One day after it was reported the Ravens would not pay a first- and a third-round pick for disgruntled Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin, multiple outlets are now reporting that Arizona may lower its asking price to a first-round pick and a player.
Cardinals general manager Rod Graves said yesterday that Arizona has not formally received an offer for Boldin, though several teams had inquired.
"Anything can evolve from this point through draft day, so that's where it is right now," Graves said at the Cardinals' pre-draft press conference this week. He did not specify what Boldin's asking price would be, but that it would "certainly have to be for commensurate value."
The Ravens currently have the 26th pick in the first round. ESPN's John Clayton speculated that the Ravens might be willing to trade nine-year tight end **Todd Heap** in a deal. Still, several experts point to salary cap room as the largest obstacle for the Ravens in a potential trade for the Pro Bowl receiver.
When asked last week if he had contacted Arizona about Boldin, Ravens general manager **Ozzie Newsome** said he had been in contact with several teams leading up to the NFL Draft this weekend.
Originally posted April 21, 4:37 PM
As fans and analysts speculate on the matter, The Baltimore Sun is reporting that a Ravens' team source has claimed the team will likely not trade for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin.
Many NFL pundits believe the Ravens are targeting a big-game receiver going into the 2009 season, and would pursue one either in free agency or the Draft. When Arizona announced that they would listen to trade offers for Boldin, an NFL source identified the Ravens as a team that had expressed interest, according to media sources.
Philadelphia is also viewed as a contender, even after trading one of their first round picks to Buffalo for offensive tackle Jason Peters.
However, several media sources are reporting that the Cardinals' asking price for Boldin, a first and a third round pick, are higher than the Ravens are willing to pay. Reportedly, The Ravens would only be willing to part with a first round or second round pick, along with one player.
The Ravens have six picks in Saturday's draft, including the 26th in the first round and the 88th in the third.
Some are speculating that the salary cap may also have an impact on whether the Ravens pursue Boldin. The former Pro-Bowler would likely demand a huge new contract, and the Ravens are currently attempting to re-sign outside linebacker [Terrell Suggs to a new deal.
In other news, former St. Louis Rams player Torry Holt, another wide receiver whose name had been potentially linked to Baltimore, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday, according to ESPN.
Holt had 64 receptions and 3 touchdowns last season on a Rams' team that went 2-14 for the second straight season. Viewed as a potential hall-of-famer, the 32-year-old Holt was cut by the Rams after 10 seasons in March as a salary-cap saving move. The Ravens were believed to be one of the suitors, along with Tennessee.
With Holt no longer in the market and Boldin reportedly not an option, many outlets still project the Ravens to add a receiver this weekend in the Draft.
