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As first reported by Baltimore Sun staff writer Aaron Wilson, the Ravens have reached an agreement on a five-year contract with Dennis Pitta. The Ravens confirmed the deal a short time ago.

So. ... One year after they didn't have to use the tag before signing quarterback Joe Flacco to a $120.6 million contract last March, Pitta and the Ravens got their deal done before Monday's deadline to use the tag.

Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio, citing a league source, reports that Pitta’s contract is anticipated to have an average value of $6-7 million per season. That jibes with reporting ESPN insider Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Albert Breer that the total value is about $32 million.

As Wilson explained, that could have potentially been a complicated situation for the Ravens if they had to designate Pitta as a franchise player because of the financial difference between the $6.709 million tight end tag and an $11.5 million wide receiver tag.

A grievance was expected to filed through the NFL Players Association if the Ravens had designated Pitta as a tight end.

Now, the Ravens have locked up one of Flacco's favorite targets through the 2018 season and avoided any holdup or salary-cap issues.

Pitta proved that his hip is structurally sound over the final four games last season after returning from a dislocated, fractured hip suffered in July that required surgery. He caught 20 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown.

"He still has his skills and the skill set to be a very productive receiver in this league," G.M. Ozzie Newsome recently said. "He plays winning football. He's a mismatch problem for defenses. We'd like to have him."

Pitta, 28, has 122 career receptions for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns.