The Ravens' free agent class includes more than just the big-name unrestricted players such as Ed Reed, Dannell Ellerbe, Paul Kruger and Cary Williams.
There's also Baltimore's restricted free-agent class: tight ends Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson, long snapper Morgan Cox, defensive lineman Arthur Jones, offensive lineman Ramon Harewood and wide receiver David Reed – all products of the 2010 draft class.
They'll be eligible to receive one of four tenders or none at all: a first-round tender (worth $2.879 million next season), second-round tender ($2.02 million), original-round tender ($1.323 million) or right of first refusal tender ($1.323) that isn't accompanied by a draft pick.
If another team signs one of the restricted free agents to an offer sheet, Baltimore first has the right to match that contract. If the Ravens don't match, the other team would have to give Baltimore the applicable draft pick as compensation.
The Ravens have until March 12 at 4 p.m. to assign tenders to prevent the restricted free agents from becoming unrestricted, and are expected to do so in the coming days.
The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson speculated on what tenders Baltimore may assign:
TE Ed Dickson (third-round pick)
2012 Stats: 21 receptions, 255 yards, 0 touchdowns
"A valuable blocker, Dickson is expected to get an original round tender of $1.323 million."
TE Dennis Pitta (fourth round)
2012 Stats: 61 receptions, 669 yards, 7 touchdowns
"The Ravens won't risk losing Pitta by going original round and are expected to use the second-round tender. That could possibly tempt another team to submit an offer sheet since Pitta is a good player in the prime of his career."
WR David Reed (fifth round)
2012 Stats: 5 receptions, 66 yards, 4 special teams tackles
"Reed isn't expected to get a tender unless the Ravens clear out more salary-cap space. A good special-teams player, he could return at a lower salary."
DL Arthur Jones (fifth round)2012 Stats: 47 tackles, 4 ½ sacks, 1 forced fumble
"Even though the restricted free-agent class is traditionally slow, an original-round tender could mean losing Jones. So, the Ravens likely have no choice but to go with a second-round tender of $2.023 million."
OL Ramon Harewood (sixth round)
2012 Stats: 5 games started at LG
"Harewood is a borderline decision for the Ravens, a player who still has untapped potential for new run-game coordinator Juan Castillo. If the Ravens non-tender Harewood, they could bring him back for roughly the minimum of $490,000 since he spent two seasons previously on injured reserve."
LS Morgan Cox (undrafted)
2012 Stats: 16 games played
"The Ravens would ideally like this reliable long snapper back at a lower price than the low tender of $1.323 million."
