2020 NFL Free Agency: Saints options from the Ravens

The New Orleans Saints could target pending free agents like Jimmy Smith, Michael Pierece, and Pernell McPhee from the Baltimore Ravens.

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With NFL free agency nearly a month away, we are going to take a look at every team’s free agents in the days ahead. We will highlight which players could be potential options for the New Orleans Saints from every other team, with today highlighting the Baltimore Ravens and tomorrow the Buffalo Bills. We will continue following the list in alphabetical order. Here’s who the Saints could target from the Ravens:

CB Jimmy Smith
CB Brandon Carr (team option)
DT Michael Pierce
ILB Patrick Onwuasor
WR Seth Roberts
SS Anthony Levine
OLB Pernell McPhee
DT Domata Peko
ILB Josh Bynes
SS Brynden Trawick
SS Jordan Richards
WR De’Anthony Thomas
DT Justin Ellis
WR Chris Moore
DT Jihad Ward
C Hroniss Grasu
OLB Matt Judon
RT Andre Smith
C Matt Skura (RFA)
G Parker Ehinger (ERFA)
RB Gus Edwards (ERFA)
S Fish Smithson (ERFA)
G Randin Crecelius (ERFA)

Baltimore has 23 free agents heading into free agency in the 2020 offseason. We will pick two options that the Saints could potentially pursue this offseason in free agency. Keep in mind that New Orleans’ biggest needs lie at guard, wide receiver, linebacker, tight end, and cornerback heading into 2020.

A name that really sticks out that could benefit the Saints in defensive tackle Michael Pierce. With the uncertainty of David Onyemata and Sheldon Rankin’s futures, Pierce would make an immediate impact. Despite low sack numbers, only half a sack in 2019, his real strength lies in his run-defense. Pierce remains one of the elite options in stopping the run game, and will command a large contract. However, if the Saints can figure out how to make the cap space work, Pierce would only improve an already potent New Orleans run defense.

A low-cost option that could provide the Saints some cover is outside linebacker Pernell McPhee. 2019 seemed promising for the 31-year old linebacker until he tore his triceps in Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks. Prior to his injury, McPhee played a large part in the Ravens defense averaging 68.5% of defensive snaps. McPhee would be a low-cost option that would fit right into New Orleans’ defensive scheme.

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2019 Ravens recap: 5 studs and 4 duds

Which Baltimore Ravens performed well and which ones had bad years last season? We look at the biggest studs and duds from the 2019 season

Though the Baltimore Ravens didn’t finish the season hoisting the Lombardi Trophy or holding a parade, they broke several records and finished a franchise-best 14-2 with the team’s first-ever No. 1 seed in the AFC. With a lot of accomplishments during the 2019 season, there are a number of players who shone brightly while others failed to live up to expectations.

With that in mind, I took a look back at the Ravens’ 2019 season to see which players were the biggest studs and which ones were the biggest duds.

Stud: CB Marcus Peters

Peters got traded from a team that clearly didn’t want him and didn’t value him as a long-term option to a franchise that is seemingly in better shape to win a Super Bowl and handed him a big contract extension. It’s hard to find a bigger winner this season than Peters.

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Ravens 2020 free agency preview: CB Jimmy Smith

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith is set to hit free agency this offseason but could have difficulty getting a long-term deal

The 2019 season is over for the Baltimore Ravens. Now they’ll look forward to the offseason and especially free agency in order to gear up for the 2020 season.

While the Ravens will surely be interested in quite a few free agents that’ll hit the market, their biggest goal will be to retain some of their own key players. With that in mind, we’re going to do a deep dive on what Baltimore’s pending free agents are looking at this offseason.

We start things off with cornerback Jimmy Smith.

Jimmy Smith – 2019 review:

Smith carried one of the highest-paid players on Baltimore’s roster and was expected to return to full strength more than a year removed from a torn Achilles. However, Smith missed six games after suffering a knee sprain on the very first drive in Week 1. He was also held out of Week 17 along with several other starters since the Ravens had already secured the No. 1 seed.

Smith finished the season with one interception for seven yards, six passes defended, one sack and 30 combined tackles in nine games. He played just 425 total defensive snaps, losing time not only to injury but to Baltimore’s deep secondary that added Marcus Peters prior to Week 7.

Review / Potential / Value / Chances to re-sign

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7 pending free agents Bears should keep eye on in Saturday’s divisional playoffs

With all eyes turned to the divisional playoffs, there are seven pending free agents the Bears should keep an eye on Saturday.

The Chicago Bears haven’t played in the NFL divisional playoffs since 2011, which hurts more than usual given the lofty expectations surrounding the team before the season.

Free agency is just about two months away, and the Bears have plenty of decisions to make both in-house and on the open market. With multiple areas of need, free agency and the NFL Draft will be important for general manager Ryan Pace.

With all eyes turned to the divisional playoffs, here are 7 pending free agents the Bears should keep an eye on Saturday:

QB Marcus Mariota

Tennessee Titans

Technically, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Marcus Mariota won’t see the field on Saturday against the Ravens. And yet, he’s someone the Bears are surely keeping their eyes on this offseason.

Before Ryan Pace risked it all for Mitchell Trubisky, he was enamored with Mariota back in 2016 before Tennessee selected him second overall. Given the fact that both Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray are set to become free agents, Mariota is someone that Pace could target as competition for Trubisky this offseason — and perhaps as a backup plan should Trubisky struggle in 2020.

