The Baltimore Ravens have several playmakers eligible for free agency this offseason. Among Baltimore’s 27 pending free agents, Yannick Ngakoue and Matthew Judon are the only two Ravens featured on ESPN’s top 50 pending free agents for 2021.
Listed at No. 6 on the list is defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. Ngakoue was a third-round pick drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016 but was traded to the Minnesota Vikings after things got rocky in Jacksonville before the start of the 2020 season. The Ravens were able to get Ngakoue in October for a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 conditional fifth-round pick from the Vikings.
During his time in Baltimore, Ngakoue played in nine games, had two forced fumbles and three sacks. In his five seasons combined, Ngakoue has played in 78 games, forced two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and 45.5 sacks The young 26-year-old edge rusher is entering his sixth season and will surely have the attention of NFL coaches and general managers from around the league.
Coming further down the list at No. 34 is defensive end Matthew Judon. The Ravens placed the franchise tag on Judon in March, a move that most considered peculiar after he led the team in sacks in 2019. A second franchise tag seems highly unlikely.
Judon spent his entire five seasons in Baltimore after being drafted by the team in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft. In 2020, Judon played in 14 games, accounted for six sacks, nine tackles for loss, and a safety. Over his five years in the NFL, Judon has played in 76 games, forced seven fumbles, has two fumble recoveries, 34.5 sacks, and 54 tackles for loss. Judon has shown what it means to play like a Raven and he’d leave a big hole for the defense to try and fill if he leaves in free agency.
The Ravens would likely want to retain both Judon and Ngakoue. However, with limited cap space this offseason, that seems unlikely, meaning Baltimore might have to choose which one they re-sign.
