The Ravens created a lot more buzz than fans and media are used to this offseason. Uncharacteristic big-name free agent signings, namely Eric Weddle, Ben Watson and Mike Wallace, have garnered the majority of headlines, and for good reason. With all the chatter around the newest additions to the 2016 roster, one player seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle, and that’s Courtney Upshaw.
Upshaw was clearly on the back burner for the Ravens from the outset. Baltimore’s decision makers had a list of priorities and he simply wasn’t on it. The Ravens wanted to keep Kelechi Osemele, they had to get something done with Justin Tucker, and extending Joe Flacco – those were the priorities. With those situations now resolved and Upshaw still unsigned it’s interesting that a potential return to Baltimore still has gained virtually no traction.
The market for Upshaw was a tough one to gauge before free agency started. He’s a durable player who’s never missed a game since being drafted. He’s entering his prime, having just wrapped up his rookie contract. Both are very appealing to any general manager. However, he never developed into the pass rusher the Ravens envisioned him being when they took him with their top pick in 2012. Instead he’s gained a reputation as being a player who does the dirty work, setting the edge and stopping the run, which is a valuable commodity for any team.
His lack of a pass rush has clearly hampered him in free agency though. Players like Olivier Vernon, Malik Jackson and Jason Pierre-Paul all cashed in the early stages of free agency. Upshaw on the other hand is still looking for a new home more than two weeks later. Both the Ravens and the NFL as a whole have placed a huge emphasis on getting after the quarterback. Upshaw does several things well, but he’s proven that racking up sacks is not one of them. After rumors of landing in Indianapolis, and visits with the Jets and Falcons, his future remains cloudy.
It also can’t be helping Upshaw that the Ravens have expressed such little interest. The Ravens love to groom and retain their own talent. Upshaw is an Alabama player, which Ozzie Newsome has always had a soft spot for. (See Trent Richardson) With Newsome being such a highly respected force in the NFL, it wouldn’t be surprising if other teams were proceeding with caution on Upshaw simply because of the Ravens’ lack of interest.
Newsome having little interest in keeping an Alabama player who he drafted with his top pick, who is entering the prime of his career? That could be a huge red flag for other general managers.
The Ravens also have the cap room. While John Harbaugh admitted at owners meetings that the team will likely add more free agents, the major free agency moves are complete. The Ravens could likely get Upshaw back with a reasonable contract. With almost $7 million in current cap space doing so wouldn’t even prohibit the Ravens from making additional moves.
Many thought the Ravens would let Upshaw test the market while they crossed off their list of top priorities. If he was still available when the dust settled, bringing him back on a reasonable deal wasn’t out of the question. Now, fifteen days removed from the start of free agency, Upshaw is still available, and with the Ravens still seemingly uninterested, the chances of a return grow less and less likely with each passing day.
