on this Ravens team, and feels he feels like the Ravens are a good place, just like he felt like last year the Chiefs obviously were a good place to try to do that. And I think that he's right, you know, I think adding him to this offense is potentially that piece that can get you over the hump.

I mean, he's made tons of plays like that over his career. He caught a touchdown Super Bowl this past year, and I you know, when you're talking about fifty to fifty balls, like how much time have we spent here in Baltimore talking about can we get a wide receiver? He goes up and high points those fifty to fifty jump balls, contested catches. Kind of guy that's DeAndre Hopkins, you know, And he still has that ability. I mean, I'm just thinking back to watching Chiefs games this past season and seeing some of these catches that he makes between two defenders and taking hits, and I'm like, geez, Louise, this guy's still doing it, you know, Like, gosh, it's crazy some of the highlight real plays that he made. And so, you know, obviously, DeAndre Hopkins is a player. He wants to get to that super Bowl badly. He wants that super Bowl ring, just like Lamar Jackson, just like tons of players on this Ravens team, and feels he feels like the Ravens are a good place, just like he felt like last year the Chiefs obviously were a good place to try to do that. And I think that he's right, you know, I think adding him to this offense is potentially that piece that can get you over the hump.

You know.

You know.

I mean that's maybe saying a little too much. I'm in the afterglow of this trade, but like it feels like that's that's the kind of peace. Like the Ravens have been so close, right, They've had a team that's been good enough. It's about making some of those contested catches, clutch plays in big situations. To me, that's kind of what he's been his entire career.

I mean that's maybe saying a little too much. I'm in the afterglow of this trade, but like it feels like that's that's the kind of peace. Like the Ravens have been so close, right, They've had a team that's been good enough. It's about making some of those contested catches, clutch plays in big situations. To me, that's kind of what he's been his entire career.

Earlier today, if anybody listened to the podcast, that we did. We talked a lot about how the Ravens philosophy and free agency is not to go out there and get the most expensive player, but they use it to augment the roster and fill important needs and add some really quality veterans. And that's exactly what I think this is and so well in early thirties.

Earlier today, if anybody listened to the podcast, that we did. We talked a lot about how the Ravens philosophy and free agency is not to go out there and get the most expensive player, but they use it to augment the roster and fill important needs and add some really quality veterans. And that's exactly what I think this is and so well in early thirties.

I mean, this is this is Ravens. I mean, he's thirty two years old. He's going to turn thirty three here on June sixth, and yeah, price is right. Player, a motivated player in his early thirties who still has juice left, you know, gas left in the tank, proven production, proven, you know, just guy veteran good. I think he'll be a good influence. I think he'll be a good locker room guy. Like it checks a lot of those boxes that you felt like that the Ravens also checked with Derrick Henry, even though he's in a different role.

I mean, this is this is Ravens. I mean, he's thirty two years old. He's going to turn thirty three here on June sixth, and yeah, price is right. Player, a motivated player in his early thirties who still has juice left, you know, gas left in the tank, proven production, proven, you know, just guy veteran good. I think he'll be a good influence. I think he'll be a good locker room guy. Like it checks a lot of those boxes that you felt like that the Ravens also checked with Derrick Henry, even though he's in a different role.

I also think that when you look at the reported contract is five million with a max of six million based on some incentives.

I also think that when you look at the reported contract is five million with a max of six million based on some incentives.

When you look at like the.

When you look at like the.

Price of wide receivers on the free agent market, as we've said a million times, they're expensive, they are They go for big money. And you just look at some of the deals that have been given out, so, like I'll run through a few of them. Diami Brown went to the Jaguars one year, ten million dollars, Hollywood. Brown re signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on a one year contract for eleven million dollars. Darius Slayton resigning with the Giants three year contract thirty six million dollars. Josh Palmer went to the Buffalo Bills on a three year deal thirty six million dollars, eighteen million guaranteed. So and none of them have the production overall of DeAndre Hopkins. And I understand that he's he's on the back line of his career. Some of those guys are just getting their first big contract. I understand the difference in that, But my point is just like receivers are expensive, and for the Ravens to get somebody who can be like a bona fide playmaker for the value that they got him at, I really like that. I think that, like that's what the Ravens look for in free agency. They look for the whole right right player, right price mantra. Then players that they feel like are going to fit the culture and be a good member of the team. And I think that Hopkins checks all those boxes.

