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Dennis Pitta

Ravens Sign Dennis Pitta To Five-Year Deal

March 4th, 2014 at 1:41pm CST by Luke Adams

MARCH 4: Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link) and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (all Twitter links) have provided the financial details on Pitta’s deal. The deal includes $16MM in guaranteed money — an $11MM signing bonus, plus guaranteed base salaries of $1MM and $4MM in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The deal will be worth $3.2MM on the cap in 2014, followed by year-by-year hits of $6.2MM, $7.2MM, $7.7MM, and $7.7MM.

FEBRUARY 28: The Ravens have reached an agreement with prospective free agent Dennis Pitta on a five-year contract, the team officially announced today. The deal is said to be worth $32MM, for an average annual value of $6.4MM. The new contract will keep Pitta off the open market, and save the club from having to use its franchise tag on him.

Dennis PittaPitta, 28, underwent hip surgery in 2013 that forced him out of action for nearly the entire season. The veteran tight end returned in Week 14 and caught 20 balls for 169 yards and a touchdown in his last four games. While it wasn’t the performance he wanted in his contract year, Pitta exhibited his value to the Ravens in 2012, setting career-highs in receptions (61), receiving yards (669) and touchdowns (7). He also scored three times during Baltimore’s playoff run, including a TD catch in the team’s Super Bowl win.

After accepting his restricted free agent tender for $2.023MM last offseason, Pitta was a candidate for the franchise tag this time around. However, designating the BYU product as their franchise player could’ve been problematic for the Ravens, since Pitta, like fellow free-agent-to-be Jimmy Graham, probably would’ve filed a grievance in an attempt to earn a higher pay check. Since he split out as a receiver for more than half his snaps in 2013, Pitta would have had a case to earn the franchise salary for a receiver ($11MM+) rather than for a tight end (less than $7MM). Instead, the two sides reached a compromise, agreeing to a long-term contract with a per-year salary in the ballpark of the tight end’s franchise figure.

Since the Saints are unlikely to let Graham get away, this agreement means there likely won’t be any top-tier free agent tight ends available when free agency begins in March. Jermichael Finley, Scott Chandler, Brandon Myers, and Brandon Pettigrew are among the top options expected to draw interest from clubs in need of a tight end, assuming they hit the open market.

As for the Ravens, they cleared nearly $5MM in 2014 cap space yesterday by parting ways with fullback Vonta Leach and linebacker Jameel McClain, creating additional flexibility and opening the door to re-sign Pitta. With an agreement in place for their tight end, the Ravens can shift their focus to locking up another key free agent, left tackle Eugene Monroe.

Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter) first reported that Pitta and the Ravens had reached a five-year agreement, and was also first to report the overall value of the contract. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link) and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) added details along the way.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC Notes: Foles, Pettigrew, Young, Gerhart

March 1st, 2014 at 8:57am CST by Matt Feminis

Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is the team’s unquestioned No. 1 entering 2014, but the team has yet to publicly declare its belief in the third-year passer as the team’s long-term solution, points out Philly.com’s Jeff McLane. Some believe the team still has doubts and is leaving itself some wiggle room, acknowledging the possibility (likelihood?) Foles regresses this season. There is a business element at play, too. Because Foles’ rookie contract cannot be renegotiated until after 2014, it’s prudent for the club to hold off on making any long-term declarations.

  • In light of recent transactions, Eagles GM Howie Roseman demonstrated he paid attention to the successful and unsuccessful aspects of the Joe Banner/Andy Reid era, says Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski, who believes the previous regime undervalued the importance of veteran leadership. “[Roseman] recommitted the Eagles to rewarding homegrown talents such as Kelce and Cooper, and he’s acknowledged that certain older players are special cases.”
  • With Jimmy Graham franchise tagged and Dennis Pitta re-signed, the Lions‘ Brandon Pettigrew is potentially the most attractive free agent tight end, says ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein.
  • Meanwhile, the Lions have another free agent worth prioritizing, according to mlive.com’s Kyle Meinke, who says defensive end Willie Young‘s pending free agency “has hardly been discussed.” Plagued by inconsistency in the past, Young took a step forward in 2013, collecting 47 tackles and three sacks and ranking 16th in the league amongst 4-3 defensive ends, according to Pro Football Focus.
  • It is expected that Vikings backup running back Toby Gerhart will leave in free agency, according to ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling.

