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Baltimore Ravens Free Agent Rumors: Ben Watson, Mike Wallace

By Joe Serpico

Dec 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Mike Wallace (11) runs with the ball in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Mike Wallace (11) runs with the ball in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Ravens have been linked to several free agents on the first day of the NFL Free Agency.

The Ravens have been active as the new league year has opened to clear some cap space. Now it’s time to put that money to use.

They started off the season by giving Joe Flacco a contract extension that also freed up some cap room. They parted ways with linebacker Daryl Smith and Chris Canty, while giving Shareece Wright and Morgan Cox new deals. Kamar Aiken and Terrence West were given the exclusive rights tag in order to keep them in Baltimore. We also learned that Marshal Yanda and Kyle Arrington reworked their desks to add additional salary cap relief.

They lost their biggest free agent when Kelechi Osemele has agreed in principle to a deal with the Oakland Raiders. K.O. is expected to receive somewhere $10 million per year as part of the deal. The Ravens reportedly offered a deal that would have made him the second-highest paid player on offense, but obviously that was not good enough in his eyes. Update: Osemele signed a five-year, $58.8 million deal with $25.44 million guaranteed in 2016 and 2017.

These are the decisions that the Ravens have made with their own. Now they can begin their search to bring in some talent from elsewhere.

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The first acquisition for Baltimore will be tight end Ben Watson, who caught a career-high 74 passed last season for the New Orleans Saints. The 12-year vet gives Flacco a proven option over the middle as well as a mentor to youngsters Crockett Gillmore and Maxx Williams. The Ravens needed another tight end in the mix with Nick Boyle facing a 10-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing drugs. Update: Deal is two years for $7 million, with $3 million guaranteed.

Of course, none of this is official until 4:00 p.m. and a contract is actually signed. Baltimore fans know far too well what it’s like to be spurned late on a contract – yeah I’m talking to you, Dexter Fowler.

The team is also believed to be interested in receiver Mike Wallace, who was released by the Minnesota Vikings after one season. Wallace still has the wheels to get down field, but is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-low 12.1 yards per reception. The Ravens know what to expect from Wallace as they saw him plenty as a former Pittsburgh Steeler, but he has not been the same player for the Vikings and Miami Dolphins. If they can get him on a team-friendly deal, go for it, but this is not the only playmaker the Ravens need on offense.

The Ravens are interested in another former Steeler in offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum, according Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com.

Next: Three Free Agents Ravens Should Target

Continue to check back with us for continued updates and analysis on the Ravens activity during the free agent period.

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