Baltimore Ravens free agents – Syndication Server

Ravens 2021 free agency: Grading every signing

With the first wave of free agency over and the picture a lot clearer, we grade all of the Baltimore Ravens’ free-agent signings.

The NFL offseason is underway, meaning contracts are getting signed. Whether it’s extensions for players already on the roster or the signing of completely new free agents, NFL teams are looking to bolster their rosters for the upcoming season. The Baltimore Ravens are no exception, having dipped their toe into the free-agent pool a couple of times as well as looking inward to bring back some familiar faces.

With the first wave of free agency finished, I wanted to take a look back at everyone the Ravens signed this offseason. We now have a far clearer picture of what Baltimore is looking to do as a whole, helping provide more realistic grades for each signing.

Dolphins signing former Ravens C Matt Skura to 1-year deal

Former Baltimore Ravens center Matt Skura will get another chance to start in the NFL, signing with the Miami Dolphins in free agency

The Baltimore Ravens decided to move on from center Matt Skura this offseason, letting him hit free agency. Well, it didn’t take long for Skura to find a new home, signing a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, per his agent David Canter.

Skura had a promising start for the Ravens after going undrafted in 2016. He initially started 12 games in 2017, filling in at right guard for the injured Marshal Yanda. He moved to center the following year, starting all 16 games and showing some promise at the position. Unfortunately, Skura would only play 11 games in 2019 after suffering a devastating knee injury that put him on injured reserve. While Skura returned for Week 1 of the 2020 season on an RFA deal, he wasn’t quite at the same level and with several poor snaps, Baltimore eventually benched him.

It’ll be a chance for Skura to start once again on what is effectively a prove-it deal. Unfortunately, the Ravens have yet to address their hole at center thus far in free agency. Instead, Baltimore signed former New York Giants right guard Kevin Zeitler on a three-year deal. That doesn’t mean the Ravens are fresh out of options, however.

There are still a handful of centers available in free agency and Baltimore could always look to the 2021 NFL draft as a remedy as well. The Ravens could opt to go with in-house options like Trystan Colon-Castillo, Patrick Mekari, or Ben Bredeson at center, or with plenty of depth at guard, they could move left guard Bradley Bozeman over and fill his spot instead.

[vertical-gallery id=61505]

Ravens tender 3 players, including RB Gus Edwards

Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said RB Gus Edwards was going to be a part of the team and he held up to it, handing out a 2nd-round tender

It seems like the Baltimore Ravens were waiting for the NFL to release the 2021 salary cap figures before making too many moves. With the NFL announcing the 2021 salary cap will sit at $182.5 million, the Ravens began making some moves.

According to Ravens staff writer Ryan Mink, Baltimore officially handed out tenders to three players — running back Gus Edwards (RFA), center Trystan Colon-Castillo (ERFA), and linebacker Kristian Welch (ERFA).

Though the Ravens didn’t announce which tenders were given to each player, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Edwards received a second-round tender. With the 2021 salary cap finalized, a second-round tender will run Baltimore $3.384 million for one season, according to Over The Cap. As a restricted free agent, Edwards can negotiate with other teams but they’ll have to give the Ravens a second-round selection if Baltimore fails to match an offer sheet. Considering the value of running backs in the NFL in this era, it’s unlikely Edwards will draw much, if any, interest given the tender.

Just because Edwards is now locked up through the 2021 season under a restricted free agent tender, it doesn’t mean the Ravens are done with him. Given the limited cap space this season, inking Edwards to a long-term deal could lower his 2021 cap hit, freeing up valuable funds to sign other players in free agency. At his pre-free-agency press conference, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta noted Edwards was going to be a part of the team “one way or the other” but seemed to indicate they’d like to get a deal done rather than having to rely on the tender.

As a part of a three-headed backfield in Baltimore last season, Edwards didn’t put up crazy stats by himself. Still, Edwards ran the ball 144 times, gaining 723 yards and six touchdowns in the process while adding another 129 receiving yards on nine catches. Edwards’ 5.0 rushing-yards-per-carry average in 2020 was tied for ninth among the entire NFL, or seventh among just running backs.

With fewer than three accumulated seasons in the NFL and expired contracts, Colon-Castillo and Wech are exclusive rights free agents. As ERFAs, Baltimore is able to offer one-year league-minimum contracts and the players cannot negotiate with other teams. Both will likely earn $780,000 in 2021 before becoming restricted free agents next offseason.

