Instead, the Ravens have made some of their most notable offseason moves for veterans with trades in recent years. Quarterback Steve McNair and running back Willis McGahee are obvious examples. Also, it's probably instructional to recall that in both cases, the other teams involved - the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills, respectively - were in a position where they needed to unload the player in question.
Which brings us to the situation in Philadelphia, where the Eagles just landed former New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel, who was considered the biggest catch of the free-agent class. It was slightly surprising because the Eagles have two good mid-career corners in Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown. Upon announcing Samuel's signing, the Eagles immediately handed him the left cornerback job, Sheppard's old post.
You probably see where this is going. Something might have to give in Philly unless they're content with keeping three front-line corners while they have pressing needs at wide receiver and defensive end. Meanwhile, here in Baltimore, both of the Ravens' starting cornerbacks will be older than 30 this season, and both missed considerable time last year, with disastrous consequences. And, of course, the new Ravens coach, John Harbaugh, is the Eagles' old defensive backs coach.
