Breshad Perriman Running Behind Rookies?
- In what is Breshad Perriman‘s last chance to make an impact with the Ravens, he may be on the outside looking in to make the team, Jeff Zreibec of The Athletic notes. In addition to being behind new additions Michael Crabtree, Willie Snead and John Brown, Zreibec notes the 2015 first-round pick is “certainly” trailing Chris Moore and Tim White as well. (Moore is a career backup, and White is a former UDFA who has yet to play in an NFL game.) Considering rookies Jaleel Scott (Round 4) and Jordan Lasley (Round 5) also may be ahead of Perriman, this is a bind for the one-time highly regarded prospect. Ravens officials, however, wonder how much different the Central Florida product’s career would be had he been able to be on the field during the team’s past training camps rather than missing most of those sessions due to injuries, per Zreibec. Perriman looked on the verge of a promising season after shining in the 2017 offseason program, but a hamstring tear put the kibosh on those hopes. Baltimore picked up an option bonus of $649K earlier this week, but that will merely buy the fourth-year pass-catcher this preseason to try and make one final impression.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/21/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: OL Cameron Lee
Ravens Notes: Perriman, Flacco
Receiver Breshad Perriman has disappointed since being selected in the first round of the 2015 draft. In three seasons with the Ravens, the 24-year-old has hauled in only 43 receptions for 576 yards and three touchdowns. Considering his lack of production and the team’s depth at his position, Perriman understands that this is a make-or-break year.
The Ravens signed three free agent receivers in Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead, and the also drafted a pair of wideouts in Jaleel Scott and Jordan Lasley. Naturally, Perriman recognizes that he’ll have to compete for a roster spot.
- There’s been plenty of talk about the Ravens decision to select quarterback Lamar Jackson in the first round of this past year’s draft. Agent Joe Linta told Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic that incumbent quarterback Joe Flacco had expected the organization to select a signal-caller, just not in the first round. “We talked about it many times, We knew they were going to draft somebody; I would have thought it may have been a Mason Rudolph situation,” said Linta, referring to the situation between the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger. “But they had a guy they targeted, and they took him. They didn’t do anything wrong…A lot of people in the media have to create a controversy. No one is mad that they picked a QB. [Ravens executives] are not stupid. They want to win more than they want Joe out. You got a 33-year-old guy with two major injuries. It would be bad business for them to not have a good guy behind him.”
Ravens' Mayle Off PUP List
- The Ravens announced that tight end Vince Mayle is off the PUP list. Mayle was previously dealing with a high ankle sprain, but he passed his physical and is now eligible to practice. Mayle will have to compete for his job as the team has two locks at TE in first-round pick Hayden Hurst and third-round pick Mark Andrews. Mayle, Nick Boyle, Maxx Williams are competing for no more than two jobs, and it’s possible that only one other TE will make the cut behind the team’s rookies.
- Will Browns rookie Baker Mayfield start the most games of any first-round QB this year? Or will it be Ravens QB Lamar Jackson? Or one of the other three signal callers? Click here to cast your vote.
Poll: Which First-Round QB Will Start Most Games?
Five quarterbacks — Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Lamar Jackson — were selected in the first round of the 2018 draft, but each signal-caller will have different outlooks for his rookie campaign. Team status, the presence of other options under center, and each quarterback’s own development will play a role in when exactly he starts his first game.
So which rookie passer will start the most contests in 2018? Let’s take a look at each individually:
Baker Mayfield, Browns
None of the first-round quarterbacks are guaranteed to open as a Week 1 starter, and Mayfield especially may face an uphill battle to overtake his club’s presumptive starter. Cleveland management has been adamant that Tyrod Taylor will be under center to begin the season, and there’s no reason (at present) to think that will change. However, Mayfield could certainly change minds during training camp and the preseason, and if the Browns get off to a slow start, Taylor could conceivably be benched in favor of the No. 1 overall pick.
Sam Darnold, Jets
Mayfield only needs to overtake Taylor in order to become the Browns’ starter, but Darnold might need to beat out two veterans: Josh McCown, who started 13 games for the Jets in 2017, and Teddy Bridgewater, who reportedly impressed during organized team activities. Darnold is the future of the New York franchise, of course, but that doesn’t mean the Jets are interested in throwing him on the field behind a porous offensive line and with limited offensive weapons.
Josh Allen, Bills
Like Darnold, Allen may also be competing against two other quaterbacks, as Buffalo signed former Bengal A.J. McCarron this offseason while 2017 draft pick Nathan Peterman is also still in the fold. Additionally, Allen was viewed as a raw prospect coming out of Wyoming, and the Bills will field one of the league’s worst offensive lines during the upcoming season. Buffalo’s wide receiver depth chart is a terrifying sight, while the club’s best offensive player — running back LeSean McCoy — could face discipline if domestic violence accusations prove true. The Bills may want to hold Allen on the bench for awhile, allowing either McCarron or Peterman more reps.
Josh Rosen, Cardinals
Another rookie quarterback facing a battle with two other options? Sounds familiar. Although in Rosen’s case, it’s unclear if Mike Glennon is a serious obstacle. Sam Bradford is the favorite to act as the Cardinals’ starter in Week 1, but Rosen is viewed as the most pro-ready signal-caller of the rookie bunch, so he could get on the field sooner rather than later. Arizona faces a stiff schedule to open the 2018 campaign, and if the club struggles, the Cards’ staff may choose to turn to Rosen.
Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Jackson might be the first-round quarterback who sees the field first in 2018, but it may not be under center. The Ravens are reportedly interested in deploying Jackson as an “offensive weapon,” and could line him up on the field with starting quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco has produced poor performances in recent seasons, so Jackson is a reasonable candidate to see starts later in the year, especially if Baltimore falls out of the playoff picture.
