During 2021 free agency, the Baltimore Ravens saw three of their edge rushers leave for other opportunities as Matthew Judon, Yannick Ngakoue, and Jihad Ward all signed elsewhere. While the team was able to retain both Tyus Bowser and Pernell McPhee, Baltimore currently only has three edge players on the roster when also factoring in Jaylon Ferguson.
Edge rusher is currently a big need for the Ravens, and it seems like the organization is looking to add a veteran option who can make an immediate impact. According to multiple reports, the team is bringing in former Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts pass rusher Justin Houston for a visit on Tuesday.
Houston 👀
Tuesday 👀— Wurr Your Masssss 😷 (@theNFLchick) April 9, 2021
Free-agent edge rusher Justin Houston will visit the Ravens on Tuesday, per @JasonLaCanfora on @IA1057TheFan.
Houston had eight sacks and 25 pressures last season for Indianapolis. He’s looking to sign before the draft, with at least two other teams in the mix, per JLC.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) April 9, 2021
Houston is a proven player, as he’s played at the NFL level for 10 years after being selected in the third round of the 2011 Draft by the Chiefs. He has 97.5 career sacks to his name, as well as 451 total tackles, 17 forced fumbles, and 15 fumble recoveries. He has plenty of pass rush moves in his arsenal that can help Baltimore as well as plethora of experience to help develop players like Bowser and Ferguson.
This isn’t the first time that the Ravens have had interest in Houston, as back in 2019 they were talking to the pass rusher before he opted to sign a two-year deal with the Colts instead.
Dont know about Marshall, but they've been talking to Houston.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) March 19, 2019
When Houston signed his two-year, $24 million deal with Indianapolis, people were beginning to question if he still had enough left in the tank to continue to play at a high level as a 30-year-old. He put those questions to bed and kept them buried, as over his two years with the Colts he piled up 19 sacks.
Now 32 years old, Houston is at the back end of his career. However, he still has plenty to offer an NFL team, and by bringing him in for a visit both he and the organization can get a better feel for each other. There’s no doubt that Houston would improve Baltimore’s defense, and if the Ravens are his next team he’ll have an instant chance to compete for a championship.