Price of wide receivers on the free agent market, as we've said a million times, they're expensive, they are They go for big money. And you just look at some of the deals that have been given out, so, like I'll run through a few of them. Diami Brown went to the Jaguars one year, ten million dollars, Hollywood. Brown re signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on a one year contract for eleven million dollars. Darius Slayton resigning with the Giants three year contract thirty six million dollars. Josh Palmer went to the Buffalo Bills on a three year deal thirty six million dollars, eighteen million guaranteed. So and none of them have the production overall of DeAndre Hopkins. And I understand that he's he's on the back line of his career. Some of those guys are just getting their first big contract. I understand the difference in that, But my point is just like receivers are expensive, and for the Ravens to get somebody who can be like a bona fide playmaker for the value that they got him at, I really like that. I think that, like that's what the Ravens look for in free agency. They look for the whole right right player, right price mantra. Then players that they feel like are going to fit the culture and be a good member of the team. And I think that Hopkins checks all those boxes.

Well. I mean the reason that he didn't get the same money as there's other guys is age. Yeah, that's the reason, you know. But the Ravens are a team that have shown that they're willing to gamble on that that. Like these guys, you know that age is just a number. I mean, how many times has it worked out for him, Derrick Henry, Kyle van Noy. You can keep going down the list, the number Steve Smith. You know, they got a great first year out of Steve Smith when he signed. Keep going down the list and it does it always work? No, it doesn't always work. But I'll tell you the Ravens have a pretty darn good track record. They're hitting him for a high average. Yeah, and when you look at you know, I'm gonna dive into this into Deandre's film tomorrow, but I mean you just look on the surface here and okay. It with the Titans earlier last season, early in the season before he got traded to the Chiefs, he was averaging eleven point five a catch. Eleven point five a catch is higher average per catch than he had in twenty nineteen with the Texans when he put up eleven hundred yards right, like, like you look at his averages and it's not like, oh man, this guy just fell off the cliff, you know what I mean? Like, yeah, forty one catches for four thirty seven with the Chiefs last year, four touchdowns, Like they ain't bad, you know what I mean. Like he is a productive player there. And so I think the Ravens have shown that they're willing to, for lack of a better word in air quotes, gamble on players who maybe in their last year of their of their career or they are, you know, in their twilight years. And they've hit on that gamble more times than not. And I'm feeling good that they're going to hit on this one.

Well. I mean the reason that he didn't get the same money as there's other guys is age. Yeah, that's the reason, you know. But the Ravens are a team that have shown that they're willing to gamble on that that. Like these guys, you know that age is just a number. I mean, how many times has it worked out for him, Derrick Henry, Kyle van Noy. You can keep going down the list, the number Steve Smith. You know, they got a great first year out of Steve Smith when he signed. Keep going down the list and it does it always work? No, it doesn't always work. But I'll tell you the Ravens have a pretty darn good track record. They're hitting him for a high average. Yeah, and when you look at you know, I'm gonna dive into this into Deandre's film tomorrow, but I mean you just look on the surface here and okay. It with the Titans earlier last season, early in the season before he got traded to the Chiefs, he was averaging eleven point five a catch. Eleven point five a catch is higher average per catch than he had in twenty nineteen with the Texans when he put up eleven hundred yards right, like, like you look at his averages and it's not like, oh man, this guy just fell off the cliff, you know what I mean? Like, yeah, forty one catches for four thirty seven with the Chiefs last year, four touchdowns, Like they ain't bad, you know what I mean. Like he is a productive player there. And so I think the Ravens have shown that they're willing to, for lack of a better word in air quotes, gamble on players who maybe in their last year of their of their career or they are, you know, in their twilight years. And they've hit on that gamble more times than not. And I'm feeling good that they're going to hit on this one.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And the other part of it, too, as you've talked about, is there's he's in a good situation where the Ravens aren't bringing him in and saying, all right, we're going to count on this guy to get a hundred targets this year. They're they're bringing him into a really established, actually passing game, I mean not we already talked about Zay Flowers and Rashad Bateman. Then add in the tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, who are obviously really important pieces of this passing game and then the running game. And so yeah, of course we haven't heard from Lamar Jackson, but I gotta believe he's a fan of this. I go back to when the Ravens brought in Odell Beckham Junior. Remember this, the Ravens signed Odell, and both Odell and DeAndre Hopkins were free agents at the time, and they was talking about the Ravens would they be in the mix for either of them? And Lamar even talked about like at the time after finding out that they the Ravens were signing Odell, like, hey, can we also get DeAndre Hopkins?

