The NFL Draft is over and most of the free agents have been signed, but that doesn’t mean that a few big moves won’t happen before the start of the 2023 season. According to David Kenyon of Bleacher Report, the Baltimore Ravens could part ways with linebacker Malik Harrison in the coming weeks.
Bleacher Report: Ravens Could Cut Malik Harrison
Why It Could Happen
The entire point of Kenyon’s article is to highlight the player most likely to be released by each one of the 32 franchises, and the Ravens don’t have any great candidates. Kenyon himself acknowledges this, saying that “in all likelihood, he’s safe.”
That being said, Kenyon goes on to mention that the inclusion of rookie Trenton Simpson could mean Harrison’s time in Baltimore is coming to a close, and the special teams prowess of linebackers Kristian Welch and Del’Shawn Phillips means that Harrison isn’t guaranteed to earn a job with the fourth down unit.
Kenyon’s article covers all 32 teams, so needless to say, he didn’t have time to do a full in-depth analysis of the probability of keeping Malik Harrison. So, let’s take a look at the depth chart and see if the Ravens could afford to do something like this.
Can A Crowded Linebacker Room Keep Malik Harrison?
As a player, Malik Harrison is a fine depth linebacker that probably shouldn’t ever see too big of a role. Last year, the Ohio State product finished the year with a 66.5 PFF grade, impressing against the run while leaving something to be desired in coverage and as a pass rusher.
Players like this aren’t incredibly valuable in today’s pass-heavy NFL, but Malik Harrison can still be a part of a defense for the right price. The good news is that Harrison won’t have to play a big role on the 2022 Ravens and should be able to be utilized in more favorable situations.
Roquan Smith is Baltimore’s star linebacker of the present and the future and should be a staple of the defense for years to come. Patrick Queen will start opposite him and, while he’s never quite played up to his draft billing, he has turned into an adequate starter.
This leaves Malik Harrison and rookie Trenton Simpson battling for the third spot on the Ravens linebacker depth chart. While it’s still too early to say who will win the job, early signs indicate that the rookie is up for the challenge. Simpson has impressed coaches in minicamp and, as an added bonus, is a special teams savant.
Trenton Simpson is calling his shot 💪 pic.twitter.com/jhxC1nFxKo
— PFF (@PFF) April 29, 2023
If Simpson wins the job, the Ravens will have to think about the financial savings associated with cutting Malik Harrison. According to OverTheCap, Baltimore can save over $1 million if they part ways with the Ohio State product.
While the 2023 Ravens might not get too much use out of that $1 million, cap space rolls over from season to season, and Baltimore could use every penny they can get to re-sign some of their impending free agents.
Main Photo: Jessica Fapfogel – USA Today Sports
