Lost in Baltimore’s early off-season chatter about coaches and coordinators is perhaps an even larger issue… the guys who actually play the game. Rough estimates at this time, from a variety of sources, say that the Ravens will be somewhere between 5 and 7 million dollars below the salary cap heading into the off-season - and that’s with just 42 players signed.

So who stays and who goes in the days before (and after) draft day?

The Ravens have a number of players up for free agency (a solid mix of restricted and unrestricted contracts, at that). Most notable among the names you’ll find unsigned and unrestricted are DE/LB Terrell Suggs and back-up RB Musa Smith. In addition,  WR Devard Darling, KR BJ Sams and back-up DB Gerome Sapp are also unrestricted in the coming off-season.

Expect the Ravens to make a solid play for Suggs, who is a key piece of the team’s defensive unit. Outside of Suggs, though, the rest may be out of their purple.  Some fresh faces on both sides of the ball might be just what new coach John Harbaugh is looking for, but then again, a core of trusted and respected second-stringers shouldn’t be underestimated.

In addition, if the Ravens even want to have a shot at addressing their weaknesses through the draft and outside free agents, there are going to have to be some major cap casualties. Heavy contracts from Steve McNair, Kyle Boller, Samari Rolle, Mike Flynn and Todd Heap will all need to be dealt with. (I mention only these names at first because I think it’s fair to say that cutting/trading other heavy contracts belonging to Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, etc, will not even be considered an option).  Heap might be the biggest surprise to some fans, but his recent injury-plagued years have to have some in front office wondering how long the team can hold onto to a hobbled, if dangerous, tight end.

And, of course, the biggest - literally, the biggest - question still unanswered is veteran OL Jon Ogden and his retirement. If JO decides to call it quits, the cap picture for the Ravens will shift dramatically. But if he decides to stay in uniform for one more season, these money issues will become very real very quickly. From a talent standpoint, with a young core of linemen, Ogden’s experience and leadership could be invaluable.

So what do we want to see happen? Is Ogden’s play worth his price at this point, or would we rather watch him bow out and give the team some more option? Which UFA’s do we want back the most? And which heavy contracts need to be cut to make room for fresh meat?