Before the Ravens can make any big free agent moves they must secure defensive tackle Haloti Ngata with a long term deal. Currently, Baltimore has just about $4 million in salary cap room to work with and analysts and cap experts are saying that the only way it’s going to get better is by locking up Ngata.
After Friday afternoon’s practice, Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun reported that general manager Ozzie Newsome will begin the negotiation process with Ngata’s agent in three or four days.
“The Ravens have had talks with the representatives for Haloti Ngata, and as soon as the dust of training camp settles, we will begin talks on a contract extension,” Newsome said Friday.
If the Ravens can strike a deal with Ngata, they would create cap room to fill other needs on the team. Ngata, who currently accounts for 10 percent of the Ravens’ cap, isn’t concerned about the situation.
Ngata told the media that he leaves the negotiating up to his agent. The Ravens franchised Ngata in February, he said he doesn’t mind the tag as long as a long-term deal is in the works. Luckily for him, the Ravens and their fans, it appears that the ball is rolling on said deal.
