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NFL roundup: Baltimore Ravens release Dennis Pitta

By Brad Weiss

Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals inside linebacker Nick Vigil (59) in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals inside linebacker Nick Vigil (59) in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dennis Pitta was released by the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday, and it looks like injuries may threaten his NFL career.

During the 2016 NFL season, Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta was named the AFC Comeback Player of the Year. Battling back from another hip injury, Pitta was a star for the Ravens, hauling in 86 receptions, which was tops among tight ends. He dislocated his hip in a non-contact injury during OTAs, and it is likely the Ravens felt that this one, his third, would be too hard to come back from.

Another player who was released on Wednesday was Eric Decker, who has played the last few seasons with the New York Jets. It seems the Jets are content with getting rid of all of their veteran assets, which could prove devastating to their young quarterbacks in 2017. Decker will likely latch on somewhere else, though the 30-year old is coming off a season that ended with him on the injured reserve  due to a shoulder injury.

Staying with the wide receivers, Jeremy Maclin continues to be a hot commodity after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this week. Maclin met with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday and Wednesay, and is expected to visit the Baltimore Ravens next. He had a down year in 2016, as his stats were pretty much half of what they were the year before, but the 29-year old should still have a lot of good football left in him.

Odell Beckham Jr. is arguably the most talented wide receiver in the NFL, and he wants to get paid like he is. OBJ sat out of OTAs this past week, likely to negotiate a new contract, though he is still under contract for the next two seasons. The star wideout can get a new deal as he is in the fourth year of his contract, and the Giants do want him for the long term, but it really makes no sense for the team to give him a new deal at this point.

Next: 5 potential landing spots for Eric Decker

With the 2018 NFL Draft class loaded with quarterback talent, it will be interesting to see what the New England Patriots do with backup Jimmy Garoppolo. Starter Tom Brady showed no signs of slowing down last season, and with Jimmy G in the last year of his contract, the team could actually offer him an extension. Garoppolo is one of the more sought after backup quarterbacks in the NFL, as many teams believe he can be an elite starter in the league.

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