In a somewhat surprising move, it appears that the Ravens have extended the contract of DT Dwan Edwards for one year. Originally signed to a 5-year deal in 2004 and set to become an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) this March, NFL Player’s Association records now indicate that Edwards is under contract for 2009 with a base salary of $1M. There is no indication of when the extension occurred and there was never any announcement by the team.
Since Edwards’ original contract has now expired and assuming that no new bonus money was given, Edwards’ Cap number for 2009 will be $1M.
Edwards, the Ravens 2nd round pick in 2004, got off to a slow start to his career and was generally considered to be a disappointment until 2007, when injuries gave him an extended opportunity to play. Working in the defensive line rotation due to an injury to Trevor Pryce, Edwards posted career highs in just about every statistical category and proved that he could, at least, be a contributor on defense. Hoping to build off of that successful 2007 campaign, Edwards unfortunately injured his back in training camp and spent the entire 2008 season on Injured Reserve.
This one-year extension is likely a product of Edwards’ realization that having to sit out this past year due to injury has harmed any market for services that might have existed, so accepting the Ravens offer to return will provide him with another year to prove himself. From the Ravens’ perspective, it’s a risk-free move, since Edwards can be cut at anytime with no adverse Salary Cap implications.
