NFL free agency comes in a few waves every year. Though all the attention is focused on the big-name players who have expiring contracts, the salary-cap casualties are often the free agents the Baltimore Ravens are most interested in. Around the NFL’s Gregg Rosenthal looked at a bunch of players who could get cut this offseason.
Though they have more salary-cap space expected than in previous years, I’d suspect that will once again be their strategy this offseason as they look to fill their needs with value additions.
In addition to typically being cheaper options, cut players don’t count against the compensatory pick formula. The Ravens love to play against that formula to get something in return for departing players they couldn’t afford. With outside linebacker Matthew Judon among the 21 pending free agents potentially on the way out, being savvy with who they sign would be wise for Baltimore to once again game that system this year.
Here are the 9 potential cuts that would be intriguing for the Ravens this offseason.
EDGE Trent Murphy, Buffalo Bills
Though Murphy never quite lived up to his second-round status for the Washington Redskins, he’s still been a productive member of the Bills since being drafted. Over the last three years, Murphy has 18 sacks and started 26 of the 45 games he’s been active for.
He’s not the star player many fans would want but he’s an impact contributor who could likely be signed for a steal when compared to the top pass rushers that will hit free agency. If the Ravens are trying to completely restock their outside linebacker depth chart this offseason, Murphy would likely find a good role given Baltimore only had one player (Matthew Judon) with more sacks in 2019.
WR Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs
The Ravens could use more help at wide receiver next season. Though they’ve made strides in drafting and developing their own wide receiver corps, the right free agent signing could really bump the unit. Coach John Harbaugh noted the team is looking for two types of receiver this offseason, with a possession receiver likely the most coveted.
Watkins never really lived up to what was expected for being the fourth-overall draft pick, but he’s been a major contributor for the Bills, Rams and Chiefs while showing some flashes of greatness. Over the last three years, Watkins has averaged 44 receptions for 595 yards and five touchdown catches.
I don’t see any way Baltimore would pay him near the $16 million average per year of his last contract. But with Watkins having enough years to form a good sample size of what teams will actually get, his value could fall accordingly into a range the Ravens would be willing to pay.
EDGE Charles Harris, Miami Dolphins
Harris just never panned out as a first-round pick (No. 22 in 2017) for the Dolphins. Over three seasons, he started eight games, accounting for just 3.5 sacks and 61 tackles. By no means should anyone expect Harris to be the answer for Baltimore’s pass-rush woes or even a starter. However, the Ravens simply need warm bodies on the depth chart, especially if they see Judon leave this offseason.
Baltimore has been willing to take a chance on former high-round draft picks that struck out elsewhere. Just last offseason, the Ravens signed former Broncos outside linebacker Shane Ray, giving him a chance to win a roster spot in training camp. With the position once again the biggest question mark on the roster, Harris’ pure talent and likely bargain-basement price tag could cause the Ravens to be interested.
Given Miami’s woes over the last three years, Harris could simply need a change in scenery to unlock the potential that made him a first-round pick in the first place. It’s not the banner-dropping signing fans want to see at the position but it’s a no-risk, high-reward signing for Baltimore.
EDGE Olivier Vernon, Cleveland Browns
What is it about Cleveland that causes top players to suddenly suck? Vernon is the latest in a long run of upper-tier talent to see their production dramatically drop once they put on a Browns helmet.
In this case, injuries are the primary factor, with Vernon missing six games with a knee injury in 2019. Injuries are the biggest knock against Vernon if he enters free agency, having missed 15 games over the last three years.
However, Vernon, when not in Cleveland, has still been highly productive in spite of missing a bunch of games. Despite playing in just 23 games from 2017-2018, Vernon amassed 13.5 sacks and 33 quarterback hits. Barring 2019 and his rookie seasons, Vernon has had no fewer than 6.5 sacks in any year.
He’ll turn 30 years old in 2020, which caps his value pretty dramatically and likely means he’ll only earn a short-term contract from any team interested. But that plays perfectly into Baltimore’s hand, who need an immediate starter and more experienced depth but would love to develop their own talent to take over soon.
