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The Ravens 2022 Free Agents

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What Free Agents Will Stay, Which Will Go?

This offseason is likely to be GM Eric DeCosta’s most challenging since he assumed the chair of General Manager from Ozzie Newsome. Consequently, there have been several recent articles written about the Ravens’ nineteen (19) Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) and two (2) Restricted Free Agents (RFA) along with the prospects of their return. At Russell Street Report, we’ve decided to pool our resources – and our different areas of expertise – to provide a different treatment of the Ravens’ pending free agents.

Brian McFarland, Dev Panchwagh and Tony Lombardi have all contributed to this piece and we welcome your comments. Without further ado, here are the Ravens 2022 free agents and our outlook for their respective futures.

FREE AGENTS

LB Otaro Alaka (RFA):

2021 Key Stats:  Alaka spent the entire 2021 season on Injured Reserve (IR).

Analysis (Dev): Alaka is a fine special teams option but didn’t bring anything else to the table, even in a situation where L.J. Fort and Malik Harrison missed time last season.

2021 Contract:  Final year of 3-year, $1.765M deal, signed as a UDFA; counted $853,334 on the 2021 Cap.

Cap Implications (Brian):  As a former UDFA, Alaka would be entitled to the low ROFR RFA tender worth $2.433M, however, after spending 2 of the last 3 years on IR, the low RFA tender would certainly seem to be too much.  Alaka could be brought back on a 1-year veteran minimum deal of $965K.

Tony’s Take (Tony): I agree with Dev’s take on Alaka and his special teams ability. He also possesses a nice combination of size and speed, but the one ability where he falls short is availability. In three seasons Alaka has suited up 5 times with one tackle to his credit. Five times is enough. It’s time to say no to Otaro. 

 

CB Anthony Averett (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  14 games (14 starts); 54 tackles, 3 INTs, 11 PDs; 74.3 % of Defensive Snaps.

2020 Key Stats:  10 games (4 starts); 27 tackles, 0 INTs, 7 PDs; 33.2 % of Defensive snaps.

Analysis: For as much as the Peters injury really set the defense back from a playmaking and football IQ perspective, Averett really stepped up and played good football as his stand in. Averett has always been at his best on the boundary. He fights, competes and plays physically. Aside from a few bad performances where he was heavily targeted – against the Colts for instance – Averett didn’t buckle under the pressure. A classic case of a good player buried on the depth chart at a deep position who finally got his shot and he made the most of it.

2021 Contract:  Final year of 4-year, $3.381M deal signed as a 4th round draft pick; counted $1,085,250 on the 2021 Cap.

Cap Implications:  At mid-season, Averett looked like he might be on his way to becoming the next Ravens’ defender to hit it big after blowing it up in his contract year.  The rest of his year didn’t go as well and now it doesn’t appear that Averett is going to hit the big money.  As such, he’s probably looking at a middle level FA contract, but if a market doesn’t develop, he may have to settle for a 1-year, prove it, deal.

Tony’s Take: I’m hoping that Brian is on to something here with AA. A one-year prove-it deal might work well for the team and perhaps given the depth at the position in the 2022 NFL Draft, the market might only be lukewarm for Averett’s services. But there is a guy in New York familiar with AA who might persuade the Giants to bite. Wink Martindale once said, “I think [Anthony] has All-Pro talent”. With that in mind, unfortunately, I think he’s played his last down as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

[Related Article: How the 2022 NFL Draft May Define EDC’s Legacy]

LB Chris Board (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  16 games (no starts); 41 tackles, 0 sacks; 30.9% of Defensive snaps, 80.6% of ST snaps.

2020 Key Stats:  16 games (2 starts); 31 tackles, 2.5 sacks; 24.5% of Defensive snaps, 78.9% of ST snaps.

Analysis: Board remained in the mix as a hybrid, jack of all trades inside linebacker for Wink Martindale’s defense. His value has always been as a pseudo dime back who can disguise in the blitz game. He’s proven to be a decent coverage backer but he has limitations, and opposing offenses exploited him on deeper layer routes over the middle and in certain isolation matchups against running backs. Board is also a plus special teams player. With other options at safety who offer more reliable coverage ability in space, it might be time to move on in 2022.

