Longtime NFL veteran edge rusher Justin Houston is still a free agent, even though he is coming off a fantastic season with the Baltimore Ravens. Despite his advanced age, the four-time Pro Bowler is showing no signs of slowing down, but does it make sense for the Ravens to try and bring him back for another season?
Will the Baltimore Ravens Re-Sign Justin Houston?
Do the Ravens Need Justin Houston?
The Ravens current pass-rushing situation is one of the fascinating parts of the season. If the season began today, the two sack producers on the team would likely be Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo and Tyus Bowser. Oweh was a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and Ojabo would have been a top-15 selection had he not suffered an Achilles injury prior to the 2022 NFL Draft. Bowser, meanwhile, should return to being his good-but-not-great self now that he’s further removed from an Achilles injury of his own.
Rookie David Ojabo talks about his first career sack and turning the page to the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/N8pjFhikaS
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 8, 2023
On paper, there is a lot of talent, and if everyone plays up to their ability, the Ravens won’t really need Justin Houston. However, that is a big “if”. While Bowser is a relatively safe bet, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding Oweh and Ojabo. Neither player has proven that they have what it takes to be an NFL starter, and you never want to put that much faith into untested players, especially at a position with this much importance.
The Ravens could use another veteran edge rusher to provide some stability, and Justin Houston is the ideal guy for the job. Entering his age-34 season, he is considerably closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but last year proved that he can still play at a high level.
While there is a chance the Ravens fill their need for a veteran edge defender with a cheaper option like Jason Pierre-Paul, Houston is a much safer bet. After all, the Ravens have $11.78 million in cap space, so they have the financial resources required to make a big move like this.
When Will the Deal Happen?
The past two seasons proved that Justin Houston fits the Ravens scheme, and seeing as he’s on the older side, it’s highly unlikely that any of the other 31 teams offers him a deal that Baltimore cannot match. Chances are, Houston will be back at some point, the only question is when that will be.
Well, if history is any indicator, it will probably be July. Houston is coming off of consecutive one-year deals with the Ravens, and both of those deals came to fruition late in the offseason.
It’s easy to see why Houston would want to wait to sign his contract. As an established player, he probably doesn’t want to partake in training camp, and who can blame him? He clearly knows how to get himself ready for the season, so waiting until July allows him to skip some relatively unimportant practices and spend more time with his family.
The only hurdle here is the presence of free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The three-time All-Pro is going to earn a pretty penny on the open market, and the Ravens are linked to the wide receiver. If Baltimore signs him, they might not be able to afford Houston. However, assuming that doesn’t happen, you can pencil in Justin Houston reuniting with the Ravens.
Main Photo: Joseph Maiorana – USA Today Sports
