The Ravens trade for Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ center Jeremy Zuttah for a 2015 5th round draft pick upgrades the offensive line. With the struggles that Gino Gradkowski encountered last year, it was imperative that the Ravens upgrade the center position.

The question remains if this change will be enough of an upgrade to dramatically turnaround an offensive weakness, the offensive line, into a strength.

With a week into free agency, most surmise that the Ravens have gotten off to a good start. Is this true? Have the Ravens truly upgraded last year’s disappointing 8-8 team? They have lost three key players in defensive end Arthur Jones, cornerback Corey Graham, offensive tackle Michael Oher, and safety James Ihedigbo will almost certainly not be resigned. 

So what have the Ravens actually accomplished? The start to free agency saw the team focus on retaining its own free agents: offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, middle linebacker Daryl Smith, and wide receiver Jacoby Jones. The good news is that these players address what would have been key needs had these players left for other opportunities. In addition, each of these players was considered to be top-tiered free agent at his position (well, Jones was more of a second tier).

However, one could argue that each of these players was also a key part of last year’s disappointing 8-8 season, for better or worse. What upgrades have the Ravens made to change the outlook of 2014?

Enter Friday’s signing of wide receiver Steve Smith. The Ravens made a “splash” on Friday by signing Smith, who was cut by the Carolina Panthers. Smith is the first new addition to the team, and it is debatable if this is a top-notch signing (read below).

So, if you bring key members back into the fold, lose key members, and only add a soon-to-be 35 year old wide receiver, have you really improved as a team?

Work still needs to be done in free agency before this team can comfortably enter the draft embracing its mantra of “selecting the best player available.”

The Ravens still need to find a veteran free safety, potentially upgrade the center position, add depth at cornerback and the defensive line, and determine whether or not Kelechi Osemele is going to settle in at guard or right tackle.

Right player at the right price. The 80-20 principle—80 percent of the player for 20 percent of the price. Free agency is for filling needs. Draft the best available player on the board.

The Ravens have operated by these mottos since their arrival in Baltimore in 1996. This year will be no different.

With a healthy amount of salary cap money at their disposal ($24.425 million—closer to $21 million once restricted free agent tenders are made), the conventional wisdom is that the Ravens are going to be active in the free agent market. However, the Ravens will not overspend on a position of need or on a certain player(s). There are just too many holes on the roster.

After a roller coaster offseason (The good: Terrell Suggs and Denis Pitta signings, cuts of Vonta Leach and Jameel McClain. The bad: the onslaught of arrests.), the Ravens may find themselves in a decent position at the onset of free agency. The Ravens main areas of need are offensive tackle, wide receiver, middle linebacker, safety, and center. There is also need at running back, tight end, and along the defensive line. Clearly, the team has needs.

But this is where the good fortune comes into play. The draft is deep in offensive line, wide receiver, tight end, and defensive line talent so the Ravens will not have to overpay for these positions. The draft is a bit shallow at center, tight end, and safety (plus, I think that the Ravens want to pair Matt Elam with a more seasoned player), but the free agent market for these positions of need provides many possibilities. 

Between the draft and free agency, the talent pool matches the Ravens' needs. They can be strategic and patent to a certain extent. Wide receiver positin weak in free agnecy? It is strong in the draft. Not many quality centers in the draft? There are options in free agency? For the Ravens, there are not many team need scenarios where there are not many options. 

Much of the Ravens’ activity hinges on how they treat signing two of their own: offensive tackle Eugene Monroe and middle linebacker Daryl Smith. I am not in favor of breaking the bank on either of these players, as there are solid alternatives in each of these positions. Of the two, I would more willing to shore up Monroe as the left tackle market is beginning to dwindle (see below).

Regardless of how things play out with Monroe and Smith, the Ravens need to fill holes before the draft. I fully expect them to address offensive tackle (most likely Monroe), center, middle linebacker, and safety. The Ravens need to wisely use their cash and cap space by spreading out the spending on multiple positions.

Here are the areas and players that I think the Ravens should, and will, target during free agency.