And the other part of it, too, as you've talked about, is there's he's in a good situation where the Ravens aren't bringing him in and saying, all right, we're going to count on this guy to get a hundred targets this year. They're they're bringing him into a really established, actually passing game, I mean not we already talked about Zay Flowers and Rashad Bateman. Then add in the tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, who are obviously really important pieces of this passing game and then the running game. And so yeah, of course we haven't heard from Lamar Jackson, but I gotta believe he's a fan of this. I go back to when the Ravens brought in Odell Beckham Junior. Remember this, the Ravens signed Odell, and both Odell and DeAndre Hopkins were free agents at the time, and they was talking about the Ravens would they be in the mix for either of them? And Lamar even talked about like at the time after finding out that they the Ravens were signing Odell, like, hey, can we also get DeAndre Hopkins?

Can we get them both?

Can we get them both?

Yeah? Can we get him both?

Yeah? Can we get him both?

Like?

Like?

Could you bring both those guys here? And so I think that he's gonna be a big fan of this move and getting like a veteran, proven wide receiver to go along with the really good weapons who the Ravens already have. And I gotta believe Hopkins has certainly fired up about it. The picture is circulating around Twitter today of him, Lamar and Derrick Henry back at NFL Honors in twenty twenty, after the twenty nineteen season where Lamar won MVP and just had that historic season. It was a pick of the three of them that Hopkins posted on Twitter along with the quote, how many touchdowns for this trio?

Could you bring both those guys here? And so I think that he's gonna be a big fan of this move and getting like a veteran, proven wide receiver to go along with the really good weapons who the Ravens already have. And I gotta believe Hopkins has certainly fired up about it. The picture is circulating around Twitter today of him, Lamar and Derrick Henry back at NFL Honors in twenty twenty, after the twenty nineteen season where Lamar won MVP and just had that historic season. It was a pick of the three of them that Hopkins posted on Twitter along with the quote, how many touchdowns for this trio?

Well, we're about to find out. The answer is going to have.

Well, we're about to find out. The answer is going to have.

The answer is gonna be a lot.

The answer is gonna be a lot.

That's your answer, Yeah, And so like that's why I like this offense at this point, We're sitting here on March eleventh, and this offense is basically plug and play. It was already the best offense in the league last year, one of the best offenses the league has ever seen from a number standpoint, and maybe even has gotten better potentially. And you you're returning all of your starters, with the exception of your left guard, who the Ravens have good quality candidates in house, so you kept your blindside protector at left tackle. You bring back your full back, your Pro Bowl fullback earlier in the day of Patrick Ricard. And now you add a potential Hall of Fame wide receiver to the mix, who's again a veteran player closer to the end of his career, but still has.

That's your answer, Yeah, And so like that's why I like this offense at this point, We're sitting here on March eleventh, and this offense is basically plug and play. It was already the best offense in the league last year, one of the best offenses the league has ever seen from a number standpoint, and maybe even has gotten better potentially. And you you're returning all of your starters, with the exception of your left guard, who the Ravens have good quality candidates in house, so you kept your blindside protector at left tackle. You bring back your full back, your Pro Bowl fullback earlier in the day of Patrick Ricard. And now you add a potential Hall of Fame wide receiver to the mix, who's again a veteran player closer to the end of his career, but still has.

Plenty of juice left.

Plenty of juice left.

And you put him along with your young pro Bowl wide receiver, your really good tight ends, and Labar Jackson run on the show. I think that that's just a recipe to keep it rolling on offense.

And you put him along with your young pro Bowl wide receiver, your really good tight ends, and Labar Jackson run on the show. I think that that's just a recipe to keep it rolling on offense.

Yeah, I agree.

Yeah, I agree.

And you know this this is the Ravens version of a free agency splash, right Yeah. I mean when when you talk about it that that's it, and and sometimes it's it's making the smart splash. It's not just going full cannonball, right. I mean, you gotta there's a form to it, you know what I mean? And so I think that this is a really good right player, right price for the Ravens. And and we kind of touched on it, and I want to get your perspective, Garrett, like, does this potentially shift a little bit of of what formations the Ravens are using? You know, are they going to be using more eleven personnel, you know, one tailback, one tight end, three wide, you know, as opposed to using some of that twelve personnel that we saw a lot of with two tight ends last year. Do you think that this could be potentially an indication of what the next iteration of todme Monkins offense looks like.

