Re-signing players – Defense:
Linebacker Patrick Onwuasor is also likely to get some attention in free agency this offseason. At this point, I wouldn’t think the Ravens would guarantee him a starting job in 2020, which caps how much they’d be willing to spend to re-sign him. If another team is willing to give him a starting job and even the same amount of money, it seems likely that Onwuasor would leave for greener pastures.
Defensive tackle Michael Pierce is another tough decision for Baltimore to make. However, I think he’s the one key pending free agent the Ravens really need to re-sign. Pierce is a key player on Baltimore’s defensive line and with very limited depth there, losing him would open up another big hole we’d have to fill this offseason. Since we’ve estimated Pierce won’t cost a fortune, he seems like the ideal guy to re-sign to a back-loaded contract that minimizes his cap hits in 2020 and 2021.
As noted with Carr when cutting players, I’m not too sure cornerback Jimmy Smith has a place on the roster either. He can still be a stop-gap starter for a defense that needs experience at the position but with both Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters on Baltimore’s roster, he’d be a depth player for the Ravens. Just like Onwuasor, that caps his value to Baltimore and points to Smith signing a short-term deal elsewhere.
With absolutely no starters on the roster at linebacker currently, I’d look to give Josh Bynes a one-year deal to return. After playing well last season, he’d be a great option to retain as a potential starter and some insurance if the Ravens can’t get an immediate starter in the draft. Since it took until Week 5 of the regular season for Bynes to sign a deal, it looks as though he could re-sign for around the same base salary he had in 2019.
I’d also look to do the same with defensive end Jihad Ward, who played well for the Ravens down the stretch and likely wouldn’t cost a fortune. A two-year deal seems like a good option to keep him around at a relative value while giving him a chance to hit free agency again at nearly 28 years old.