Baltimore Ravens: Latest Free-Agency News and Rumors

Following the NFL Scouting Combine, free agency is the next big event on the offseason schedule. 

It won't be long before teams can start negotiating contracts with impending free agents on March 7, then begin signing players on March 10.

The Baltimore Ravens are heading into one of the most important offseasons in recent memory with several of their best players and biggest contracts needing to be addressed. 

More than likely, at least one key contributor from last year's team is going to be gone by the start of the 2015 season. Torrey Smith, Haloti Ngata, Justin Forsett and Lardarius Webb are just a few Ravens whose futures in Baltimore are murky at best.

Here's a roundup of the latest news and rumors surrounding the Ravens prior to the start of free agency. 

Pernell McPhee Likely Leaving Via Free Agency

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The Ravens likely won't be re-signing outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, who's set to become a free agent for the first time in his four-year NFL career.

McPhee has developed into a solid pass-rusher for Baltimore's defense, racking up 75 sacks this past year while coming off the bench. 

Playing behind Pro Bowlers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil limited McPhee's production, but he's still done enough to likely earn a big contract this offseason from someone other than Baltimore.

General manager Ozzie Newsome admitted as much, saying he didn't think McPhee would re-sign with the Ravens. Per CBS' Jason La Canfora: 

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Ravens defensive lineman Pernell McPhee, a rotational guy in Baltimore who rarely started, is going to hit it big. I expect he can reach $10M a year -- the Colts will likely be very involved -- and will top a class of pass rushers that has some questions. (...)

It's certain McPhee is gone -- the Ravens wish him best of luck and are happy for the young man who is about to secure life-changing wealth.

"

It won't be a devastating loss for the Ravens with Dumervil and Suggs still on the roster after they combined for 29 sacks this past season. 

Still, losing a young pass-rusher like McPhee is a tough pill to swallow. 

Ravens Trying to Re-Sign Justin Forsett

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Baltimore is making Justin Forsett a priority this offseason, and re-signing the veteran running back is a must for a team that relied heavily on the run this past season.

Forsett finished 2014 fifth in the NFL with 1,266 rushing yards as he carried the Ravens offense to a playoff berth. He was also why Baltimore improved from 30th in rushing offense in 2013 to No. 8 this past year.

However, Forsett signed just a one-year contract in the offseason to back up Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce. With Rice now gone and Pierce having yet to show he can carry the load, re-signing Forsett is something Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome stressed his team is trying to do. 

Newsome spoke to the media about Forsett on Tuesday and said, "We would like to retain Justin [Forsett]... We will work to try to retain Justin," per Baltimore's official Twitter account.

They need to get him re-signed as soon as possible. If he hits the open market, another team could swoop in and offer Forsett a deal Baltimore isn't willing to give him. 

Ravens Know Re-Signing Torrey Smith Looks Unlikely

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The Ravens have already conceded that wide receiver Torrey Smith's days in Baltimore may be over. 

Smith is hitting free agency for the first time in his career, and the former second-round pick is ready for his first big payday. 

Smith is a great No. 1 receiver when he's at his best, and keeping him will prove difficult this offseason.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti knows this, and he had some revealing comments Tuesday at the annual season-review press conference that don't bode well for Smith remaining in Baltimore. 

Via BaltimoreRavens.com: 

"

“He sets his number, I live with that number,” Bisciotti said. “I’ve never successfully talked him into changing that number.

“I don’t like to stand up here and say I’m rooting against the guy [in getting a big payday], but we’ve got to find a number. And some of the numbers that are thrown out there, quite frankly, we can’t match. We don’t have that kind of space.”

"

Reading between the lines, it's evident Baltimore isn't expecting Smith to re-sign, as another team is likely to offer him a deal the Ravens simply cannot match. 

In four seasons, Smith has caught 213 passes for 3,591 yards (16.9 YPC) and a franchise-record 30 touchdowns. He had an up-and-down 2014 campaign, finishing with 49 catches for 767 yards (15.7 YPC), but he did record a career-high 11 scores.

Smith stretches the field and opens up the run game while also providing Joe Flacco with the only legitimate deep threat Baltimore has. However, it appears the Ravens will have to find someone else to do what Smith does. 

Baltimore Offers Haloti Ngata a Restructured Contract

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The Ravens may be forced to part ways with arguably their best player if Haloti Ngata is let go. 

The All-Pro defensive lineman is on the final year of his contract, and his cap hit this year is $16 million, per Spotrac. That number will hinder Baltimore's ability to re-sign free agents like Justin Forsett, Torrey Smith and others, so Baltimore has tried restructuring his contract. 

However, CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports Ngata may have played his last game in Baltimore after not seeing eye-to-eye with the Ravens on negotiations:

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Barring some significant progress I would not be surprised if Haloti Ngata has played his last game as a Raven. He's been with the team his entire career and is a iconic player in Baltimore, but I wouldn't underestimate his willingness to play elsewhere in 2015 if need be and reports about the sides being close and the Ravens making a "strong" offer aren't jibing with me.

"

What makes Ngata so great is he's able to play defensive tackle, defensive end and nose tackle in Baltimore's 3-4 defense—and play all three spots at a high level.

This past season, Ngata was moved to defensive end and finished the year No. 9 out of 47 qualified defensive ends, via Pro Football Focus. He is one of the best players on this roster, and losing him would be a crushing blow to Baltimore's playoff hopes in 2016 after it made it to the divisional round last season.

The closer we get to the start of free agency with no new deal in place, the likelier it becomes that we've seen the last of Ngata in Baltimore.