And you know this this is the Ravens version of a free agency splash, right Yeah. I mean when when you talk about it that that's it, and and sometimes it's it's making the smart splash. It's not just going full cannonball, right. I mean, you gotta there's a form to it, you know what I mean? And so I think that this is a really good right player, right price for the Ravens. And and we kind of touched on it, and I want to get your perspective, Garrett, like, does this potentially shift a little bit of of what formations the Ravens are using? You know, are they going to be using more eleven personnel, you know, one tailback, one tight end, three wide, you know, as opposed to using some of that twelve personnel that we saw a lot of with two tight ends last year. Do you think that this could be potentially an indication of what the next iteration of todme Monkins offense looks like.

I definitely think there's potential for that, but I also know that the Ravens resigned Patrick Riccard earlier in the day, and so they still have the ability to go heavy.

I definitely think there's potential for that, but I also know that the Ravens resigned Patrick Riccard earlier in the day, and so they still have the ability to go heavy.

And I think it's great. It's the ability to do it all.

And I think it's great. It's the ability to do it all.

Like, yeah, I think that.

Like, yeah, I think that.

Like I go back to So, we had Todd Monkin on the podcast last week, and if you haven't listened to that, i'd encourage you to do that. I thought Todd was insightful, and of course he's always entertaining, but I thought he shared some really good perspective on the vision for the offense. And the main thing that he said that he's talked about before is like the players are the system. Like he never understood this notion of like, oh, this is my system. When we run it this way, we're going to force the players into doing this. He just felt like that was an archaic way of thinking, and so as he looks at it now, like the players are the system. So you have three really good wide receivers, Yeah, find ways to get all three of them on the field. If you're playing a team that struggles to stop the run and is you know, later on defense, maybe you go with a heavy run game package and you say, here's Patrick Mcard and here's Derrick Henry, and here's passes off to the tight ends. Like maybe you go with that approach. I think the Ravens can really be multiple in their offensive identity and change from week to week. But however they do it, I think that they've got explosive options across the board.

Like I go back to So, we had Todd Monkin on the podcast last week, and if you haven't listened to that, i'd encourage you to do that. I thought Todd was insightful, and of course he's always entertaining, but I thought he shared some really good perspective on the vision for the offense. And the main thing that he said that he's talked about before is like the players are the system. Like he never understood this notion of like, oh, this is my system. When we run it this way, we're going to force the players into doing this. He just felt like that was an archaic way of thinking, and so as he looks at it now, like the players are the system. So you have three really good wide receivers, Yeah, find ways to get all three of them on the field. If you're playing a team that struggles to stop the run and is you know, later on defense, maybe you go with a heavy run game package and you say, here's Patrick Mcard and here's Derrick Henry, and here's passes off to the tight ends. Like maybe you go with that approach. I think the Ravens can really be multiple in their offensive identity and change from week to week. But however they do it, I think that they've got explosive options across the board.

Yep. Just just saw this note from Jonas Schaeffer from the Baltimore Banner that DeAndre Hopkins finished number twenty two in the league last year an open score according to ESPN. So like, dude, still getting open. There there's an indication for you, yep.

Yep. Just just saw this note from Jonas Schaeffer from the Baltimore Banner that DeAndre Hopkins finished number twenty two in the league last year an open score according to ESPN. So like, dude, still getting open. There there's an indication for you, yep.

And so getting open is good, and like you sometimes you see that, like we saw that in twenty three, there was a lot of that with a Sean Bateman and then he comes back and has the best season of his career.

And so getting open is good, and like you sometimes you see that, like we saw that in twenty three, there was a lot of that with a Sean Bateman and then he comes back and has the best season of his career.

Shot Bateman was number twelve, Save Flowers number nine and Mark Andrews number seven. So that's that's pretty good.

Shot Bateman was number twelve, Save Flowers number nine and Mark Andrews number seven. So that's that's pretty good.

For the top four in the top twenty two is pretty good.

For the top four in the top twenty two is pretty good.

Top twenty yeah, exactly. So all right, so we're gonna take a break, but when we come back, I have a funny story that really illustrates how free agency goes down.

Top twenty yeah, exactly. So all right, so we're gonna take a break, but when we come back, I have a funny story that really illustrates how free agency goes down.

You're listening to the last podcast. We are coming to you from the Seakeeek studio. We also want to mention our partners at DraftKings Sportsbook. They are the official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft Kings Sportsbook. The Crown is Yours. So free agency is always predictable, you know when things are gonna happen. It's always between the hours of nine to five, nice and neat.

