Each year the start of free agency in the NFL is a virtual feeding frenzy.
In my head, I imagine Ozzie Newsome just sitting in his office smiling over and over again as other organizations toss heaps of money towards free agents in hopes of hoisting a Lombardi Trophy in February.
More often than not, they fail.
Instead, for the Ravens, Oz and company sit back and keep a watchful eye on the “under the radar” type players and when the time is right they pounce. Such was the case when the team signed former Houston Texans safety Kendrick Lewis.
Per the Ravens press release on Lewis, the 26 year old New Orleans native and five-year NFL veteran, started all 16 games for the Houston Texans last year, producing a team-high 84 tackles, six passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown).
Initially drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs where he played four seasons before joing the Texans, Lewis has recorded 253 overall tackles, 28 passes defensed, nine interceptions (two for touchdowns), five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his career.
On Tuesday, Lewis made his first appearence in front of the Baltimore media.
The Ravens secondary has been a hot topic of conversation throughout all of last season and into the offseason. Between injuries and players not living up to draft expectations, the signing of Lewis is one the Ravens hope bolsters the struggling unit.
“First of all, I bring my leadership. I bring knowledge. I bring my talent. I bring my playmaking abilities to help this team out, even though this is a great team,” said Lewis when asked about what he brings to the Ravens. “I’m just an added piece that can help them become greater, and I’m very thankful to be here and be in this position.”
Lewis has his eyes set on earning a starter job in the Ravens safety corps.
“I’m a competitor, a full-time competitor,” responded Lewis. “No matter what position I’m put in, that’s my goal to [be in] a starting lineup. And I’m going to compete from the moment I step on the field, from the moment I step in the classroom.”
“I’m going to compete – and it’s up to coaches, it’s up to the organization to make that decision – but I’m going to give it my all.”
While Lewis’s signing all but confirms the Ravens are unhappy with the play of Matt Elam whose struggles were on full display last season, one Raven that isn’t ready to give up on Elam is cornerback Lardarius Webb.
Webb, unprovoked brought up Elam while doing an interview with a few of us in the media at Monday’s Ed Block Courage Award Gala.
“Matt Elam is a great player,” the Ravens veteran corner who recently agreed to a contract restructure, stated. “He’s going to be awesome. I can’t wait for him to get back and show the world.”
Webb didn’t stop there.
“He was out of position last season. He was at nickel back, he’s a safety,” Webby added. “A lot of people forgot that this was his second year. He was a rookie before that and was just thrown in there to play football without being taught the position. Last year he played nickel back and you really can’t blame him. He will be back strong.”
Returning to Lewis, he did say on Tuesday that he and Matt Elam are familiar with one another.
“I wouldn’t say I have a background, but [there are] some familiar guys. I trained down in Florida with [Matt] Elam a year or two ago, and that’s one of the guys that I’m familiar with.”
The newly inked safety has plans to reach out to the Elam, the Ravens 2013 first round draft pick.
“I plan to,” Lewis responded. “I haven’t spoken with him yet, because I wanted to make sure everything was going through as far as the deal sealed, me signed and everything else before I reach out to him.”
“But [he is] a guy that if mentoring him is a thing that he needs or the coaching staff needs, I’m willing to do that. But as far as reaching out to him, I will, because I’ll probably be getting out there to Florida and training with those guys pretty soon.”
While it remains to be seen just what will exactly transpire throughout the rest of the offseason for the Ravens secondary, the signing of Lewis along with Webb’s remarks will make for an interesting battle this summer.
It will take one heck of a training camp for Elam to prove the signing of Lewis was for naught.
My early expectations are Lewis along with Will Hill be trotting out in week one as Elam looks on from the sideline.
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