The Baltimore Ravens have been busy on their first day back at the Under Armour Performance Center. With the official start of their offseason workout program on Monday, the Ravens have signed restricted free agent linebacker Patrick Onwuasor to his second-round tender.
Joining Onwuasor in signing with the team were four exclusive rights free agents. According to the team, Baltimore signed running backs Gus Edwards and De’Lance Turner; center Matt Skura; and offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor on Monday.
Exclusive rights free agents are almost always brought back since their respective team holds their rights for that season. The ERFA tag means those players can’t negotiate with any other team and they’re given a one-year non-guaranteed contract at the league’s minimum salary. Either they sign with their respective team or they can’t play elsewhere that season unless released.
Since the Ravens got positive results from all four ERFAs in recent years, it made sense the team would retain them.
Edwards was the most productive member of the group and Baltimore will likely be counting on him to continue that level of production in 2019. Taking over for then-starter Alex Collins, Edwards burst on to the scene last year, rushing 137 times for 718 yards and two touchdowns and helping the Ravens to be one of the most prolific rushing team in the second half of last season.
Skura was the starting center all season and should at least be in competition to retain the role in 2019. However, Baltimore could look to this month’s draft to find his replacement. At the least, it’s expected Bradley Bozeman will get a chance to compete for the starting job in training camp.
Turner was brought up from the practice squad last year before heading to injured reserve a month later. Turner wasn’t used much, rushing just twice for 17 yards and catching one pass for four yards. However, his big-play ability was shown in the preseason, making him a good player to continue developing.
Eluemunor, a fifth-round pick in 2017, has primarily been a backup for Baltimore throughout his short career. He’s taken some snaps at tackle and guard, starting three games over two years. Given Eluemunor’s versatility and how thin the Ravens’ offensive line depth chart has been, it makes sense he was brought back.
