The Baltimore Ravens released safety Eric Weddle on Tuesday, making their hole at safety a more pressing need ahead of the start of free agency next week. With a deep free agent class at safety and the potential to upgrade at the position, the Ravens have options they could look at if they wish to sign someone this offseason.
Let’s examine the seven best safety options for Baltimore in free agency.
Earl Thomas:
Thomas is really at the top of this free agent class for what the Ravens are looking for. They need a true free safety that can roam the back end and create havoc for opposing offenses — something Thomas has made a career out of. The question isn’t about talent, but about the cost and injury history.
Thomas fractured his leg in early October and has a history of not finishing a season recently. Over the last three seasons, Thomas has played in just 29 of 48 possible regular-season games. He’ll be 30 years old before the 2019 season kicks off, which isn’t ideal either.
Thomas is likely going to receive a lot of attention in free agency and thus a large contract. With Baltimore having a few holes they need to address, Thomas might just be out of their price range unless he gets less attention than expected.
Glover Quin:
The veteran free safety was recently released by the Detroit Lions, but he isn’t expected to remain on the market for long. Quin has been an underrated safety during his time in the NFL, and he is only a year removed from a 2017 season in which he played at an All-Pro level, with 84 tackles, six pass deflections, four forced fumbles, three interceptions and a pick-six.
The one downside with Quin is that he’s 33 years old and entering his 11th season. While he likely wouldn’t command the same salary as a younger safety, he wouldn’t be much younger than the man he’d be replacing.
Tre Boston:
Boston is an underrated option but a productive one. Turning 27 in June, Boston would be a good replacement for Weddle.
Boston is coming off a season in which he was a standout on an Arizona Cardinals team that didn’t have much to be happy about. He racked up 79 tackles, nine pass deflections, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
Of this group, Boston might actually be the cheapest option. He signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Cardinals last offseason, according to Over The Cap, after a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Tyrann Mathieu:
Mathieu is another player coming off a one-year contract and like Boston, he’ll turn 27 before the start of the season. Mathieu has a reputation for being one of the toughest safeties in the league, and he lived up to that last season as a crucial part of a strong Texans defense with 89 tackles, three sacks, eight pass deflections and two interceptions.
But Mathieu won’t be cheap. Houston signed him to a one-year deal after Arizona released him last offseason. It’s likely that he’ll not only want a deal that pays him more than the $7 million he made last season, he’ll want a long-term deal that has guarantees to make sure he won’t be cut again.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix:
Clinton-Dix is coming off another solid season with the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins. Starting 16 games between the two teams, Clinton-Dix had three interceptions, one sack and 93 combined tackles — all par for the course for him. Clinton-Dix would be an upgrade in coverage over Weddle, with Pro Football Focus giving him an 82.0 coverage grade.
But Clinton-Dix turned 26 in December, giving him plenty of prime years left. This will be Clinton-Dix’s first contract outside of his rookie deal, and he’ll likely cash in.
Landon Collins:
It was reported this week that the New York Giants won’t use the franchise tag on Collins. While his is a name many Ravens fans have been bringing up as of late, he isn’t what Baltimore needs right now.
Collins is undeniably a really good player, but he’s more of a strong safety than a free safety. Collins is a tough, hard-hitting player who is far better against the run than in coverage.
Collins is also likely to cost a fortune. Having turned 25 in January, Collins is another in a group of young safeties just hitting the prime of their careers. It’s hard to envision Collins not earning significantly more than what Baltimore saved by cutting Weddle, which makes a deal less likely.
Eric Weddle:
Weddle could, of course, re-sign with the team. The Ravens have used this strategy before when their players have had larger cap hits. They’ve allowed them to hit free agency only to ink them to another contract at a cap-friendly number.
If Baltimore is going to sign a free agent safety, I’d actually put this as the most likely scenario. The team absolutely loves Weddle as a player, on-field coach and locker room presence. If they can get him for a decent price on a one- or two-year deal, it would make sense for both parties.