AFC North Notes: Bengals, Ravens, Browns

February 27th, 2014 at 3:12pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bengals could scour free agency this offseason for a backup quarterback, but don’t expect the team to look at a high-end free agent like Michael Vick to push Andy Dalton. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that the Bengals don’t have any interest in the prospective free agent, and adds that the club doesn’t want to “shake Dalton’s faith” by injecting Vick into the mix.

Here are a few more items from around the AFC North:

  • There’s still a “great gap to bridge” in negotiations between the Ravens and free agent left tackle Eugene Monroe, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Talks continue between the two sides, with the team hoping to lock up Monroe before the free agent period.
  • La Canfora adds in another tweet that he wouldn’t be shocked if Dennis Pitta and the Ravens reach a multiyear contract agreement before the franchise tag is necessary, or perhaps shortly after tagging him. In other words, it doesn’t sound like he expects the situation to reach a point where an arbitrator needs to make a decision on Pitta’s position (tight end or wide receiver).
  • Punter Sam Koch is a potential cap casualty for the Ravens, but with the salary cap increase expected to be larger than originally anticipated, the team could potentially carry Koch’s $2.8MM number, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com.
  • In the wake of D’Qwell Jackson’s somewhat surprising release, Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com takes a look at a few other players with whom the Browns may part ways in the near future.

Ravens, Dennis Pitta Making Progress In Talks

February 24th, 2014 at 3:53pm CST by Luke Adams

The Ravens and Dennis Pitta continue to discuss a new contract and are “making progress” toward a deal, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). While no agreement is imminent, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports 1 echoes Rapoport’s report of progress between the two sides, tweeting that there’s a chance the two sides work something out before March 3.

Because Pitta is a candidate for the franchise tag, March 3 represents an important deadline as the last day teams are permitted to designate franchise players. If the Ravens can’t lock up Pitta to a long-term pact, franchising him is somewhat risky — the 28-year-old will almost certainly file a grievance in the hopes of being franchised as a wide receiver instead of a tight end, which could significantly affect his potential one-year salary.

Still, Rapoport tweets that most rival teams don’t believe the Ravens will let Pitta get away this offseason, which suggests that talks are progressing well, considering a week ago one report indicated the two sides were “far apart” in negotiations. According to Rapoport and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), plenty of suitors would emerge if Pitta did become available on March 11. Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com wrote earlier today that the Packers, Falcons, and Patriots would be candidates to pursue Pitta if he reaches the open market.

AFC North Notes: Steelers, Bengals, Pitta

February 23rd, 2014 at 10:47pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Steelers are very excited about having extra salary cap room this season, writes Steven Ruiz of USA Today. The team looked to be strapped for cash in 2014, but with the extra relief, team president Art Rooney has more room to work with in free agency. The team has 22 players hitting free agency, but could find some cap relief by releasing veterans Ike Taylor, LaMarr Woodley, and Heath Miller. They could also consider restructuring Ben Roethlisberger‘s deal, as he holds a cap number of almost $19MM for 2014. Here are some other notes from the AFC North:

