The Baltimore Ravens finished the 2019 regular season with the best record amongst the entire NFL. First-year general manager Eric DeCosta assembled one of the most complete rosters in all of football by adding and developing pieces on both sides of the ball last year and will be looking to upgrade even further in 2020.
Baltimore’s defense had an interesting year. From giving up 500+ yards in back-to-back games for the first time in franchise history to finishing top-five in each total, scoring and rushing defense, the Ravens had some lows but more highs. The defense went through a bunch of midseason changes as well. The linebacking corps was completely overhauled just as the second month of the season had started and one of Baltimore’s two All-Pro corners, Marcus Peters, was added just prior to Week 7. Peters was recently extended following to the conclusion of the 2019 season, along with Chuck Clark, to become the fourth and fourth and fifth members of the secondary to be extended through 2021. The front-seven, on the other hand, is likely setup for a significant retooling.
Going into the off-season, DeCosta and Ozzie Newsome have done a tremendous job managing the Ravens salary cap situation. The Ravens are estimated to have just about $30 million in cap space, before cuts, and have almost no key free agents on offense set to hit the open market. However, that doesn’t mean that Ravens brass won’t have a couple of big decisions to make in regards to their pending free agents.
The start of the off-season means that every team has a clean slate and the Ravens should be focused on contending for a Super Bowl in 2020. DeCosta had one of the best off-seasons in Ravens history last year and will be looking to keep the momentum going again this year. This is the 2020 defensive edition of Baltimore Ravens Walk/Keep/Cut.
Ravens Free Agency 2020 Walk/Keep/Cut: Defense
Note: Players that did not play a significant amount of snaps in 2019/through their Ravens career (i.e Hroniss Grasu) or are upcoming exclusive rights free agents (i.e Gus Edwards), have been disqualified from this list.
Starters
Josh Bynes (ILB) – Verdict: WALK
As successful as the Ravens defense was in 2019, it’s important to remember that it went through a lot of in-season changes. The most significant was the reshaping of the linebacking corps. With the trading of Kenny Young and the demotion of Patrick Onwuasor, Bynes along with L.J. Fort were the primary stalwarts in the middle of the field for the Ravens. Bynes was signed prior to Baltimore’s Week 5 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and played very well in his 12 regular-season games. He registered 46 total tackles and career-highs in interceptions (two) and tackles for loss (six).
While Bynes played well when called upon but, he is still a journeyman who will turn 31 before the beginning of the 2020 regular season. Interior linebacker is one of the Ravens’ biggest needs this off-season and DeCosta will be looking for a big upgrade. Upgrading through the draft where the Ravens are not short of capital seems like the most prudent option. While Baltimore only has three interior linebackers on their roster entering free agency, bringing back Bynes still seems unlikely. The linebacking corps needs some revitalization and longevity at the position.
Matt Judon (OLB) – Verdict: WALK
While the Ravens haven’t used the franchise tag on a player since 2016, reports have surfaced saying Judon is expected to receive it in 2020. The tag would pay him close to $16.3 million, making him a good one-year value. However, even if he is tagged, Judon will likely be seeking a long-term extension — whether it’s in Baltimore or not. This could lead DeCosta to trading Judon for something greater than the projected third-round compensatory pick the Ravens would receive if he were to leave in free agency. Therefore, the most likely scenario for Judon and the Ravens is a tag-and-trade. It would give Judon the contract value he deserves, after a career season, and would give the Ravens some needed compensation of which could be used to replace him.
The almost $16.5 million it would take to extend or keep Judon will likely go towards finding other pass-rushing help in free agency.
Pernell McPhee (OLB) – Verdict: WALK
In McPhee’s first season back with the Ravens since signing with the Chicago Bears back in 2015, he had a number of solid games. His season was cut short by a Week 7 arm injury but to that point, he was on pace for maybe his best season since leaving the Ravens. McPhee started all of the first seven Ravens games and racked up 3.0 sacks, six QB hits and seven tackles for loss. The Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh expected McPhee to play more of a mentoring role in the growth of a number of young Baltimore pass rushers, and he seemed to have done his job and more.