2021 Contract: 1-year, $1.683M deal; counted $1.683M on 2021 Cap.

Cap Implications:  Board is at that part of his career that he’s likely to only get minimum or Veteran Salary Benefit deals.  Maybe a team will offer him a 2- or 3-year deal, but the base salaries likely won’t be for much more than the minimum.

Tony’s Take: Board is a nice chess piece to have but a luxury that the Ravens can’t afford. As of this writing the team has 10 draft picks, some of which will have to play on teams. I don’t think there’s room on the roster for Board nor is there room on the team’s cap. For the vet minimum, I’m open to his return. If the number is bigger than that, well, I say thanks for the memories.

C Bradley Bozeman (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  16 games (16 starts). Started full 16 games in 2019 and 2020.

Analysis: To say the switch to move Bozeman over from guard to center was a success might be selling it short. It was a masterstroke move by the coaching staff. Bozeman performed as one of the best centers in the NFL. He was a natural at the pivot spot, his former position at Alabama. Bozeman will never be labeled as a dominant force but he displayed good technique and movement, all things Greg Roman values at the center spot. Bozeman elevated the play at the position, even ahead of Matt Skura in 2019 before he suffered that terrible knee injury.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 on the Proven Performance Escalator of his 4-year deal; counted $2,212,602 on 2021 Cap.

Cap Implications:  While there are several Centers about to hit the FA market, it appears that Bozeman is set to cash in big on the FA market.  And, given that the Ravens have never paid big money to retain their young Centers (see Jason Brown, Ryan Jensen), that doesn’t seem to bode well for Bozeman’s return.  Reports are that Bozeman is looking for a deal in the $10-11M per year, which – given the team’s history – would seem a bridge too far for the Ravens.  If that price doesn’t materialize, the Ravens might be willing to go in the $7-8M per year range.

Tony’s Take: Bozeman’s final press conference following the end of the 2021 season tells the story of his future and it’s not in Baltimore. Love the player, love the man, love his passion, love his skills as a leader. But I loathe the asking price. I wish Boze all the best. He’s earned it.

LB Josh Bynes (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  14 games (12 starts); 76 tackles, 2 sacks; 49.5% of Defensive snaps.

Analysis: Bynes should change his name on his jersey to “Easy like a Sunday morning.” He’s the steadying force for this defense and he came through yet again last season, as the team had to scramble to replace their ILB room. He is so sound in his assignments, reads his keys in the run game, and he rarely makes a mistake. His influence and ability to handle the MIKE duties also freed up Patrick Queen at the weakside spot. Queen didn’t have as much on his plate and could play more instinctually in the second half of the season. Bynes was a big factor for the team’s top-ranked run defense.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 on a 1-year, Veteran Salary Benefit Deal worth $1.075M.  Counted $708,333 on 2021 Cap (15 weeks at VSB deal reduced salary of $850K).

Cap Implications:  Bynes is also a player who is now at the 1-year minimum deal part of his career.  In fact, the Ravens have signed Bynes after the start of the season in 2 of the last 3 years.

Tony’s Take: To pick up on Dev’s song reference for Josh, “I’m leaving you tomorrow” might apply for Josh if LJ Fort returns. If not Bynes’ steadying influence on Queen coupled with his Dollar Store bargain basement price suggests that he’ll take one more lap around the sun in Charm City.

 

DT Calais Campbell (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  15 games (14 starts); 28 tackles, 4 sacks; 38.5% of Defensive snaps.

2020 Key Stats:  12 games (12 starts); 49 tackles, 1.5 sacks; 56.7% of Defensive snaps; Pro Bowl.

Analysis: Campbell remained one of the hardest players for me to evaluate last season because he’s competing against his past performance. As he continued to evolve in the twilight of his career, you still saw him dominate at times. He can knock OL back with ease, especially in the run game. His raw physical strength, length, and overall size was on full display during his takeover moments. But he also played more than the ideal amount of snaps in a 17-game season, mainly as a byproduct of Derek Wolfe being injured and other players not being ready to step up. Ultimately, Campbell only missed three games and his overall numbers were down, especially in the pass rush department. He’s simply not that All-Pro player anymore. But he has plenty of juice to be a strong rotational piece. And in 2022, if he is brought back, Mike MacDonald needs to keep him on the field in passing downs as the nose tackle to really take advantage of his pass rush versatility.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 under a restructured 1-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $8M.

