The Baltimore Ravens already have an estimated $24.3 million in salary cap space for 2019, according to Over The Cap. But that number could grow significantly with just a few moves.
There are a handful of players who could be cut or traded as salary cap casualties this offseason. But with just six moves, the Ravens could more than double their 2019 salary cap and put themselves in a great spot to make significant additions this offseason.
Let’s look at which players I’d cut or trade to add $33.69 million in cap space for 2019:
Joe Flacco | QB: $10.5 million savings
Flacco is generally expected to be traded or outright cut this offseason. Doing so would free up an additional $10.5 million in cap space.
With a cap hit of $26.5 million for 2019 and Lamar Jackson established as the starter, there’s little to no chance of Flacco returning next season. The bigger question at this point is just what Flacco’s value is on the trading block.
Jimmy Smith | CB: $9.5 million savings
Smith has been a Pro Bowl caliber cornerback but his $15.851 million cap hit for 2019, extensive injury history and multiple suspensions make him a bigger liability than Baltimore really needs to have. Even when Smith returned from his four-game suspension last season, he wasn’t his usual self, seeing Marlon Humphrey significantly outplay him.
While Brandon Carr is also an option to cut, there isn’t the same level of savings. And considering Carr has been healthy throughout his career and hasn’t had any suspensions, he’s just the safer bet to return in 2019.
Michael Crabtree | WR: $4.67 million savings
Crabtree was a disappointment last season. Brought in to help lead the wide receiver corps as a possession and red-zone receiver, Crabtree led the Ravens in drops . . . On a team that led the league in wide receiver drop percentage.
When Crabtree originally signed his three-year contract with Baltimore, it was set up so the Ravens could cut him after just one year. Almost prophetically, it looks like Baltimore will end up doing just that as Crabtree’s $9.3 million cap hit for 2019 is far over the limited production he gave the team in 2018.
Eric Weddle | S: $7.5 million savings
Weddle initially stated he would retire if the Ravens were going to cut him. He’s since changed his tune but the overall concept remains the same. Weddle is at the end of his career and is becoming a bigger liability in coverage. While he’s a great on-field coach and locker room presence, he’s being paid like one of the top safeties in the league without producing like one.
Baltimore has slowly added some young talent in the secondary behind Weddle and could look to pick up an immediate starter in the 2019 NFL draft. But Weddle appears to be one of the tough decisions general manager Eric DeCosta will have to make this offseason. With such a large savings on the 2019 salary cap and plenty of pending free agents to sign, the Ravens appear to be in a better spot by letting Weddle go.
Tavon Young | CB: $2 million savings
In a familiar train of thought as Smith, Young is a player Baltimore could look to move on from this offseason largely due to not being on the field very often. Young was one of the few Ravens players to have offseason surgery after the 2018 season, putting another concern on his ability to stay healthy for any length of time.
Over the last three seasons since being selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft, Young has started in just 17 games. Though he’s been active for 31 of them, injuries have often forced Young to be pushed down the depth chart or not played at all.
When healthy, Young is a solid cornerback. But injuries and the improved play from other defenders like Humphrey and Anthony Averett make Young disposable. While I wouldn’t expect Baltimore to make this move immediately, it could be an option following the 2019 NFL draft to save a little more money and free up roster space.
Anthony Levine | DB: $1.5 million savings
Levine was on the roster bubble last season but injuries elsewhere helped him keep the job in my eyes. But with a wealth of young talent in the secondary and potentially another safety being selected in the 2019 NFL draft puts Levine in a tough spot.
Though the savings isn’t a lot, Levine has been a good player and locker room personality for the Ravens over the years. Letting him go early on allows Levine to find another team a little easier while maximizing his value on the free agent market.
New 2019 cap space: $57,988,780
With just six moves, Baltimore could reach nearly $58 million in available cap space for 2019. Though big pending free agents like linebackers C.J. Mosley, Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith could eat up a large portion of that, it’s encouraging to see the Ravens heading in the right direction financially.
The individual totals don’t add up to the total savings thanks to only the top-51 salaries being counted. By cutting six players, it would elevate other contracts, and nearly $2 million, back into the fold.
While I wouldn’t expect all of these moves to be made this offseason, all are viable options to be cut or traded. There are a number of other potential cuts Baltimore could make to free up even more money, but it would leave some spots a little too thin for my liking. Or in the case of punter Sam Koch, there’s concern about replacing him with someone unproven like with Kaare Vedvik.
With the surplus of cap space, the Ravens could potentially make a larger splash in free agency. I’ve pointed out some dream free-agent signings that could become a reality if Baltimore had this amount of money to spend.