  • While the Bengals‘ secondary is thought to be a strength, Joe Reedy of Cincinnati.com believes the team could still target corner at some point in the first few rounds of the NFL Draft. With Leon Hall coming off his second torn achilles in 23 months, Terence Newman entering the final year of his contract, and Adam Jones approaching his 31st birthday, the team does have question marks at the position. Former first-round pick Dre Kirkpatrick has improved, and while the need for a starter is not imminent, in a passing league teams can never have enough guys who can cover.
  • The Ravens are still trying to work out a contract with Dennis Pitta, although the two are still not close on an agreement, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. While it was thought he would either be signed long-term or designated with the franchise tag, head coach John Harbaugh leaves open the option that Pitta could hit free agency without receiving the tag. “I think every scenario is possible here,” Harbaugh said. “The franchise tag is very vague right now, so anything could happen.”
  • The Ravens have also begun talks with linebacker Daryl Smith, according to Garrett Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com. While Pitta and Eugene Monroe have gotten all the attention, general manager Ozzie Newsome has not forgotton about Smith. “Daryl did a great job for us,” Newsome said. “We have engaged in some conversations with his representative.” Smith was asked after the season if he would like to return to the team, replying emphatically that he would. “Most definitely [I want to return],” said Smith. “I love it here and would love to be back. We’ll see how it goes, though.”

Free Agency Notes: Pitta, Maclin, Cooper

February 22nd, 2014 at 7:47pm CST by Peter Sowards

Taking care of free agent tight end Dennis Pitta is the top priority for the Ravens, according to Bo Smolka of CSN Baltimore.

With the contract extension for linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs in the books, GM Ozzie Newsome said at his Scouting Combine news conference that Baltimore is “concentrating” on locking up the fourth-year BYU player for the foreseeable future.

Smolka notes that Baltimore has until March 3 to apply the franchise tag on Pitta, and they can expect a fight if they do so — Pitta lined up as an in-line tight end less than 25% of the time and will argue he deserves the $11.6MM wide receiver designation, as opposed to the $6.8MM tight end figure.

We talked yesterday about Ravens coach John Harbaugh being optimistic that the team can retain Pitta, as well as offensive tackle Eugene Monroe. Newsome is arguably the finest general manager in the league, so don’t bet against the possibility of him bringing back both players at team-friendly prices.

Some other free agent notes to pass along, in particular dealing with Philadelphia…

  • The Eagles are prioritizing Jeremy Maclin over Riley Cooper, NFL sources have told Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  • In a perfect world, McClane says Philadelphia would sign Maclin to a one-year deal, then try to sign another receiver with starting ability.
  • In his Thursday interview at the NFL Combine, GM Howie Roseman said it would be a tough sell to keep both players. “You can only put a limited amount of resources into the position before it starts taking out from other places,” he said.
  • This previous PFR post takes an in-depth look at the two receivers with the help of Pro Football Focus.

Ravens Rumors: Pitta, Monroe, Jones, Draft

February 21st, 2014 at 4:43pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ve passed along a couple Ravens updates from the combine already today, but Aaron Wilson’s latest piece for the Baltimore Sun includes so many notable nuggets on the team that we’ll need a new post to round them all up. Let’s dive in….

  • The Ravens are in discussions with tight end Dennis Pitta and offensive tackle Eugene Monroe about new contracts, and coach John Harbaugh is optimistic about locking up both players. “To my knowledge, both of those guys really want to be here and we really want them here,” Harbaugh said. “That’s a good formula for working things out.”
  • If the Ravens tag Pitta as their franchise player, he’s expected to file a grievance to try to get the wide receiver tag, a source tells Wilson.
  • Harbaugh didn’t close the door on the possibility of bringing back both Monroe and Michael Oher, though a previous report suggested Oher is unlikely to return if Monroe re-signs.
  • Defensive tackle Arthur Jones is expected to receive heavy interest on the open market, and may be too expensive for the Ravens, as Harbaugh acknowledges: “It’s probably the one contract that he’ll have a chance to sign, a real big one. Guys that sign two big contracts, that’s very unusual. Three almost never happens, so you never feel bad about a guy getting an opportunity. You never want to lose a good player. But from a personal standpoint, you have to feel good about that. Whether we can match that or not, that’s all in the math.”
  • The Ravens will meet with Boston College running back Andre Williams, who also has meetings scheduled with the Jaguars, Bills, and Bengals, tweets Wilson.
  • Arizona running back Ka’Deem Carey also met with the Ravens, as well as the Steelers, at the combine, tweets Wilson.

