Cut or Extend Brandon Williams?
When asked about the status of Brandon Williams’ future in Baltimore during his Zoom presser yesterday, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said:
“We don’t know what the cap is going to be, so it’s hard to say anything definitively. But Brandon [Williams] played good football this year. He’s a valued player on the team; it’s hard to find guys like him. He fits our mentality. He’s still a relatively … As a nose tackle, these guys can play for a long time. He plays hard. He plays [well]. He’s one of us. He’s a Raven through and through. So, yes – I expect him to be on the team.”
Reading the tea leaves and considering his value as a run stuffer, the Ravens plan to not only keep Williams in 2021, but possibly beyond provided they can reach a cap friendly cap extension.
[Related Article: Expect Patience From DeCosta]
Cutting Williams would save the Ravens $7.5M in cap space in 2021. But doing so would place additional pressures on the recently re-signed Justin Ellis and second-year players Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington. So it begs the question, given the hints DeCosta provided, what if the Ravens could keep Williams AND create some additional cap space?
I sat down with RSR’s capologist Brian McFarland via Zoom to discuss this very topic.
Creating Even MORE Cap Space!
The ways in which DeCosta can create additional cap space doesn’t stop with Williams. If needed the Ravens can convert some salary to bonus money for a few other Ravens and the combined effect will result in even more cap space.
Restructures for Ronnie Stanley, Marlon Humphrey, Justin Tucker and Chuck Clark coupled with a Williams extension would line DeCosta’s wallet with more than $17M to spend in free agency on St. Patrick’s Day. EDC could manufacture even more space ($11M) with alterations to the current contracts of Marcus Peters and Calais Campbell.
At the end of the day, if the Ravens are all-in on 2021, they can be aggressive and in a free agent market that many believe favors the buyer, you just might see EDC be a bit busier than normal.
Curious what EDC has been up to?
He fills you in and drops some gems ahead of free agency ???? pic.twitter.com/SOW9DVM7AG
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) March 11, 2021
