NFL Free Agents 2012: Baltimore Ravens Re-Sign Cornerback Lardarius Webb

The Baltimore Ravens have agreed in principle to a new, six-year deal for restricted free agent Lardarius Webb, according to the team's official website. 

The value of the deal is reportedly for $50 million, with $20 million in guaranteed money. 

That's in line with what other prized cornerbacks, such as Brandon Carr (Dallas Cowboys) and Cortland Finnegan (St. Louis Rams), have been paid this offseason. 

Webb may just have been the best of the bunch, although teams shied away from offering him a contract due in part to the fact that landing him would have cost the team a first-round draft choice, as he was a first round-tendered, restricted free agent.

Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome offered this about the deal:

"

Lardarius is an important player for the Ravens and we’re very happy he will be with us for a long time.  We have a good history of completing second contracts for targeted players we want to keep for the long haul. We did that recently with Jameel McClain, just like we did with Haloti (Ngata), ‘Sizzle,’ (Terrell Suggs), ‘J.J.’ (Jarret Johnson), Marshal (Yanda) – and many more through the years.

"

Originally a 2009 third-round pick, Webb became a full-time starter in Baltimore in 2011 and blossomed into one of the elite young cornerbacks in all of football. He has career totals of 153 tackles and seven interceptions.

Keeping Webb and running back Ray Rice were priorities for Newsome this offseason, and Thursday's contract ensures that at least Webb will be on the roster for 2012. Rice, despite being franchised by the team earlier this offseason, has yet to sign his tender. 

The two sides remain involved in talks for an extension, with Rice expected to become among the highest paid running backs in the NFL.