Free agency doesn't officially begin until March 13, but teams could start negotiating with free agents on March 11, so word about imminent deals have already leaked out.
The Ravens have historically stayed away from the early free-agency frenzy, as former general manager Ozzie Newsome consistently believed in making lower-priced, value plays once the market settled down. To be sure, the Ravens salary-cap situation has often dictated that approach. New general manager Eric DeCosta has suggested he is likely to stick to that playbook, but an aggressive bid for one of the Ravens key positions of need can't be ruled out.
As free agency unofficially begins with contact between players and teams, here are five storylines to watch:
