With NFL free agency to start on March 13, we still have a month to look at what players might be available. I’ve already pointed out a handful of pending free agents the Baltimore Ravens could be interested in. But it’s the salary cap casualties where Baltimore typically feasts.
Players who are cut don’t count against the compensatory pick formula. If you’ve followed the Ravens for long, you’ll know just how sacred comp picks are for Baltimore. So I looked at each team in the AFC West to see which players had high amounts of cap savings if cut and picked the ones I figure the Ravens would be most interested in.
Kansas City Chiefs:
Justin Houston | OLB
Houston carries a huge cap hit for 2019, but even then, it might not be wise for the Chiefs to cut him. Houston is only a few years removed from a 22-sack season and had nine sacks in 2018. Houston has averaged 10.4 sacks and two forced fumbles over the last seven seasons. He’s one of the best pass rushers in the league and would likely command top dollar if Kansas City were to cut him.
With Za’Darius Smith and Terrell Suggs set to hit free agency, Baltimore really needs to figure out an answer to their pass rushing concerns. Houston would be an immediate upgrade for the Ravens and give them a consistent winner at outside linebacker.
Los Angeles Chargers:
Keenan Allen | WR
The Ravens need major help at wide receiver, and if Allen were to come available, they’d likely show interest. With the second-highest cap hit among wide receivers in 2019, Allen could be a potential cap casualty for the Chargers, though he was their top option last season.
Allen is the top receiver Baltimore has been looking for but hasn’t been able to find in free agency or the draft. He’s a big-bodied wide receiver with plenty of speed and solid hands who can win consistently all over the field. However, Allen has injury concerns, missing 4.3 games per season over his six-year career. It has kept him from reaching his full potential in spite of his solid production.
It’s unlikely Los Angeles lets Allen simply go with two years left on his contract. But if they do, Baltimore would likely have a call in quickly with an offer on the table.
Oakland Raiders:
Kelechi Osemele | G
Osemele was one of the offensive linemen the Ravens let get away only to regret it. While Osemele hasn’t been as great with the Raiders, the issue has largely been how he’s been used. Baltimore could right at least one wrong if Osemele were to hit free agency.
Guard is arguably the weakest spot on the Ravens’ roster. Baltimore has James Hurst and Alex Lewis at left guard, but neither appears to be a long-term option. Hurst has had only one good season with the Ravens, while Lewis is often injured.
Osemele is set to have the highest cap hit among left guards in 2019, according to Over The Cap. With Oakland having traded away two of their best players (Amari Cooper and Khalil Mack) last season, no one really knows what the Raiders will do in free agency. That in itself makes Osemele a potential cap casualty, and the notion is strengthened by the fact he missed five games in 2018.
Osemele would be an immediate starter in Baltimore with the bonus of having played well at left tackle — where Ronnie Stanley has had some injury issues in recent years. Osemele likely wouldn’t come cheap but would do wonders to cement the offensive line for quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Jordy Nelson | WR
Baltimore tried to fix their wide receiver issues last offseason by picking up the guy Nelson replaced in Oakland, Michael Crabtree. That was a mistake. Then again, the Raiders might not have been too happy with Nelson’s production either.
In 2018, Nelson caught 63 passes for 739 yards and three touchdowns. That surpassed Crabtree’s production in the first two categories while tying him in scores. More importantly, Nelson didn’t drop nearly as many passes as Crabtree.
Nelson fits exactly what the Ravens like in free agent wide receivers. He’s older, would cost less and is still relatively productive. With Nelson offering $3.69 million in cap savings if cut, it’s a viable option for the Raiders. If Nelson hits free agency, he’d likely be a cheaper, more productive version of Crabtree.
Denver Broncos:
Emmanuel Sanders | WR
Playing in a rather anemic offense over the last two seasons, Sanders hasn’t produced up to his potential. For a better picture of what Sanders can do, look at his early seasons with the Broncos. With Peyton Manning at quarterback, Sanders averaged 85 receptions for 1,190 yards and seven touchdowns over three seasons.
Sanders has missed some games over the last two seasons and has a higher cap hit in 2019, making him more disposable for Denver. But he’s the right type of signing for Baltimore, who likes older wide receivers that offer some value.
It doesn’t help the current free agent market for wide receivers is pretty thin and the Ravens need help at the position. With Crabtree a possible cap casualty this offseason and John Brown a pending free agent, Baltimore really only has Willie Snead as a proven option. Sanders would give the Ravens a proven wide receiver with solid hands and enough speed to be a deep threat, even with his 32nd birthday coming next month.
Derek Wolfe | DE
If the Ravens can’t manage to re-sign defensive end Brent Urban or want to upgrade the position, Wolfe could be a great pickup. One of the best defensive ends against the run according to Pro Football Focus, Wolfe would do wonders to beef up Baltimore’s already impressive defensive line.
Wolfe has averaged 34 pressures per season over his seven-year career. He also has a season with 10 sacks (2015), showing just how high of a ceiling he has as a pass rusher.
If Wolfe does get cut, he’d likely draw quite a lot of attention in free agency. But with the Ravens’ lack of quarterback pressure coming from the defensive line, Wolfe could be the type of signing Baltimore needs to improve just that little more on defense.
Ronald Leary | G
One of the weakest spots on Baltimore’s offense is on the offensive line — especially at guard. Leary missed 10 games last season and could be a cap casualty for Denver.
In previous seasons, Leary has been one of the best guards in the league. Over the last four seasons, Leary has allowed just four sacks, according to PFF. He’s also graded well every season as a run blocker, something the Ravens will need given their run-heavy scheme.
Darian Stewart | S
If Stewart’s name seems familiar, it’s because he played for the Ravens in 2014 before signing a long-term deal with the Denver Broncos in 2015.
Stewart was a solid safety for Baltimore, recording 56 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. However, his time with the Broncos has been more hot-and-cold. But it’s easy to see Stewart succeeding in Baltimore’s diverse scheme.
With Eric Weddle a potential salary cap cut, the Ravens could be in need of a new free safety. Stewart could be a good option on a relatively cheaper deal as a stopgap solution to support either DeShon Elliott, Chuck Clark or a new draft pick.