Ray Rice Expected To Be Suspended

February 20th, 2014 at 8:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

THURSDAY, 6:55pm: A source tells theMMQB.com’s Robert Klemko that Atlantic City police have an unreleased video of Rice knocking his fiancée unconscious before dragging her (via Twitter). Klemko said he expects a suspension for Rice.

MONDAY, 1:32pm: Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome says running back Ray Rice will be back with the team in 2014, and remains a “big part” of the team’s plans, according to Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times. Rice was arrested Saturday as part of a domestic dispute, and his off-the-field trouble only adds to his recent struggles. Rice, 27, is coming off his worst statistical season as a starter, as he rushed for just 660 yards and four touchdowns, and ranked as the worst running back in the league according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics. As he enters the third year of a five-year-deal, one could speculate that his roster spot might be in jeopardy, but Newsome seemingly squashed this notion, only allowing that the organization was not finished gathering information on the incident.

Some other Ravens-centric news items:

Ravens Rumors: Pitta, Monroe, Oher, Ngata

February 18th, 2014 at 9:14am CST by Luke Adams

We passed along word last night that the Ravens and tight end Dennis Pitta remain “far apart” in contract negotiations, but that isn’t the only noteworthy tidbit from Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The Ravens insider provided several more rumors in his latest piece, so let’s round up the highlights:

  • Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said during Monday’s presser to announce Terrell Suggs‘ new contract that the team has entered negotiations with many of its own free agents: “We’ve engaged in discussions with several of our players. With the combine coming up, the majority of the agents will be there and we will be there. I’m sure we’ll have some more talks, but we’ve engaged in several conversations with several players.”
  • A source predicts to Wilson that the Ravens will designate Pitta as their franchise player, which will likely be followed by Pitta filing a grievance in an effort to be designated as a wide receiver rather than a tight end. Like Jimmy Graham of the Saints, Pitta lined up as a receiver for more than half of his 2013 snaps.
  • The Ravens are prioritizing re-signing offensive tackle Eugene Monroe and have begun negotiations with his camp, says Wilson. If the team is able to lock up Monroe, fellow free agent tackle Michael Oher is unlikely to be retained.
  • Baltimore would also like to bring back middle linebacker Daryl Smith, though no deal is imminent.
  • Defensive lineman Arthur Jones is expected to draw “heavy interest” on the open market, and the Ravens may not have the cap flexibility to re-sign him, according to Wilson.
  • The Ravens explored the possibility of lowering Haloti Ngata‘s cap number, but have been unable to reach a “realistic” financial compromise, a source tells Wilson. Cutting the defensive tackle isn’t viewed as a viable option for the team.

AFC North Notes: Mack, Collins, Pitta

February 17th, 2014 at 10:28pm CST by Rob DiRe

With the changes in the Browns‘ front office this offseason, the status of Alex Mack‘s free agency has wavered back and forth. While Mack was once unlikely to remain with the team, Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal writes that the Browns are focused on re-signing their center. The team would like to do so without having to use the franchise tag, which would carry a price tag of over $11MM for an offensive lineman. Here are other notes from the AFC North:

  • The Bengals would like to retain both left tackle Anthony Collins and safety Taylor Mays, writes Joe Reedy of the Enquirer. They also would like to be able to bring back both players on long term deals without having to exercise the franchise tag.
  • The Ravens and tight end Dennis Pitta are reportedly “far apart” in contract negotiations, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The Ravens could franchise Pitta if a long-term contract is not agreed upon, but there will be contention over whether Pitta is considered a tight end or wide receiver, much like the situation with Jimmy Graham in New Orleans.
  • Many draft pundits have the Steelers selecting Louis Nix of Notre Dame with the 15th overall pick, but it could be a reach according to Alan Robinson of TribLive.com. Nose tackle Steve McLendon only played a third of the Steelers’ defensive snaps in 2013, but Robinson does look to advanced stats to see that McLendon was better than he was thought to be.
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