You're listening to the last podcast. We are coming to you from the Seakeeek studio. We also want to mention our partners at DraftKings Sportsbook. They are the official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft Kings Sportsbook. The Crown is Yours. So free agency is always predictable, you know when things are gonna happen. It's always between the hours of nine to five, nice and neat.

That's how it always operates.

That's how it always operates.

Right, Yeah, No, well it's you know, as we talked about on our last podcast, you know, during the day, like there hasn't been a ton going on the past couple of days. It's just I'm watching an NFL network. I'm just I'm just on Twitter, you know, just monitoring things and it's kind of been kind of slow. Well, I go in uh occasionally, you and I as well as our friend Clifton, we go and we talked to some Ravens fan groups, so, you know, answer their questions and just kind of be with be with fans a little bit. And tonight I was with Ravens Nest fourteen right around the corner from the facility. Shout out Raven's nest fourteen, and I figured, hey, good time, right, we're in free agency. We'll have a lot to talk about all this stuff. We're talking about the possibility of the Ravens adding a wide receiver, and I'm telling them, yeah, you know, I think that there's definitely a chance that they that's one spot still that.

Right, Yeah, No, well it's you know, as we talked about on our last podcast, you know, during the day, like there hasn't been a ton going on the past couple of days. It's just I'm watching an NFL network. I'm just I'm just on Twitter, you know, just monitoring things and it's kind of been kind of slow. Well, I go in uh occasionally, you and I as well as our friend Clifton, we go and we talked to some Ravens fan groups, so, you know, answer their questions and just kind of be with be with fans a little bit. And tonight I was with Ravens Nest fourteen right around the corner from the facility. Shout out Raven's nest fourteen, and I figured, hey, good time, right, we're in free agency. We'll have a lot to talk about all this stuff. We're talking about the possibility of the Ravens adding a wide receiver, and I'm telling them, yeah, you know, I think that there's definitely a chance that they that's one spot still that.

Where they were You were saying, no way, you were saying, I don't see it happening.

Where they were You were saying, no way, you were saying, I don't see it happening.

It's not gonna happen.

It's not gonna happen.

They will vouch me. They will vouch me. I was saying, I think, like, if there's another spot where I could see him spending a little bit of money, it could be at wide receiver. Because there's a number of veterans out there. And we talked about the buzz with Cooper Cup that you and I talked about and all that stuff. And so we get done having that conversation and probably ten minutes later, somebody says, uh uh, Ryan Kai, interrupt you. We got the wide receiver. So he he broke the news to me as some answering fan questions, and I'm like, well, yo, we're gonna have to wrap this here pretty soon because I've got some work to do. So that's just how free agency works. News Breaking Raven's Nest fourteen. I said, we have a new Adam Schefter.

They will vouch me. They will vouch me. I was saying, I think, like, if there's another spot where I could see him spending a little bit of money, it could be at wide receiver. Because there's a number of veterans out there. And we talked about the buzz with Cooper Cup that you and I talked about and all that stuff. And so we get done having that conversation and probably ten minutes later, somebody says, uh uh, Ryan Kai, interrupt you. We got the wide receiver. So he he broke the news to me as some answering fan questions, and I'm like, well, yo, we're gonna have to wrap this here pretty soon because I've got some work to do. So that's just how free agency works. News Breaking Raven's Nest fourteen. I said, we have a new Adam Schefter.

In that group.

In that group.

Uh so shout out to them, good good peeps, love hanging out with them, and uh yeah, free agency is just wild it of course. And I told Cliff and I told Matt Ryan, who's our editorial system. I was like, look, guys, I'm gonna be kind of out of the loop for an hour. This is gonna be like the one pocket a time where it's gonna be a little harder to reach me. Just let you know, like you got me covered during that time. They're like, yeah, yeah, you know, nothing's gonna happen. Of course, everything everything comes out.

Uh so shout out to them, good good peeps, love hanging out with them, and uh yeah, free agency is just wild it of course. And I told Cliff and I told Matt Ryan, who's our editorial system. I was like, look, guys, I'm gonna be kind of out of the loop for an hour. This is gonna be like the one pocket a time where it's gonna be a little harder to reach me. Just let you know, like you got me covered during that time. They're like, yeah, yeah, you know, nothing's gonna happen. Of course, everything everything comes out.