So what do you think? Which first-round quarterback will make the most starts in 2018? Vote below!
Which first-round QB will make the most 2018 starts?
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Josh Rosen 30% (369)
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Sam Darnold 27% (329)
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Josh Allen 19% (229)
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Baker Mayfield 18% (218)
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Lamar Jackson 7% (86)
Total votes: 1,231
Ravens' Yanda Has Shoulder Issue
- Ravens’ guard Marshal Yanda is on the PUP list because of a shoulder surgery he had after the season, not because of his ankle issue (Twitter link via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com). There is no timetable on his return, but the team believes he will be ready for the regular season. “We’re going to be cautious with him,” coach John Harbaugh said.
Ravens, C.J. Mosley Not Progressing On Deal
Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley has been pushing for an extension this offseason, but it doesn’t sound like a new deal is imminent. Mosley told reporters on Thursday that there are no updates to give with regards to his contract extension (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). 
[RELATED – Extension Candidate: C.J. Mosley]
Mosley is entering the final year of his contract and is a prime candidate for a multi-year extension. Mosley has been open about his desire to stay with the Ravens, but he’s scheduled to reach free agency after he earns $8.718MM in 2018.
Mosley has been a durable, locker room leader since being drafted by the Ravens in 2014. With three Pro Bowl nods and eight career interceptions, the 26-year-old has made a strong case for a pay raise on a new multi-year deal. Except for Luke Kuechly, no linebacker has amassed more interceptions than Mosley over the last four seasons.
A new deal for Mosley would almost certainly call for more than $10MM per season. Recently, Texans linebacker Benardrick McKinney and Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks landed five-year, $50MM deals. Neither player has ever made a Pro Bowl, so it would be surprising to see Mosley settle for less than $11MM per season.
Last year, Mosley amassed 132 total tackles, one sack, eight pass defenses, and three forced fumbles from the inside linebacker position. His 1,077 snaps last year were the eighth most of any LB in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
Ravens To Pick Up Perriman’s Bonus
The Ravens will pick up wide receiver Breshad Perriman‘s $649K roster bonus on Saturday, a source tells Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. However, there is still no guarantee that he will be on the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster. 
Perriman has been held back by injuries throughout his career. The Ravens had high hopes when they selected him in the first round of the 2015 draft, but he has yet to do much of anything on the field. The UCF product has just 43 catches for 576 yards and three touchdowns in 27 games with the team.
Perriman, who is hoping to participate in the first full training camp of his career, is entering the final year of his four-year, $8.7MM rookie deal. He’ll try to stand out this year while playing behind fellow wide receivers Michael Crabtree, John Brown, and Willie Snead. That is, if he makes the roster.
For what it’s worth, Ravens coach John Harbaugh is hopeful that Perriman can get on the right track this year.
“I’m confident he can do it. I’m hopeful he can do it; I want him to do it,” Harbaugh said earlier this year. “I’ll do everything I can; we’ll do everything we can, as a coaching staff, to make him the best he can be, because we need him to be great. But if it doesn’t work out, then it’s going to be somebody else. That goes for any player.”
Lardarius Webb Wants To Keep Playing
Free agent defensive back Lardarius Webb plans to continue playing, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Webb, who played his entire career with the Ravens to date, has a few offers and is currently weighing them. 
Webb was used mostly off the bench last season, but he’s made 85 starts with Baltimore and suited up for 127 regular-season games. The Ravens, who were up against the cap in the spring, cut Webb to save $1.75MM. The Ravens also released Webb in March of 2017, but brought him back at a reduced rate. It’s not clear if the Ravens are considering something similar this time around.
Webb, 33 in October, saw action in six playoff games for the Ravens, though an injury prevented him from suiting up during the Ravens’ four 2012 playoff contests. In Baltimore’s near-Super Bowl run during 2011, Webb intercepted eight passes with five in the regular season and three in the postseason.
The Ravens project to start Brandon Carr and Jimmy Smith at cornerback with 2017 first-round pick Marlon Humphrey as their primary backup. Rookie Anthony Averett, Maurice Canady, and Stanley Jean-Baptiste are also among the cornerbacks on the offseason roster.
Ravens Place Marshal Yanda On PUP List
The Ravens have placed guard Marshal Yanda on the PUP list, a source tells ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). It’s an unfortunate setback for the former All-Pro after he missed the majority of 2017 with an ankle injury.
Yanda’s outlook from this point forward isn’t immediately clear. The good news is that he has triumphed in the face of adversity before. In 2016, he missed three games and was held back by a nagging shoulder injury. Despite that, Yanda still graded out as the NFL’s best guard, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus.
The Ravens are already looking to keep it together on the offensive line following the departure of center Ryan Jensen in free agency. Losing Yanda for any period of time would hurt, and the additions of rookie offensive linemen Orlando Brown, Greg Senat, and Bradley Bozeman likely won’t be enough to bridge the gap.
Baltimore has counted on Yanda up front throughout this decade, prioritizing his next deal over Kelechi Osemele despite Yanda being much older. His most recent two 16-game seasons ended in first-team All-Pro honors. At 33, Yanda remains the Ravens’ most important blocker.
Players can be taken off the PUP list during training camp, but if Yanda were to be placed on the reserve/PUP list at the regular season’s outset, he would have to miss six weeks.
Matt Skura moved into the starting lineup for Yanda last season, but Baltimore is planning to try him at center come camp. The Ravens also have Jermaine Eluemunor, a 2017 all-rookie pick despite making two 2017 starts, in the mix, along with guard/tackle James Hurst and Alex Lewis. The latter missed all of last season due to injury.