It seems like we have to discuss this far too frequently, both against fans of other teams that like to point to Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco as a beacon of overpaid mediocrity and even from the Baltimore’s own fanbase that thinks Flacco’s contract is keeping the team from signing anyone. One more time . . . Flacco’s not the reason the Ravens are 4-5 and without weapons on offense or a clear identity of where they’re going.

That’s not to say his contract doesn’t hurt, but there’s context that has to be applied here and it often isn’t both due to ignorance and frustration.

First and foremost, Flacco isn’t the highest-paid quarterback in the league. By average salary, he’s actually the seventh highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, according to Spotrac. In fact, he’s only $1.1 million higher per season than New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. And only $4.1 million higher per season than Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford, who isn’t even starting there.

Experienced quarterbacks that have won games in the NFL command a high price tag — far more than any other position. If you remember the Ravens’ woes at finding a signal caller from 1996 to 2008, you’ll know exactly why any above-average quarterback makes a premium in this league. It’s exactly why Flacco is right in the thick of quarterback contracts

While many think Flacco could be signed for less, I again point to Bradford. Once thought to be the next big thing, Bradford is on his third team right now and is once again not starting there both due to poor play and injury. For his career, Bradford is a lowly 34-45-1 and has yet to put up a winning season in any year that he’s started more than two games. Yet, he’s commanding $18 million a season as a stop-gap solution in Minnesota, according to Spotrac.

If you’re anywhere close to a stable starting quarterback in this league and you’ve signed a contract in recent years, you’re making on average $20 million or more per season. It’s the entry point for contracts for quarterbacks these days, like it or not. And if you’ve signed a contract in the last year, you’re even further in make believe money.

Take a look at Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck signed a five-year deal worth $122.97 million in 2016 despite rather pedestrian numbers before that. His 87.3 career quarterback rating isn’t that much higher than Flacco’s 83.8 career rating, yet Luck’s $24.59 million per year average puts him as the third-highest paid quarterback in the league and nearly $2.5 million ahead of Flacco per season, according to Spotrac.

Looking inward, Flacco’s contract isn’t really the thing killing Baltimore’s ability to sign and retain talent. The Ravens currently hold $22.88 million in dead money from letting players go, which ranks seventh-highest in the NFL this season. They weren’t much better last year, ranking 15th in dead money, or in 2015 where they ranked sixth, according to Over The Cap.

That’s further compounded by failures in drafting talent in recent seasons. As we’ve profiled before, Baltimore has been dreadful in finding Pro Bowl players in the early parts of the draft. Since 2008, the Ravens and general manager Ozzie Newsome have had 85 total draft selections at their disposal. Of those 85 players selected, only three have earned Pro Bowl nods while they were with the Ravens.

But the argument then usually turns to Flacco’s poor play. While certainly accurate this season, I think most would be hard pressed to point to even a handful of players on offense doing well for Baltimore. With the Ravens instead investing $88.2 million of the cap in defense in 2018 to only $67.88 million of the cap in offense, according to Over The Cap, it paints a clear picture that Flacco hasn’t exactly been gifted with talent around him. And with draft picks like wide receiver Breshad Perriman failing miserably, it’s only doubled Flacco’s sorrow.

If you want to look for players that aren’t earning their keep, there are plenty of others on the roster that are paid exceptionally well for little production. Wide receiver Mike Wallace is one of the highest-paid players on the roster at an $8 million cap hit this season, ranking No. 16 at wide receiver in the NFL in that department. Wallace currently is ranked No. 98 in receiving yards in the league this season. Wallace isn’t even the most productive receiver on the Ravens, falling short of Jeremy Maclin and only six yards more than 36-year old tight end Benjamin Wallace.

Safety Eric Weddle was Baltimore’s big signing last offseason, earning a cap hit of $5.75 million this season. That ranks 11th in the league at safety and sixth on Baltimore’s roster. Yet Pro Football Focus has him ranked as their 66th best safety, with a “poor” overall grade of 59.9. Fellow safety Tony Jefferson isn’t much better with an average salary of $8.5 million per season, which ranks third among strong safeties. Yet PFF has him ranked No. 59 with an “average” grade of 71.3.

Though not every signing is going to be perfect, the above examples prove that Flacco’s contract alone isn’t responsible for Baltimore’s tight cap situation. When combined with dead money and some poor contracts elsewhere, Flacco’s relatively average contract amount looks far more reasonable.

It’s easy to look for just one person to blame for the Ravens’ woes, but Flacco isn’t 100 percent to blame here.