Though it didn’t originally look like it, multiple sources are reporting that a deal between Joe Flacco and the Ravens could be close. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah puts the odds at 75%, while ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said that the Ravens are “optimistic” about getting a deal done with Flacco ahead of Training Camp. Meanwhile, Flacco himself expressed confidence about the situation.

If this is, in fact, the case, one side must have budged as originally the situation was that Flacco wanted top-5 quarterback money and the Ravens wanted no part of giving him that money. More likely, it’s Flacco who changed his stance, because he’s not worth that kind of money. He is, however, worth at least what Matt Cassel, Kevin Kolb, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Alex Smith are making, which is in the 9-10 million dollar per year range.

If he’s still unsigned next offseason, the Ravens will almost definitely franchise tag him, unless he regresses majorly this season. The Ravens have to be hoping to avoid that because the franchise tag value will be upwards of 16 million dollars and Flacco is not worth that. Signing him now would also free up the franchise tag for use on Ed Reed, if they choose to do so. Expect them to push hard to sign Flacco before the season, in the neighborhood of 10-12 million per year over 4-5 years.

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