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          NFL Nation

          Ravens' grade for free agency reflects success in bolstering WR position

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterMar 30, 2018, 12:00 PM
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          A breakdown of the initial wave of free agency for the Baltimore Ravens:

          Overall grade: B-minus. General manager Ozzie Newsome wanted to revamp the wide receiver position, and that's exactly what he did. Whether he upgraded it as much as some anticipated is open for debate. The Ravens were extremely fortunate at wide receiver, getting Michael Crabtree after Ryan Grant failed his physical. Baltimore went from overpaying for Grant to getting great value for Crabtree. The Ravens feel they upgraded their deep threat, signing John Brown and letting Mike Wallace leave in free agency. It was an added bonus that Baltimore kept defensive end Brent Urban and offensive lineman James Hurst, both of whom could start. But limited cap space caused the Ravens to fall short of that "splash." Baltimore got priced out of wide receiver Allen Robinson and tight end Jimmy Graham.

          Most significant loss: Ryan Jensen. Baltimore's biggest challenge is replacing the ninth-best center -- rated by Pro Football Focus -- in the league. The Ravens will miss Jensen's nasty edge as much as his run blocking. Baltimore just couldn't come close to the offer from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who made Jensen the highest-paid center at $10 million per season. Matt Skura, who started at right guard, is expected to move to center, his natural position. The more undervalued loss is right tackle Austin Howard, whose 2018 option wasn't picked up.

          Player they should have signed: Eric Ebron. Graham would've been the top target, but Baltimore didn't have the cap room to pay him $10 million per season like Green Bay. Not being able to sign Ebron is more frustrating for Baltimore. Ebron signed with Indianapolis even though he would've been the clear-cut No. 1 tight end target in Baltimore. He would've essentially made the same amount of money from the Ravens as he received from the Colts (two years, $11 million), except Baltimore's deal was a more incentive-laden one. Ebron has trouble with dropped passes, but he would've stretched the field for quarterback Joe Flacco. This leaves the Ravens without a pass-catching tight end.

          Additions: Brent Urban, DE; James Hurst, OL; John Brown, WR; and Michael Crabtree, WR.

          Subtractions: Danny Woodhead, RB; Lardarius Webb, CB; Jeremy Maclin, WR; Austin Howard, OT; Mike Wallace, WR; and Ben Watson, TE.

          What's next: The Ravens need to add another wide receiver. Baltimore's best option is trading for restricted free agent Cameron Meredith. But Baltimore can still upgrade with free agents Eric Decker or Dontrelle Inman. The Ravens' other needs are a pass-catching tight end and backup quarterback. Baltimore can address those spots in the draft.