The Ravens have signed 33-year old QB Marc Bulger to a 1-year, $3.8 million dollar deal with another $1.5 million in possible incentives.  Bulger played in 9 games for the Rams last season in which he completed 140 of 247 passes (56.7%) for 1,469 yards with 5 TD passes and 6 INTs (70.7 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 8 times for 22 yards (2.8 ypc) last season.  Bulger has now played in 96 games in his NFL career and he has completed 1,969 of 3,171 passes (62.1%) for 22,814 yards with 122 TD passes and 93 INTs (84.4 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 118 times for 300 yards (2.5 ypc) with 8 TD runs in his career.  Bulger has a 41-54 (43.2%) record as a starting QB in his career.  This was a excellent move for the Ravens as it gives them a veteran they can trust behind Joe Flacco.  Look for them to try harder to deal Troy Smith now.

The Ravens have signed 35-year old CB Walt Harris to a 1-year deal.  Harris has not played in the NFL since the 2008 season with the 49ers.  Harris has played in 193 games in his NFL career and he has made 748 tackles, he defensed 166 passes, has 3 sacks, forced 18 fumbles and he has 35 interceptions (4 returned for TDs).  This was a good depth signing for the Ravens as Harris has been a pretty good cornerback in the past.

UPDATE:  (8/6/2010) – The Ravens have placed Walt Harris on Injured Reserve with an Achilles problem.

UPDATE II:  (8/13/2010) – The Ravens have reached a injury settlement with Harris making him a free agent.

25-year old Le’Ron McClain is one of the best fullbacks in the NFL.  At 6’0″, 260 pounds McClain is a load blocking in the running game.  He’s also more than capable of going out for a pass or getting the tough yards inside if the Ravens need him to.  McClain played in 16 games (14 starts) for the Ravens last season in which he carried the ball 46 times for 180 yards (3.9 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also caught 21 passes for 141 yards (6.7 avg) last year.  McClain has now played in 48 games (41 starts) in his career with the Ravens and he has carried the ball 286 times for 1,100 yards (3.8 ypc) with 12 TD runs.  He has also caught 49 passes for 319 yards (6.5 avg) with 2 TD grabs in his career. 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RAVENS FBs in 2010:  A

The Ravens have signed 29-year old safety Ken Hamlin to a 1-year deal.  Hamlin played in 12 games for the Cowboys last season and he had 52 tackles and he defensed 2 passes.  He has now played in 98 games in his NFL career and he has made 486 tackles, defensed 49 passes, he has 5 sacks, he’s forced 5 fumbles and he has 14 interceptions.  This was a solid signing for the Ravens as Hamlin will provide depth along the back line of the D.

23-year old Ray Rice had a huge breakout season for the Ravens in 2009.  He played in 16 games (15 starts) for the Ravens last season and he carried the ball 254 times for 1,339 yards (5.3 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  Rice also caught 78 passes for 702 yards (9.0 avg) with 1 TD grab last season.  Rice is one of the best all around RBs in the NFL as he is a threat to break a big play any time his hands touch the football.  Rice has played in 29 games (19 starts) in his two years with the Ravens and he has carried the ball 361 times for 1,793 yards (5.0 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  He has also caught 111 passes for 975 yards (8.8 avg) with 1 TD grab in his two years with the Ravens.  Look for him to have another heavy workload in 2010 for the Ravens.

Rumors were flying all over the place in the spring that the Ravens were going to trade 28-year old Willis McGahee.  They resisted the temptation to do so and the Ravens will be a better team for keeping him.  McGahee played in 16 games (1 start) for the Ravens last season and he carried the ball 109 times for 544 yards (5.0 ypc) with 12 TD runs.  He also caught 15 passes for 85 yards (5.7 avg) with 2 TD grabs last year.  McGahee will be able to give Ray Rice a break once in a while and he could take over as the feature back if he gets injured.  McGahee has now played in 90 games (64 starts) in his 6 years in the NFL in which he has carried the ball 1,441 times for 5,787 yards (4.0 ypc) with 50 TD runs.  He has also caught 150 passes for 992 yards (6.6 avg) with 3 TD grabs in his career.

24-year old Jalen Parmele will be the Ravens’ #3 RB in 2010.  He played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Ravens last season and he carried the ball 5 times for 17 yards (3.4 ypc).  Parmele also was a big help on special teams for the Ravens last season returning 9 kickoffs for 283 yards (31.4 avg).  He has now played in 8 games (0 starts) in his two years in the NFL in which he has carried the ball 7 times for 44 yards (6.3 ypc). 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RAVENS RBs in 2010:  A

The Ravens have signed 32-year old kicker Shayne Graham to a 1-year deal.  Graham played in all 16 games for the Bengals last season and he connected on 23 of 28 field goals (82.1%) and he also made 28 of 29 extra points good for 97 points.  He has now played in 127 games in his 9 year NFL career and he has made 196 of 230 field goal attempts (85.2%) and 276 of 279 extra points good for 864 points.  This was a solid signing for the Ravens as Graham has a very accurate leg.