The Baltimore Ravens are looking to sign their restricted free agents ahead of the official start of free agency next week. First up was linebacker Patrick Onwuasor and now is defensive tackle Michael Pierce.
The Ravens are reportedly expected to give Pierce a second-round tender, which will pay him $3,095,000, according to Over The Cap’s projections.
Pierce is one of Baltimore’s bright young defensive players. Though his accomplishments don’t show up on the stat sheet as often, Pierce has been a force to be reckoned with for the Ravens. Pierce was Pro Football Focus’ top-ranked player on Baltimore’s defense last season — head and shoulders above everyone else.
Pierce was also the best defensive lineman in the AFC North, according to PFF.
Given the low cost of an RFA deal, the Ravens placing a high-round tender on Pierce makes sense. Though he only played about 38 percent of Baltimore’s defensive snaps last season, he’s a stout run defender that is able to generate a good push up the middle and get into the backfield — something the Ravens’ defensive line hasn’t often been doing in recent years.
The one-year deal keeps Pierce in Baltimore through the 2019 season where they can try to work on a long-term contract to keep him in a Ravens uniform for the foreseeable future.