Bringing back McPhee is likely not out of the question for the Ravens but if Judon isn’t coming back, then the Ravens could be looking at a complete overhaul of the pass rush. While that might lend itself to McPhee’s wisdom at this point in his career, the more likely idea is that they are moving on from the players playing past their prime. The Ravens ranked 21st in the NFL last season in sacks (37.0) and are more than likely going to remodel the pass rush again in 2020. There is currently a lack of bodies on the edge for the Ravens but McPhee likely doesn’t seem to factor into the solution.
Michael Pierce (DT) – Verdict: KEEP
Resigning Pierce could go either way. He offers great value as a run-stuffing defensive tackle but offers very little as a pass pusher — a key trait from a modern perspective. Sportac projects his value on the open market to be $4.7 million per year. However, that seems fairly low for a player of Pierce’s quality. He may have taken a step back in terms of production in 2019, but he was the Ravens’ highest-graded defensive player in 2018. His value should be at least closer to the $5.275 million that Brandon Mebane is making at 35 years old.
Keeping Pierce seems completely contingent on his asking price. If he and DeCosta come to terms on a deal in the ballpark of three-year(s)/$15 million, bringing him back to Baltimore seems like a great match. His partner Brandon Williams has a cap hit of $14 million+ in both of the next two seasons and Pierce could keep the run defense strong if the Ravens decide to cut Williams in 2021 (or even this year). Pierce has made it known he would like to remain a Raven but he has also sounded like he expects to hit the open market without much push from Baltimore’s front office. It is going to be interesting to see what happens with Pierce this off-season.
Patrick Onwuasor (ILB) – Verdict: WALK
There doesn’t seem to be a given scenario in which Onwuasor comes back to Baltimore. He was given an expanded role early in the season and didn’t pan out the way most expected.
When DeCosta let C.J. Mosley walk in free agency last off-season, Onwuasor was looked to as one of the potential players with the ability to fill the large hole he left in the middle of the field. He played relatively well besides Mosley during his last two seasons in Baltimore. Then thrust into a new spot in 2019, Onwuasor had his worst season to date — losing playing time and finishing the year with a 49.2 overall grade per Pro Football Focus. His most notable moment of the year was perhaps his documented “exchange” with Coach Harbaugh that saw Onwuasor leave the practice field before its conclusion. The context was not officially documented but it is believed to be over his lack of playing time.
Onwuasor will be looking to pick up a decent contract as an unrestricted free agent but it will likely be away from Baltimore.
Jimmy Smith (CB) – Verdict: WALK
The Ravens keeping Smith is likely based on what his demands are. Smith could get a fairly sizable contract on the open market but if he wants to return for to Baltimore for one more season, the Ravens would likely love to have him back. Coach Harbaugh was even quoted as saying “I want to re-sign Jimmy Smith. He’s the one free agent, I think, in the back end.” However, he would have to take a pay cut. Both Peters and Tavon Young were both recently extended and Marlon Humphrey is likely due for an extension of his own next off-season.
With all this in mind, the most likely scenario is that Smith walks away from the Ravens for a larger payday. His contract may not exceed his $10.275 million AAV from 2019 but he would likely be paid as a number-two – or even number-one – corner by a different team. On the Ravens’ depth chart, he projects to be the number-three behind Humphrey and Peters. If Smith were to return to Baltimore, it would likely be for somewhere around the $7.0 million mark — the same AAV of Brandon Carr over the past three seasons. It’s likely that Smith walks away from the Ravens this off-season at age 32 after nine successful seasons.
Backups
Brandon Carr (CB) – Verdict: WALK
As previously mentioned in regards to Smith, the Ravens have three good corners and now their focus has likely shifted to filling out the depth roles.
