NFL Free-Agent Signings: Baltimore Ravens Get Their Man in Marshal Yanda

It has become obvious that there will be highs and lows over the course of the next week regarding your favorite NFL team.

To say that fans, players, coaches and even front office management will be on an emotional roller coaster ride may turn out to be the understatement of the year.

Take the Baltimore Ravens as a perfect example.

Yesterday, the Ravens informed the top two pass catchers in team history (Todd Heap and Derrick Mason) that they will be cut on Thursday. They also informed running back Willis McGahee and long time fan favorite nose tackle Kelly Gregg that they would join Heap and Mason on the cut line as well.

The news that the Ravens had cut four of the team's most important and favorite players was met with shock and surprise in and around the Baltimore area as well as the mainstream NFL community.

The reason for the cuts would turn out to be obvious. Cutting the four aging veterans allowed the Ravens to save $18.6 million in salary cap space, as Baltimore was reportedly $1 million over the new $120 million salary cap.

The Ravens have hopes of re-signing Heap, Mason and Gregg at a lower price, but for now, the Ravens have other pressing needs. One of them includes protecting their fourth year franchise quarterback, Joe Flacco.

Flacco was sacked 40 times and hit 79 more last season as both numbers ranked in the bottom half of the NFL. The running game also failed to to produce as it has in years past.

A team with the same three running backs went from fourth in the NFL in 2008, averaging 148.5 yards per game, to 14th last season, averaging 114.4 yards per contest. The Ravens offensive line failed to gel as many predicted it would.

The news appeared worse headed into this year's free agency period, as the Ravens possessed four unrestricted free agent offensive linemen. They included Marshall Yanda, Jared Gaither, Chris Chester and Tony Moll.

As of Tuesday evening, the Ravens now have just three unrestricted free agent lineman.

According to the Ravens web site and Baltimore Sun, the Ravens have agreed to terms with their 2007 third round pick, guard/tackle Marshall Yanda.

Considered one of the hottest commodities headed into this brief free agency period, the Ravens have spent some of the money they saved yesterday very wisely today in re-signing Yanda.

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but a press conference could be scheduled for tomorrow according to the announcement. Stay tuned to the Bleacher Report for up to the minute details. 

“We got Marshall Yanda! That’s great news,” head coach John Harbaugh said.

“He told us he wanted to be a Raven and he understood the business part that he had to go through. I’m beaming; you see Ozzie smile, and is there anyone more excited than [Offensive Line Coach] Andy Moeller right now? We’re a better team than we were one hour ago.”

That is for sure, as the 6'3" 315-pound former Iowa Hawkeye was slated to be a very heavily recruited free agent in the next few days. Yanda, who is just 26, is a very versatile athlete on the O-line who is strong and capable of playing any position up front.

He started all 16 games at right tackle last season after tackle Jared Gaither missed the entire year with a back injury. However, the Ravens would like to move Yanda back to right guard, which is considered his best position.

The move to re-sign Yanda is great news for the fans in Baltimore, as it seems to be an indication that the Ravens are one of those teams that had a plan coming into the turmoil that is now the NFL off-season.

Many experts and pundits predicted that veteran front offices would have the upper hand once the shortened off season began, and the Ravens have wasted no time in keeping their priorities in order.

However you feel about what occurred yesterday and the Marshall Yanda signing, it is important to point out that the Ravens seem confident in their decision making process and appear to have the situation under control. At least as much as you can control the chaos that is the NFL these days.