The Baltimore Ravens continued their offseason agenda to beef up the defensive line by agreeing to a two-year, $3.5 million contract with former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears.
A nine-year veteran and former first-round draft pick, Spears has never lived up to expectations and became a cap casualty because he does not fit in with the new Dallas defensive scheme.
Spears joins Chris Canty as the team's only free agent signings thus far of players not originally from their team. If nothing else, Canty and Spears give the Ravens solid veterans to plug holes along the defensive line until potential 2013 draft picks are ready to step in and take over the majority of the snaps.
Cary Williams is also heading out of town after signing a three-year, $17 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Ravens offered Williams a three-year, $15 million contract before the start of the 2012 season, only for the cornerback to turn it down. He was seeking something in the range of $18-$21 million. The fact that Williams signed for only $17 million, wanted to return to Charm City and the Ravens have the money to sign him yet didn't shows just how little them wanted him back.
At this point, only Bryant McKinnie figures to be the only remaining Raven free agent that could sign elsewhere. Vonta Leach and Jameel McClain could still be released, but quite frankly, money isn't really an issue for the Ravens at the moment. The top free agents are flying off the board, so most of the guys still available will not command a huge financial committment to sign.
Expect very little movement from the Ravens in free agency through the weekend, as the team continues to wait until the smoke clears before going bargain bin shopping. At this point, it looks like a lot of holes will have to be filled through the draft, and the Ravens are armed with 12 picks.
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