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As the Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson reported earlier, the Ravens created some much needed financial flexibility by trading five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and by restructuring veteran outside linebacker Terrell Suggs' four-year, $28.5 million contract.

And fantasy football owners will be pleased to learn they invested some of the resulting windfall in Justin Forsett, singing the veteran running back to a three-year deal worth a reported $9 million.

Forsett had reiterated several times that he wants to remain with the Ravens, a desire obviously shared by the team. He had drawn interest from the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins and Indianapolis Colts.

The Ravens were Forsett's top choice, though. And the three-year deal means he gets out of the "friend zone" -- something that was important to him.

Forsett has been with five teams during his NFL career.

"These guys are familiar with me and they gave me my first real shot, but there's also a business side of it where unfortunately I've been in the 'friend zone' for most of my career," he told the team's web site earlier this year. "Hopefully we can get into a deeper commitment somewhere down the road and get some stability."

Of course, the reality is that he's 29 and will turn 30 in the middle of the 2015 season, often the beginning of a no-man's land for running backs in the league. Still, his patient running style and relatively low mileage made him appealing in Baltimore.

As Profooballtalk.com noted, Forsett stepped into the lead running back role in the third week of the season after Bernard Pierce (who was replacing Ray Rice) was injured and never looked back. He ran for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns on 235 carries and added another 263 yards on 44 catches to help the Ravens advance to the divisional round of the playoffs.

The yardage total was good enough for fifth among the NFL's rushing leaders.

The question now is whether he can duplicate that with 2014 offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak gone and Marc Trestman in his place. The positive there? Trestman will certainly take advantage of Forsett's receiving ability. ...

Meanwhile, Wilson reports the Ravens would also ideally like to add a veteran wide receiver to play opposite five-time Pro Bowl pass catcher Steve Smith. Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Stevie Johnson are among the candidates.

Michael Crabtree is also expected to leave the 49ers.