While center is one of the positions the Ravens are expected to address this offseason, Colon-Castillo could be in the mix as well, depending on what Baltimore does. Colon-Castillo started two games last season as the Ravens dealt with injuries, a COVID-19 outbreak, and lackluster play at the position.

Welch didn’t get much playing time on defense, seeing the field for just eight snaps. However, he received quite a bit of playing time on special teams, seeing 173 (41%) of the special-teams snaps last season.

The Ravens still have a few other ERFAs and RFAs that have yet to be tendered. Punter Johnny Townsend (ERFA), linebacker Chris Board (RFA), and wide receiver Antoine Wesley (ERFA) were not among those tendered yet. While Baltimore could still do so, the Ravens already have a punter in Sam Koch and are likely to address wide receiver in free agency or the 2021 NFL draft. Unfortunately for Board, his RFA status meant he was unlikely to receive a tender due to the higher cost against the salary cap. However, if Baltimore wants to keep him around, they could try to sign him to a contract extension at a lower value.

[listicle id=60432]

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta: RB Gus Edwards will be on team in 2021 ‘one way or the other’

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said the team will either sign RB Gus Edwards to an extension or use an RFA tender on him.

Get your gas can ready because Gus “The Bus” Edwards is coming back to Baltimore in 2021. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta made the declaration during a pre-free-agency press conference on Tuesday, saying “Gus is going to be on the team, one way or the other.”

Though Edwards is one of the Ravens’ pending free agents, he’s a restricted free agent. That means Baltimore can apply one of several different tenders on him, locking him in town for another year if they can’t work out a long-term extension.

Since Edwards originally went undrafted, it’s likely the Ravens will use either a first- or second-round tender on him this offseason. While the 2021 NFL salary cap hasn’t formally been set yet, Over The Cap projects a first-round tender will cost $4.766 million while the second-round tender will be $3.384 million. Ideally, Baltimore would want to lock Edwards up to a contract extension, allowing them to keep his 2021 cap hit lower as they deal with a reduced salary cap and a list of key needs this offseason.

Though the Ravens kept four running backs on the roster last season, Edwards was one of their shining stars. He accounted for 723 rushing yards and six rushing touchdown on 144 attempts, adding another 129 receiving yards on nine catches as a part of a three-headed backfield in 2020. Over three seasons in Baltimore, Edwards has put up 2,152 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 414 carries, averaging 5.2 yards-per-attempt.

Considering the Ravens have made it clear they’re a run-first offense and they released Mark Ingram at the end of last season, bringing back Edwards “one way or the other” is a no-brainer.

[listicle id=60168]

Ravens set to re-sign DT Justin Ellis on 1-year deal

The Baltimore Ravens are keeping some continuity on their defensive line, bringing back DT Justin Ellis on a one-year deal.

The Baltimore Ravens revamped their defensive line last offseason and apparently are looking to keep it rolling into 2021. According to NFL reporter Josina Anderson and confirmed by The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, the Ravens are bringing back defensive tackle Justin Ellis. It’ll be a one-year deal worth $1.2 million

Baltimore originally signed Ellis midway through the 2019 season after a short stint with the Oakland Raiders. However, he was active for just four games with the Ravens that season. Still, Baltimore brought him back last offseason where he saw far more playing time, playing 34% of the defensive snaps and starting three games while Brandon Williams was out on the COVID-19 list. While Ellis hasn’t put up much in the way of stats, the Ravens’ coaching staff clearly likes what they’ve seen from him.

Re-signing Ellis would seem to be solely for depth but it is an interesting move when you consider Baltimore selected defensive tackles Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington Jr. in the 2020 NFL draft. While Madubuike battled injuries and Washington only played on 15% of the defense’s snaps, both could be in line for far more playing time in 2021.

At the same time, the move could signal a desire to adjust Williams’ contract to free up some cap space. Williams is currently in the final year of his deal and carries a $14.42 million cap hit — the third highest on the team in 2021 — according to Over The Cap. Cutting Williams outright would free up $7.5 million, which is a massive amount considering the Ravens are currently projected to have just $18 million in available salary-cap funds. Ellis is by no means as capable as Williams but at just 8% of the cost and with Calais Campbell helping solidify the defensive line, Baltimore could be preparing to make a surprising move ahead of free agency.

