As we get nearer to the start of NFL free agency, the focus has been on what players the Baltimore Ravens could get and what needs the team could fill ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. But lost in the excitement of speculation and hope is that Baltimore has already grabbed their free-agent splash this offseason.
In signing cornerback Marcus Peters to a three-year extension, the Ravens picked up one of the top players at the position. Had Peters been on the free-agent market, his deal would have been considered a huge splash and a monumental win for Baltimore. The same could be said for kicker Justin Tucker, wide receiver Willie Snead, guard Marshal Yanda and cornerback Tavon Young, who signed their deals well before they could hit free agency.
In total, the Ravens have signed nine players that would have been free agents this offseason before that ever happened. Of that group, Baltimore has signed contracts totaling $118.52 million over 18 combined years, including five deals that average $5 million per year or more. By most teams’ free-agency periods, that would be considered quite the haul and it all happened months before free agency actually kicked off.
As I’ve noted before, general manager Eric DeCosta’s philosophy of re-signing key contributors early has saved the Ravens from a difficult and uncertain offseason this year. It’s given Baltimore a little more flexibility in both free agency and the draft while helping set up their salary-cap situation for the next few years. The Ravens have also saved quite a bit of money when it comes to locking up their own players, by not having to beat other teams with more cap space to spend.
That philosophy has given Baltimore a lot of different options. They have the cap space to be in the running on one or two of the top free agents this offseason if they want. Or they could take their early signings and cap space into the second wave of free agency following the 2020 NFL Draft to find better value and plug up any remaining holes.
But regardless of how the Ravens act in free agency this offseason, fans need to remember that they’ve already done quite a lot of work and have set themselves up nicely for the 2020 season. They’ve made their low-key signings to help fill the roster depth while making a few big splashes. Anything else that happens when free agency actually begins should be considered icing on the cake.
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