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9 key players who could be playing their last games with Ravens

As the Baltimore Ravens prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans, there’s a chance this could be the final game of the 2019 season for them. Though the Ravens are huge favorites to win this game and Super Bowl LIV, that’s the nature of the …

If this is indeed the week Baltimore’s season is completed, it could be the end of several key players’ tenures with the Ravens as well. I took a closer look at a few of the pending free agents and potential cap casualties that could be playing their final game in Baltimore.

S Tony Jefferson

When Jefferson was put on injured reserve, I wrote at the time about how he could have played his last down for the Ravens. With the emergence of Chuck Clark in his absence, it seems almost like a foregone conclusion at this point.

Cutting Jefferson would free up $7 million on top of the large amount of cap space Baltimore is already expected to have next season, according to Over the Cap. While Jefferson means a lot more to the franchise than his stat sheet, it’s a hefty amount to justify for a player that has been replaced effectively already.

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21 Ravens set to hit free agency in 2020 offseason

The Baltimore Ravens have 21 players set to hit free agency in the 2020 NFL offseason, including OLB Matthew Judon and CB Jimmy Smith

The Baltimore Ravens’ 2019 season is far from over, with hopefully a deep playoff run still on the cards. However, the business of football goes on and it’s important to look ahead at what the Ravens roster could like look in 2020.

Going into this offseason, Baltimore has 21 players set to hit free agency, including 16 unrestricted free agents. While fans will key in on potential free agents the Ravens can sign, they’ll have their work cut out for them in retaining some of their own impact players.

Let’s take a look at the full list of pending free agents for Baltimore.

Ravens 2020 unrestricted free agents:

Player	Position
Jimmy Smith	CB
Michael Pierce	DT
Patrick Onwuasor	ILB
Seth Roberts	WR
Domata Peko	DT
Anthony Levine	S
Pernell McPhee	OLB
Josh Bynes	ILB
Brynden Trawick	S
Justin Ellis	DE
De’Anthony Thomas	WR
Jordan Richards	S
Chris Moore	WR
Jihad Ward	DE
Hroniss Grasu	C
Matthew Judon	OLB

UFAs are the ones you’ll hear the most about when free agency hits. They’re able to negotiate solely with their teams until free agency starts, where they then enter the open market and can then sign with any team.

The biggest names on this list are Jimmy Smith and Matt Judon. Smith has been with the Ravens for his whole NFL career but injury has kept him from playing a full season since 2015. This, plus the fact that the Ravens already have more cap salary dedicated to the cornerback position than any team in the NFL in 2020 may lead to a breakup.

Judon has enjoyed a career season with 9.5 sacks, 43 solo tackles and 14 tackles for loss. You would think the Ravens would love to keep him around based on these numbers but they did let Za’Darius Smith walk last season, remember. The classic Ravens tactic has been to let their free agents go out and find out what the market is and then give the team a chance to match or pass. This could be on the cards here again this offseason with Judon.

The other players on this list are mostly rotational players and given the stage of their careers, they may struggle to find better deals on the open market. However, there are players at positions that the Ravens could certainly look to get younger (and cheaper) at.

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7 studs, no duds from Ravens’ 45-6 win vs. Rams

The Baltimore Ravens blew out the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12 but these seven players are deserving of special recognition for their play

The Baltimore Ravens once again were doubted entering the week. And once again, they handled their business by beating the Los Angeles Rams 45-6 in Week 12.

With such a lopsided score, I can’t in good conscience say any player on Baltimore’s roster was a dud. Even if I could pick out a player that didn’t have an amazing game, not a single Ravens player had a dud-worthy performance. So I present, the seven biggest studs of Baltimore’s Week 12 win over Los Angeles.

Stud: QB, Lamar Jackson

Jackson started the game 9-of-9 for 87 yards and three touchdown passes. His first six runs went for 80 yards and yet another highlight-reel addition. Jackson being perfect to start the game was why they got out to such a large lead and were able to coast.

Jackson finished the game early in this blowout, giving way to backup Robert Griffin III in the fourth quarter. Jackson’s night ended with him completing 15-of-20 passes for 169 yards, five touchdown throws, no interceptions and a 139.4 passer rating. He added 95 yards on just eight runs.

Against a very talented defense, Jackson made sure he’ll earn a unanimous MVP award this season.

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Ravens promote CB Iman Marshall from injured reserve

Rookie cornerback Iman Marshall was added to the Baltimore Ravens’ 53-man roster after spending the last 10 weeks on injured reserve

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The Baltimore Ravens have activated rookie cornerback Iman Marshall from injured reserve to the 53-man roster, according to the team’s Twitter.

Marshall had missed the final three preseason games with an undisclosed injury and was placed on injured reserve shortly after the Ravens finalized their 53-man roster in early September. Marshall returned to practice on Oct. 28 as one of Baltimore’s two designated-to-return spots and can officially play in Week 11 against the Houston Texans.

It’s unclear how big of a role Marshall will have on defense moving forward. With the trade for cornerback Marcus Peters, the Ravens have four starting-caliber cornerbacks in Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Carr, Jimmy Smith and Peters they’re already trying to shuffle into the lineup. The defense has drastically improved from earlier in the season and given Marshall’s inexperience, it seems unlikely he’d be much more than extra depth if he actually plays at all on defense.

Even if Marshall doesn’t contribute much for the remainder of this season, any playing time will be valuable experience towards his development. The Ravens have liked to slowly develop cornerbacks in-house as they’ve done with guys like Maurice Canady, Humphrey, Smith and Tavon Young. It’s a strategy that emphasizes patience but has worked out well for Baltimore over the years.

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