The Ravens have had a tremendous amount of success over the years signing free agents after June 1st. This is when free agents that teams sign, don’t count against the compensatory pick equation for the following year.
That date has been moved up to May 12th this year. Notable such signings by the Ravens include Kelly Gregg, Daryl Smith, Deion Sanders, Vonta Leach, OJ Brigance, Bennie Anderson, Sam Gash, and Will Hill. Circumstances, whether it be injury, another team’s draft haul or acquisition, make a player expendable at a position while filling a need for another team.
There are a couple free agents still available that would make sense for the Ravens.
Dwight Freeney
Dwight Freeney is coming off a productive season in a role he’d be suited to play in Baltimore at this stage in his career. He produced 53 pressures on 372 pass rush opportunities last season. For comparison’s sake Pernell McPhee produced 64 pressures in an identical number of opportunities.
On tape he still shows the burst, dexterity, and hand use to be very effective in a sub package role. The team will most certainly add an edge rusher in this draft at some point. How invaluable would it be for a rookie edge rusher to have Suggs, Dumervil and Freeney around on a daily basis. The Ravens will need to replace McPhee’s pressure production and Freeney could help do just that.
Ahmad Bradshaw
Before Week 11 when he was sidelined for the balance of the 2014 campaign with a fractured fibula, Bradshaw was without a doubt the Colts best back. He excelled in the passing game, racking up 38 
catches for 300 yards and 6 touchdowns. This would lend itself well to Marc Trestman’s offense – one that has always valued pass catchers in the backfield.
Bradshaw’s terrific feet, vision and pass protection skills would be useful in the Ravens zone blocking scheme and would give them insurance in the passing game provided he’s able to work himself back physically. This is less likely an option if the Ravens select a running back early in this draft but if they decide to wait and take a back later in the draft, one that need time to develop, then Bradshaw makes sense.
It should be noted that Bradshaw was cited for marijuana possession in February and given the seemingly firmer stance the Ravens have taken with off field transgressions this offseason, it’s certainly possible Bradshaw is off their radar screen.
That said a healthy Bradshaw would certainly help.
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