Ben Grubbs

The Ravens have lost three starters in free agency, but it's nothing to have major concerns about. Now, if they lose inside linebacker Jameel McClain, it might be time to get a little nervous. The departure of left guard Ben Grubbs to New Orleans was a major loss. He was the Ravens' best offensive lineman and about to enter his peak years in the NFL. But the best teams in the NFL always lose quality players because other teams raid them through free agency, so traditional favorites like the Steelers, Ravens and Colts will lose big-name players occasionally.

Left tackle Bryant McKinnie appeared to remove any lingering doubt when he went to his Twitter account last night to tell Ravens fans that team officials confirmed to him that he would back for this coming season. So it was no surprise that 4 p.m. today came and went, and McKinnie, who started all 18 games last season, remained on the roster. The Ravens informed McKinnie that they will pick up his $500,000 roster bonus, which was due today. With free agent right tackle Eric Winston having scheduled a visit to Baltimore, there were some questions about McKinnie's future with the Ravens. There's still plenty that could happen in free agency or the draft, but today's development solidifies McKinnie as the starting left tackle for now. Still, it wouldn't be surprising if the Ravens drafted a left tackle in April because McKinnie has only one more year remaining on his contract.

The Ravens were several hours into trying to recruit Ben Grubbs' potential replacement when they learned Thursday morning that their Pro Bowl left guard had reached a long-term agreementon with the New Orleans Saints. Team officials knew his departure was the likely outcome when he hit free agency Tuesday at 4 p.m, and their preparations for life after Grubbs began earlier in the morning when they welcomed free agent guard Evan Mathis to their training facility for a visit. Mathis, who blocked for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, spent the day with Ravens officials, and was expected to have dinner and stay the night in the area.

The Ravens' stated offseason priority of bolstering their offensive line just got a little more difficult. Ben Grubbs, one of the group's top performers, signed a long-term deal with the New Orleans Saints, the team announced. The deal is for five years, $36 million and includes a $10 million signing bonus and $16 million guaranteed. ESPN first reported the terms. "I'm confident in my skills and I feel like I still haven't maxed out yet," Grubbs told The New Orleans Times-Picayune . "Now is the time to show the second half of my career is going to be better than the first.

Cory Redding became the first Ravens' free agent to find a new home today as the veteran defensive end agreed to a three-year, $10.5 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts. The deal was first reported by ESPN. In Indianapolis, Redding will reunite with Chuck Pagano, the Colts' head coach who was the Ravens' defensive coordinator this past season. Pagano is installing a 3-4 hybrid defense in Indianapolis, and it was expected that the he would go after a couple of his former players that have flourished in the system.

Ravens left guard Ben Grubbs, an unrestricted free agent, is in New Orleans today to meet with Saints officials -- and he just got good news. Carl Nicks, who had manned the left guard position for the Saints, has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We'll see if the Saints let Grubbs leave town. According to ESPN, Nicks' contract is worth $47.5 million -- including $31 million guaranteed -- which makes him the highest-paid guard in the league. That monster deal, coupled with New Orleans' newfound need for a guard, could mean that Grubbs gets the big payday he is said to be looking for . The Ravens, according to our sources, before the start of free agency made Grubbs an offer similar to the five-year, $32.5 million deal they gave to right guard Marshal Yanda last offseason.

With left guard Ben Grubbs visiting the New Orleans Saints and a reportedly long list of suitors waiting to talk to him if he leaves New Orleans without a deal, the Ravens will host guard Evan Mathis on Wednesday, according to multiple reports. Mathis started 15 games at guard for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011. Mathis, 30, a former third-round pick, has played for four teams in his seven NFL seasons, including the Eagles (2011), Cincinnati Bengals (2008-10), Miami Dolphins (2008)

We're two hours into free agency and the national news continues to come fast and furious. Now we have a bit of Ravens news being reported by a pair of national outlets. CBS Sports reports that Ben Grubbs will meet with the New Orleans Saints tomorrow. ESPN says that Cory Redding is visiting the Indianapolis Colts tonight. Grubbs is widely regarded as the second-best guard in free agency behind Carl Nicks, who was a Pro Bowl player for the Saints in 2011. The fact that Grubbs is reportedly visiting the Saints suggests that Nicks and the Saints are headed to Splitsville.

3! 2! 1! Happy new league year! The 2012 NFL year is officially underway, and it all kicks off with free agency. Before today's 4 p.m. start of free agency, there were re-signings (Marques Colston is staying with the New Orleans Saints) and cuts (the Dallas Cowboys released Terrence Newman and David Buehler). And minutes after the ball dropped on the league year, the Miami Dolphins traded Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears. All is quiet here, though. To our knowledge, the Ravens have not yet re-signed any of their 12 unrestricted free agents, a list that includes Pro Bowl guard Ben Grubbs and defensive starters Jarret Johnson, Jameel McClain and Cory Redding.

Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome and coach John Harbaugh provided a glimpse into the team's offseason plans Friday, and those plans very much include an aggressive run at re-signing Pro Bowl left guard Ben Grubbs. Earlier this offseason, Grubbs' departure for a huge free agent deal was viewed as a near formality, but Newsome said Friday that team officials have been negotiating with the player's agent, Pat Dye, with the hope of reaching a deal before the offensive lineman hits the open market March 13. “I'm pretty optimistic about it right now,” Harbaugh said.