The Baltimore Ravens have seen several of their EDGE defenders leave in free agency but they’re not letting everyone walk away. After re-signing outside linebacker Tyus Bowser to a four-year deal, the Ravens are bringing back defensive end Derek Wolfe. According to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, Baltimore has agreed to terms with Wolfe on a three-year deal worth $12 million.
Wolfe joined the Ravens last offseason after eight years with the Denver Broncos. While Wolfe failed to come close to his seven sacks in 2019, he was instrumental in run support and helped open lanes for other rushers to get into the backfield. For as much as fellow defensive end Calais Campbell helped boost Baltimore’s run defense, Wolfe was equally instrumental.
With the Ravens without both Brandon Williams and Campbell in Week 11 against the Tennessee Titans, the pressure was on Wolfe to shut down star running back Derrick Henry. Though Baltimore would go on to lose that game and Henry would find room to run in the fourth quarter and overtime, Wolfe and the defensive line held him to just 44 yards and no touchdowns on 18 carried through the first three quarters.
By re-signing Wolfe, the Ravens have kept a dominant defensive line intact for at least another year as Campbell and Williams are both entering the final year of their contracts in 2021. That could prove to be invaluable after seeing Yannick Ngakoue, Matthew Judon, and Jihad Ward agree to deals during the two-day legal tampering period before free agency begins. With the potential for a bunch of new faces upfront, having some continuity on the defensive line could help smooth out the transition.