The likelihood of Carr returning seems even less than Smith’s. He’s coming off another decent year but struggled, yet again, when thrust into a larger role. This was even more evidenced by Carr playing just 30% of snaps against the Tennessee Titans in the Ravens only playoff game. In the six games Carr started more than 90% of snaps in 2019, between Weeks 2 and 7, the Ravens gave up the second-most passing yards in the NFL and the 10th most points against. In comparison, over the following nine games, Baltimore was first league-wide in each points against, passer rating allowed and passing yards allowed. The addition of Peters and the good health of Smith obviously heavily contributed to this turnaround but it was also a reminder that Carr’s best years are behind him.
Carr could still be a valuable depth add to a lot of teams but matching his $7.0 million cap hit from last year is likely a no go. His durability is a big selling point.
Justin Ellis (DT) – Verdict: KEEP
The Ravens clearly have a ‘type’ they like at defensive tackle and Ellis fits that thick, run-stuffing mold. He also produced relatively well in the five games he played for the Ravens in 2019. Ellis played just 70 snaps (including the playoffs) on the year but did his job when he was inserted into the lineup. His PFF grade of 81.8 was the best of any Ravens interior lineman last season. He likely won’t demand a lot of money in free agency so bringing Ellis back at a low cost makes a lot of sense.
Anthony Levine (SS) – Verdict: KEEP
One of the special teamers that has spent multiple years on the Ravens, Levine should be a good bet to resign in 2020. He’s been part of the organization since 2012 and hasn’t missed a game since his rookie season. Over his eight years in Baltimore, Levine has been a key special teams contributor as well as a safety who was also occasionally used in sub-packages as a linebacker. Considering the Ravens are likely going to makeover their entire linebacker corps, keeping Levine around as a veteran and a leader seems smart. There are going to be a lot of new faces coming into the linebacker room and having someone with as much tenure as Levine will be huge for steadying the entire defense. His previous contract had an AAV of just $1.4 million.
Domata Peko (DT) – Verdict: WALK
While bringing back Ellis seems like a good idea, it means that Peko is likely going to be back on the open market. He played more than Ellis in 2019 with similar production but the Ravens are trying to get younger at the defensive tackle position. At 35 years old, he could call it a career fairly soon as well. Assuming Ellis is resigned and 2019 sixth-round pick Daylon Mack makes a push for a roster spot, Peko is likely done as a Raven. There is also a good chance that DeCosta takes another swing at the interior defensive line in the draft.
Brynden Trawick (FS) – Verdict: WALK
Trawick had a short year in Baltimore but was a decent contributor when healthy. After suffering an elbow injury in the Ravens Week 2 win over the Arizona Cardinals, he missed 10 games between Weeks 3 and 13. In the seven total games he played, Trawick played over 70% of special teams snaps in six. However, he played just 13 total defensive snaps all season. Trawick was brought to Baltimore to provide necessary depth on special teams and with Chris Moore likely to leave in free agency, they’re going to need to fortify the unit again going into 2020. At age 30 and with the extension given out to fellow special teamer Jordan Richards, there is a chance the Ravens bring back Trawick but they are likely going to look for a player that adds greater depth to their secondary as well as special teams.
Jihad Ward (DE) – Verdict: KEEP
Projecting the Ravens to keep Ward is predicated on a tweet by Senior staff writer for The Athletic-Baltimore Jeff Zrebiec. The tweet states “One guy (the Ravens have) been working hard to keep is DE/OLB Jihad Ward. Ravens think he fits well with them and they like his motor, versatility” in regards to the ongoing negotiations between the club and the player. While Ward has never had a standout year so far in his NFL career, he is still just 25 years old. The Ravens are also currently short of edge defenders. If DeCosta wants to retain Ward, it shouldn’t be hard. He had a cap hit of just over $500,000 and shouldn’t be in for a large raise after registering just one sack and four QB hits in 2019. Ward played over 50% defensive snaps in all but one game following Week 6.
Baltimore Ravens Free Agency Walk/Keep/Cut: Offense
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