Then that's when that's how you know, like if there's if there's an hour where you feel like you're gonna be out of the mix, that's the hour where exactly if you go down. The one other point quickly that I want to hit on is there was also a report that came out earlier tonight from NFL Networks Camera Wolf that the Ravens are planning to release Nickel Corner, the veteran corner Arthur Molett wichould free about two point two point two million dollars in cap space. So you talk about ways to create cap room, that's a way to do it. The Ravens don't have a ton of cap space, so they're always looking for opportunities to do that. I think Arthur Malett is a guy that just I was disappointed to see just the way the injuries cost him last season. Like, I thought he was looking really good in training camp. I was excited to see him play.

Then that's when that's how you know, like if there's if there's an hour where you feel like you're gonna be out of the mix, that's the hour where exactly if you go down. The one other point quickly that I want to hit on is there was also a report that came out earlier tonight from NFL Networks Camera Wolf that the Ravens are planning to release Nickel Corner, the veteran corner Arthur Molett wichould free about two point two point two million dollars in cap space. So you talk about ways to create cap room, that's a way to do it. The Ravens don't have a ton of cap space, so they're always looking for opportunities to do that. I think Arthur Malett is a guy that just I was disappointed to see just the way the injuries cost him last season. Like, I thought he was looking really good in training camp. I was excited to see him play.

One of the ravens best offseason practice players.

One of the ravens best offseason practice players.

Yeah, like I thought he I thought he was really poised to have a strong, strong year and it was.

Yeah, like I thought he I thought he was really poised to have a strong, strong year and it was.

I felt really bad for him.

I felt really bad for him.

I liked him and just felt like the injuries took you know, took their toll last year and kind of robbed him of that season. But had a great twenty twenty three season with the Ravens and got that contract last year and then injuries just cost him. But uh, like I liked him as a guy and just disappointed to see again the injuries kind of cost him last season.

I liked him and just felt like the injuries took you know, took their toll last year and kind of robbed him of that season. But had a great twenty twenty three season with the Ravens and got that contract last year and then injuries just cost him. But uh, like I liked him as a guy and just disappointed to see again the injuries kind of cost him last season.

Yeah, yeah, I totally agree. I think, uh yeah, it's a tough blow. The Ravens certainly have work to do at cornerback. You know, obviously that's Brandon Stevens as well, so that could be another position where it's a combination veteran. I certainly expect they're going to draft a corner, you know, potentially multiple. Right, that's the other news that tonight. The Ravens confirmed eleven draft picks. They got their four compensatory picks. Uh, they got one in the fourth round, fifth rounder, and two six and so eleven draft picks, as we've all been saying, and and they're going to fill out the roster in large part with that. But I don't think they're done in free agency either. I think that they are going to continue to kind of plug in some veteran pieces. Obviously they can't spend a ton of money, but they have some depth pieces that I think they're going to add in free agency.

Yeah, yeah, I totally agree. I think, uh yeah, it's a tough blow. The Ravens certainly have work to do at cornerback. You know, obviously that's Brandon Stevens as well, so that could be another position where it's a combination veteran. I certainly expect they're going to draft a corner, you know, potentially multiple. Right, that's the other news that tonight. The Ravens confirmed eleven draft picks. They got their four compensatory picks. Uh, they got one in the fourth round, fifth rounder, and two six and so eleven draft picks, as we've all been saying, and and they're going to fill out the roster in large part with that. But I don't think they're done in free agency either. I think that they are going to continue to kind of plug in some veteran pieces. Obviously they can't spend a ton of money, but they have some depth pieces that I think they're going to add in free agency.

Well, the next move that's guaranteed to happen is is whenever year out of the mix. Just just let everybody know when that's going to be, and we'll know when they're gonna we're gonna announce that signing.

Well, the next move that's guaranteed to happen is is whenever year out of the mix. Just just let everybody know when that's going to be, and we'll know when they're gonna we're gonna announce that signing.

So, as always, we love here for you.

So, as always, we love here for you.

Let us know your thoughts on this on this move, you can email us at a lounge at Ravens dot NFL dot net.

Let us know your thoughts on this on this move, you can email us at a lounge at Ravens dot NFL dot net.

As you've been saying all week.

As you've been saying all week.

News can happen quickly and we will be here to react and break it all down for you over the course of the week. Thank you so much for listening, and we will be back with you again so

News can happen quickly and we will be here to react and break it all down for you over the course of the week. Thank you so much for listening, and we will be back with you again so