The Baltimore Ravens have been trying to re-sign several of their own free agents this offseason. They’ve brought back defensive end Jihad Ward and defensive tackle Justin Ellis while giving out some contracts early to guys like cornerback Marcus Peters, punter Sam Koch and wide receiver Willie Snead.
With the first, big wave of free agency down and the Ravens very active, Baltimore is looking back at their own free agents to help fill some of their remaining holes. According to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, the Ravens are in talks with linebacker Patrick Onwuasor to return.
The decision makes sense for both Baltimore and Onwuasor at this point. The market for inside linebackers has dried up with the top options signing elsewhere. If Onwuasor isn’t getting many offers or a chance to start, returning to the Ravens might be his best option. Likewise, Baltimore doesn’t have a ton of options available to them right now and what is available isn’t obviously better than Onwuasor. So for them, returning a player that they’re familiar with and knows the defense is a wise decision as long as the money makes sense.
Even if the Ravens re-sign Onwuasor, they’re likely going to look towards the 2020 NFL Draft to find a long-term starter at inside linebacker. Many mock drafts have had Baltimore picking LSU’s Patrick Queen or Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray.
