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Some media pundits have been writing off safety Dawan Landry returning to Baltimore, saying he’s due to cash in elsewhere.
Not NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora. He’s got a feeling Landry will stay.
“I would think the Ravens would prioritize Dawan and [tackle Marshal] Yanda as guys who they’re going to make real, real strong runs at,” La Canfora told BaltimoreRavens.com. “I think they’re guys who they really want to retain and they’re core guys for them. Over the years, the Ravens haven’t lost too many of those guys.”
Landry, who has five years of service, would hit the open market under the new collective bargaining agreement if media expectations are correct that players with four or more years will be unrestricted.
La Canfora said he expects Landry and San Deigo’s Eric Weddle to be two safeties who would “command some serious attention.”
Landry notched a career-high 111 tackles last season, second most on the team. He didn’t grab an interception after nabbing four in 2009, but did score a touchdown after getting a lateral from Ed Reed in Carolina.
Landry, 28, has been a dependable starter since being selected by Baltimore in the fifth round of the 2006 draft. He missed most of 2008 due to injury, but has started every game the past two seasons since returning.
“[Yanda and Landry] have both been real solid contributors for them and they were great draft picks, great value for where they were selected,” La Canfora said. “I tend to think they’ll stay around.”
Head Coach John Harbaugh told season ticket holders in mid-March that the team is aware that Landry has a chance to be a free agent and that Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura would compete for a starting spot.
The Ravens have also let former strong safeties go via free agency, including Will Demps after the 2005 season and Jim Leonhard following 2008.