LB Thomas Davis, Los Angeles Chargers
One of Baltimore’s biggest and most underrated needs this offseason comes at inside linebacker. After watching C.J. Mosley leave in free agency last offseason, the Ravens found they didn’t have his replacement on the roster until they added Josh Bynes before Week 5. Even then, Baltimore ended up sliding a defensive back down to linebacker often in coverage roles to help out. It’s clear entering this offseason that they need to bolster the position with an immediate starter.
At nearly 37 years old, you wouldn’t think Davis would be the answer. But as he proved at the end of his tenure with the Carolina Panthers and last year for the Chargers, he’s still more than capable of handling a coverage role while being a thumper in run support.
Davis is a stop-gap solution and will probably only get looked at after the 2020 NFL draft if Baltimore hasn’t adequately filled the position. But Davis is well known for being a leader in the locker room and on the field with a “play like a Raven” mentality, which could make him a great late pickup.
G Ron Leary, Denver Broncos
I wouldn’t expect the Ravens to be super interested in any offensive linemen in free agency unless either Marshal Yanda retires or they find an affordable and obvious heir for him.
Leary isn’t a star but is an experienced starter-quality guard in the event Yanda decides to hang up his cleats. If Baltimore doesn’t feel great about the guys they have on their roster right now stepping into the starting role, Leary could be an affordable stop-gap option for the Ravens for a year or two.
DT Linval Joseph, Minnesota Vikings
The Ravens could very well be staring down the loss of Michael Pierce in free agency this offseason. For a defensive line that was pretty shallow last season and struggled at times, the idea of losing one of their best players is a tough pill to swallow. However, Baltimore could find a better value in Joseph as a short-term solution while waiting for young players to develop.
Joseph will turn 32 years old in 2020, which puts a cap on what teams are going to offer him in free agency. But Joseph is still plenty productive, managing three sacks, a forced fumble and 44 combined tackles while getting a very good 71.2 overall grade from PFF last season for the Vikings.
Joseph was once one of the best defensive linemen in the league and while still really solid, he’s starting to slow down. With a potentially smaller market for his services and Joseph maybe looking for another chance at a Super Bowl ring, he might be the ideal — low-cost — answer for the Ravens if Pierce does indeed leave in free agency.
WR Marquise Goodwin, San Francisco 49ers
We’ve already pointed out one type of receiver the Ravens could be interested in, now here’s the second. Goodwin is a speed demon, running a 4.27-second 40-yard dash back in 2013. And Goodwin’s stats certainly back up his big-play potential, posting no lower than a 14.9 yard-per-reception average in any season where he caught more than two passes.
Baltimore already has the speedy Marquise Brown, who was already ridiculously fast while admittedly not at 100%, but that doesn’t mean the Ravens aren’t in the market for some depth in that role. With Brown seeing several different injuries slow down his rookie season and fellow deep threat Chris Moore a pending free agent, Goodwin would be a great insurance policy for Baltimore.
Even if Brown stays healthy and lives up to his expectations as a first-round pick, having more speed on the field isn’t a bad thing given the Ravens’ unique offense. Much in the vein of the Kansas City Chiefs, having multiple ridiculously fast players on the field at once can tax a defense and open up quick-scoring opportunities with a quarterback like Lamar Jackson under center.
EDGE Everson Griffen, Minnesota Vikings
Griffen had a pretty fantastic season in 2019, posting eight sacks, 41 combined tackles, two passes defended and an interception returned for 17 yards. Having spend his entire nine-year career with Minnesota might make it hard for the Vikings to part with Griffen but they might not have much of a choice as they’re expected to be more than $11 million in the negative on the 2020 NFL salary cap, according to Over the Cap.
At 32 years old, Griffen isn’t likely going to get top offers if he enters free agency in spite of his production. Which, will likely make him a great bang-for-the-buck option for the Ravens.
Even if Griffen isn’t a three-down player at this stage in his career, Baltimore simply needs to find guys who can go get the quarterback. That could be even more of a priority if Judon leaves in free agency, taking away the Ravens only consistent pass-rush threat. Giving Griffen a shot at a Super Bowl ring and a more limited role could intrigue him enough to even sign for a little less than market value.
