Ravens' Dennis Pitta: Could be cap casualty

Pitta may be asked to accept a pay cut for a second straight offseason, BaltimoreRavens.com reports.

After missing most of 2014 and all of 2015 with hip injuries, Pitta bounced back with a shockingly productive age-31 season, catching 86 passes for 729 yards and a pair of scores. His surprisingly large role was largely a product of injuries, with fellow tight ends Ben Watson (Achilles) and Crockett Gillmore (shoulder) combining for just seven appearances. Pitta and Watson may be asked to take pay cuts or else be released, as Baltimore has some younger (and cheaper) options at the position in the form of Gillmore, Nick Boyle and 2015 second-round selection Maxx Williams. Pitta accepted a salary reduction to stay with the team in 2016, only to recoup most of the money through performance incentives. He's scheduled for a $7.7 million cap hit in 2017.