The Baltimore Ravens made their first big free agent move by taking care of quarterback Joe Flacco to an NFL record $120 million contract and now they are shifting priorities to other players, including linebacker Dannell Ellerbe.
According to ESPN.com, the team is focused on signing Dannell Ellerbe and not outside linebacker Paul Kruger, as they feel they can still re-sign him afterwards. Kruger is not expected to get as much attention in free agency which is why the Ravens are focused on the other linebacker.
Both players were essential to the Super Bowl run last season, with Kruger leading the team in sacks while Ellerbe made 92 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks, both career highs. The linebacker has been with the Ravens for four years and played in 13 games last season after appearing in nine in 2011.
Sources told ESPN.com that Kruger could be an option for the Cleveland Browns and that the Indianapolis Colts will also go after the linebacker to reunite him with his old Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. The Colts have also planned on going after Kruger to help replace the loss of Dwight Freeney.
Freeney has not revealed any teams that he will visit, but it is possible the Ravens could be one of them. Kruger had nine sacks last season after being a 2009 second-round pick with the Ravens.
The priority of signing the linebacker may mean the end of Ed Reed's career in Baltimore, as many have expected. The star has been a stalwart on the defense, but could move on after the team shelled out money to Flacco.
The Ravens have a number of options to replace him if they can finds the money, as Charles Woodson and Dashon Goldson are free agents. The team got a good look at Goldson in the Super Bowl and Woodson is a free agent after being cut by the Packers.
Woodson is getting up there in age and although he played in just seven games after dealing with a collarbone injury, he could slip in nicely for Reed as a ball hawk and solid veteran in the locker room. The Ravens have made defense a priority after paying Flacco his money and signing Ellerbe will likely be their next big move.