Regardless of what happens elsewhere on the roster, the Ravens have brought back a defensive player they clearly like who has starting experience, and all for pretty cheap. It might not be the biggest move we’ve seen Baltimore make but it’s one that makes a lot of sense for them.

[listicle id=60168]

Pernell McPhee hopes Ravens can keep Matthew Judon and other pending free-agent OLBs

Though he’s a pending free agent as well, Pernell McPhee hopes the Baltimore Ravens re-sign Matthew Judon, Yannick Ngakoue and Tyus Bowser.

The Baltimore Ravens are on the hunt for help at outside linebacker this offseason — either by re-signing their own players or via free agency and the draft. And one of Baltimore’s pending free-agent linebackers is hoping the Ravens can bring everyone back.

In an interview with Ravens staff writer Clifton Brown, McPhee said he wants to return. And while he’s realistic about the chances of this happening, McPhee wants to see his fellow outside linebackers back in purple and black next season too.

“I’m hoping the Ravens can retain all of them, but free agency can get crazy, unpredictable,” McPhee said.

Baltimore has 24 pending free agents as of right now, including several outside linebackers. McPhee, Matthew Judon, Yannick Ngakoue and Tyus Bowser are all set to be unrestricted free agents this offseason.

Though the NFL salary cap has yet to be set and projections are unclear, it’s expected to go down for the first time in a decade. That would mean the Ravens — and most other teams — would have very little cap space to work with. While Baltimore would undoubtedly like to bring back all four players, the cap situation makes it extremely unlikely. Both Ngakoue and Judon are among the league’s top free agents this offseason. Even though it’s difficult to project what either player could earn in free agency due to the salary-cap uncertainty and both players’ lackluster production in 2020, they play a position that often commands top dollar.

However, as McPhee pointed out, free agency can be unpredictable and there’s value in continuity.

“When you’re playing with guys who have been in the organization and who understand your system, it makes a difference. You want to keep those guys, because they know how to play like a Raven. I always think it’s important to keep core guys – like Judon. He was around Sizz (Terrell Suggs), he was around me last year. He knows the Ravens’ ways. You need to keep some of those in-house guys, those in-house dogs.”

As many teams and players have found out, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Baltimore has often preached the value of continuity, both on their coaching staff and on their roster, and could be looking for that this offseason at outside linebacker.

[listicle id=60168]

Free agent OLB Pernell McPhee wants to remain with Ravens

Pernell McPhee once left the Baltimore Ravens for a big contract. Set to hit free agency again, he wants to stay in Baltimore.

Free agency is set to begin in a few weeks and the Baltimore Ravens have plenty of questions to answer. At the top of the list are Baltimore’s own pending free agents. While Willie Snead and Dez Bryant have seemingly pointed themselves away from the team this offseason, outside linebacker Pernell McPhee has made it clear he’d like to return.

“Of course, the plan is to come back to Baltimore and continue to play some ball, help win a championship and build a dynasty,” McPhee told Ravens writer Clifton Brown. “That’s the goal. Myself and my agent haven’t really talked about it yet. I’ve been chilling, taking care of my body. I’ll think about things, but my thought is really just on coming back.”

The Ravens originally drafted McPhee in 2011 before seeing him leave in free agency. Unfortunately, McPhee had several injury-plagued seasons with Chicago and Washington before returning to Baltimore in 2019 after the Ravens lost Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith in free agency.

Though McPhee had an injury-shortened 2019 campaign, he’s been a stout defender for Baltimore since his return. While other younger players like Jaylon Ferguson were expected to step up and develop into starters, the Ravens have had to lean on a consistent McPhee far more than they might have envisioned. But it’s hard to argue with his results, despite McPhee being on the wrong side of 30. Over 22 games in his latest stint with Baltimore, McPhee has accounted for six sacks, 21 quarterback hits, and 28 total pressures in a reserve role.

The Ravens will have some tough decisions to make at outside linebacker over the next few weeks. Jihad Ward, Tyus Bowser, Matthew Judon, and Yannick Ngakoue are all set to become free agents. Both Judon and Ngakoue are considered to be among the top of this free-agent class and will likely garner plenty of attention and top contract offers if they hit the open market.

McPhee, who left Baltimore for a big contract in 2015, is all about winning another championship as he’s set to hit free agency this offseason. He was with the Ravens in 2012 when Baltimore won Super Bowl XLVII and he wants another taste of that championship feeling.

