It seems like everyone is changing uniforms this offseason. HTML: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2791831 McGahee traded to Ravens for multiple picks By Michael Smith ESPN.com The Ravens and Bills agreed to a trade Thursday that will send running back Willis McGahee to Baltimore in exchange for the team's third and seventh-round picks in this year's draft, along with the Ravens' third-round pick in 2008. Baltimore announced the deal Thursday afternoon. Buffalo dealt McGahee in anticipation of difficulty with his contract, which has one season remaining at $2.155 million. The Ravens and McGahee have already begun negotiations on a contract extension, McGahee's agent Drew Rosenhaus said. It's the second year in a row the Ravens pulled off a trade for a marquee veteran. Last year they dealt for Tennessee Titans quarteback Steve McNair, who led the Ravens to the AFC North title. "This is a runner who can make people miss and has the explosion and speed to take it the distance," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "He also has the power and size to run inside. He's a viable receiver out of the backfield and is a good pass blocker, not something every back can do. "He also plays physical and with toughness, which are things we pride ourselves on here." The Titans were also reportedly interested in dealing for McGahee. The Bills, whose remaining running backs are Daimon Shelton and Shaud Williams, are now in the market for multiple backs. They have shown interest in the Colts' Dominic Rhodes and the Titans' Chris Brown, and both have visited the team. Former Patriots running back Corey Dillon has not visited Orchard Park, but the Bills are said to be interested. Buffalo's first-round pick out of Miami in 2003, McGahee is coming off a down season in which he finished with a career-low 990 yards rushing, but led the team with six rushing touchdowns in 14 starts. In 2005, he had 1,247 yards rushing and five touchdowns in 15 starts. He established himself as the Bills starter in 2004 with 1,128 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns in 11 starts. That performance led the team to trade former starter Travis Henry to Tennessee the following summer. McGahee sat out his rookie season recovering from major knee surgery. The Bills have been disappointed in McGahee for conducting most of his offseason workouts in his native Miami, rather than traveling to the team's Orchard Park headquarters. McGahee also created a stir when he was quoted in a magazine article suggesting the NFL consider moving the Bills to Toronto, a comment he later said was taken out of context. ESPN.com senior writer Len Pasquarelli and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a great move for them. They needed a runningback who, unlike Lewis, doesn't get thrown completely off balance at the first hint of contact...or while making a cut. Lewis has some little-ass feet.
i don't know, at first glance, i hear the name mcgahee for 3rd, 7th, and next year's 3rd round picks and think that they got him for nothing. but those are a lot of draft picks, and two 3rd round picks can be very valuable if the bills are trying to load up on young talent. those picks depend on how the ravens do i guess, but still... they were going to have trouble signing him back after next season, and his production scoring wise have been declining after his monster year when he replaced travis henry. i like willis but i think the bills did okay gettin some nice picks for someone they would've lost in a year.
but lewis was known for constantly pumping his feet and pushing forward (couple seasons back). they used to always praise him for having quick feet that would keep churning after contact, which made him a good power runner
I dont think its that steep of a price since the Ravens pick very late in the 3rd rd. Adding the 2008 pick may be a bit much, but they lost leverage when Lewis signed with the Browns. I am personally excited as a Ravens fan. Trading for McGahee and releasing LG Edwin Mulitalo completes the transition from a power running offense to more of a Brian Billick style offense.
I think this a good move by the Ravens. They get fresher legs, and McGahee has more on the upside right now in his career than Lewis and probably most other RB's in the league.
Good pick up for the Ravens, probably could have gotten McGahee without adding next years pick as well
