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Top eight takeaways from NFL free agency tampering period

Kirk Cousins

Ravens are in trouble

Free agency itself hasn’t even started yet, and the Ravens are sitting here already looking at even more glaring holes on a roster that missed out on the playoffs last season. Future Hall of Famer Steve Smith has called it quits and is now breaking news on NFL Network.

Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk is on the verge of signing with San Francisco. Meanwhile, Baltimore released Elvis Dumervil to save cap room while watching Rick Wagner depart to the Detroit Lions in free agency. All the while, stud defensive tackle Brandon Williams appears on the verge of leaving in free agency as well. That’s a whole lot of talent to lose for a team that was average this past season.

On one hand, this is a product of drafting well. Whenever you lose free agents for top dollar, it’s a good sign that team building hasn’t been an issue. On the other hand, who is going to replace these central figures? Juszczyk, Wagner and Williams are all relatively young. They’re also just coming off their rookie deals.

With $46-plus million committed to three players next season, that’s a problem for the Ravens. They are either going to have to go bargain shopping in free agency or rely on even younger players to perform in 2017.

And no, potentially re-acquiring Torrey Smith does nothing to change this, though signing safety Tony Jefferson does have to be considered as a win.

Still, there is a lot of work for general manager Ozzie Newsome and Co. to do in the draft to fill the holes left by departed free agents.

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