“I don’t care if somebody gets 25 sacks,” McPhee continued. “That’s a great achievement, but it’s not like winning a championship. Going undefeated in the regular season is great, but if you don’t win the Super Bowl, it doesn’t matter. I just want to get that Super Bowl feeling again.”

The Ravens have fallen short of that goal the last two seasons despite looking promising. With an MVP at quarterback in Lamar Jackson and the second-ranked defense in points allowed, Baltimore is once again among the favorites to win Super Bowl LVI. McPhee seems to be willing to bet on the Ravens getting it done this time around.

[listicle id=60769]

7 pending free agents most likely to leave Ravens this offseason

The Baltimore Ravens have quite a few big names entering free agency. These are the few that are most likely to leave this offseason.

AS the 2021 NFL offseason gets underway, the Baltimore Ravens will first turn their attention to their own players. With 16 unrestricted free agents set to hit the open market currently, there is plenty of work to be done still.

Under general manager Eric DeCosta, the Ravens have had a clear priority to bring back their own top pending free agents early, allowing them to have a solid core to build off of throughout free agency and the draft. But with a tight wallet thanks to the salary cap being expected to go down for the first time in over a decade, Baltimore will have to either get guys to come back for cheap or be frugal with who they re-sign. That opens up the opportunity for quite a few familiar names to have new homes in 2021.

Let’s take a closer look at the seven Ravens’ pending free agents most likely to leave this offseason.

Ravens OLB Matthew Judon denies that he’s seeking $20M a year in new contract

The offseason is underway for the Baltimore Ravens and that means taking a close look at their own pending free agents to see which players they want to re-sign. With Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue set to hit free agency and Baltimore expected to …

However, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley reported Judon is seeking $20 million a year in a new contract — with Baltimore or elsewhere. That’s a figure that would all but automatically price Judon out of the Ravens’ interest and certainly make the team’s decision easier. But not everything is quite this easy when it comes to the offseason.

Judon quickly fired back on Instagram saying that he’s yet to even talk to the Ravens, much less has asked for $20 million a year. But in his typical joking manner, Judon pulled down his sunglasses at the end of the video and added, “20 M . . . I’m with it.”

It’s unclear exactly what Judon’s value on the open market will be, or any free agent for that matter. The loss of revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to wreak havoc on the 2021 salary cap, lowering it for the first time in over a decade. With roughly half the teams in the NFL set to have negative cap space to open the offseason, there won’t exactly be a ton of money hitting the market.

The Ravens used their franchise tag on Judon last offseason, compromising on a $16.808 million salary for the 2020 season. While Baltimore could use the franchise tag again on Judon, it’ll cost them a good bit more than last season, making it a pretty poor value. But even that would seemingly indicate Judon’s value in free agency is capped below $20 million a year. According to Over The Cap, only five EDGE players have hit that average value or higher. And no offense to Judon but he’s not in the same ballpark as guys like Joey Bosa and Myles Garrett as a pass rusher, even if he holds more value than some fans realize.

We’ll see what Judon eventually signs for over the coming months as free agency opens and teams can begin negotiating with players. But if Judon is truly seeking $20 million a year on average, he might not find any takers.

[vertical-gallery id=59748]

Ravens CB Jimmy Smith’s contract extension is cap-friendly move

Baltimore Ravens CB Jimmy Smith’s extension makes him an absolute steal in 2021.

Cornerback Jimmy Smith was set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The Baltimore Ravens remedied the situation before Smith ever had a chance to test the free agent market, signing him to a one-year contract extension. And they did so on the cheap, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Per Schefter, Smith’s one-year, $5 million extension looks far larger than it actually is. Smith’s deal is split up with a $500,000 signing bonus and a fully guaranteed $2 million base salary. The other $2.5 million comes in playing-time incentives, which Schefter says Smith is unlikely to earn. If the incentives don’t get hit, Baltimore is really going to pay Smith only $2.5 million for the 2021 season.

By all accounts, $2.5 million is a bargain for a cornerback. It’s a downright steal considering Smith’s experience and how well he’s played this season. By comparison, punter Sam Koch will be making more than Smith next year, as will a handful of rookies. Even in a reserve role, Smith’s contract looks affordable — Tavon Young is set to earn nearly $6 million in 2021, according to Over The Cap.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has clearly made it a priority over the last two years to re-sign players early. While this might not have the splash of Ronnie Stanley or Marlon Humphrey, Smith knows the system and coaching staff, and is playing great football. This deal should be considered a win.

[listicle id=54720]