Cap Implications:  Campbell hasn’t truly made it official yet, but it sounds like he’s strongly considering playing for another year.  Campbell is probably looking for a 1-year deal that would pay between $6-10M in cash in 2022.  If Campbell were to re-sign for the Ravens, they would have to likely structure a 2- or 3-year deal worth that amount in cash in 2022 to spread out that Cap hit over 2 or 3 years.  Such a deal would however add dead money onto the 2023 or 2024 Cap depending upon when Campbell finally called it quits.

Tony’s Take: CC wants to win a ring. The cost to retain him will be determined by what other Super Bowl contenders are willing to pay Campbell. The Ravens are likely to bring on new and younger interior defenders. Having Calais around can only help given his immense leadership skills and positive locker room presence. Brian is spot with the contract arrangement. It will be a multi-year deal written with the intent of giving CC one final tour of duty, one last chance to hoist a Lombardi.

S DeShon Elliott (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  6 games (6 starts); 23 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 2 PDs; 28% Defensive snaps.

2020 Key Stats:  16 games (16 starts); 80 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 0 INTs, 4 DPs; 98% Defensive snaps.

Analysis: Elliott’s star was on the rise before he went down with an injury. In the coverage game, his presence helped settle the defense and he was one of their best tacklers (which might not be saying much). Still, it’s hard to see Elliott as “that guy” even though he consistently shows that ability across certain plays or even across entire games. Think back to the 2020 performance against Philadelphia where he was everywhere. But he just hasn’t been able to put it all together for an entire season. Tremendous passion, plays with fire, and he’s one of the most well-liked players on the team.

2021 Contract:  Played 2021 on the Proven Performance Escalator of his 4-year deal; counted $2,222,450 on 2021 Cap.

Cap Implications:  Coming off of a midseason injury and having only played in 28 of a possible 65 regular season games during his 4 years as a Raven, Elliott is probably looking at signing a 1-year, prove it deal.  Since the offers are all likely to be similar, Elliott will likely look to sign somewhere where he feels he has the best opportunity for playing time.

Tony’s Take: The Ravens seem to backfill their roster with players who might assume a position vacated by a potential free agent seeking greener pastures. When they spent a third-round pick in 2021 on Brandon Stephens, that was a clear indication that they were preparing to move on from Elliott. To Dev’s point, love his game and passion but to Brian’s point, 43% of availability isn’t exactly inspiring when committing money to a player. The Ravens will move on.

 

DT Justin Ellis (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  17 games (5 starts); 18 tackles; 35.1% of Defensive snaps.

2020 Key Stats:  13 games (3 starts); 17 tackles; 33.6% of Defensive snaps.

Analysis: Ellis had one of his best seasons at the age of 31. He played a vital role for the team when Brandon Williams missed time and was a consistent presence for the run defense. Ellis will never jump out from a statistical perspective. But he’s a rock-solid two gapper who plays with a high motor, even chasing plays down in the open field. As a rotation player who can provide spot starter value, he’s absolutely fine. The question is, can he take on a larger role if the team moved away from Williams? I believe he can.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 on a 1-year, Veteran Salary Benefit Deal worth $1.075M; counted $802,778 on 2021 Cap (17 weeks at VSB deal reduced salary of $850K).

Cap Implications:  At 31, Ellis is a nice rotational DT piece.  He is also another FA who is only looking at a 1-year, minimum deal.

Tony’s Take: Justin is all the things Dev suggests but I don’t see the Ravens jumping out in front of the market for Ellis. Even if he’s signed for just the vet minimum, I think the Ravens will wait until after the draft. They can’t get around the need to get younger at the position.

 

LB LJ Fort (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  Spent all season on Injured Reserve (IR).

2020 Key Stats:  14 games (8 starts); 53 tackles; 35.7% of Defensive snaps, 62.7% of ST snaps.

Analysis: It’s a shame that Fort was lost for the entire season because I believe the defense really missed him. It was easier said than done to replace his savvy and coverage ability. The defense also missed his cerebral play overall. Would there have been less breakdowns and miscommunication if Fort was healthy? What about tackling problems in the open field? When you look at the film from Fort in 2020, you can see how much of an influence he had.

2021 Contract:  Played 2021 on a 1-year, Veteran Salary Benefit Deal worth $1,127,500; counted $987,500 on 2021 Cap.

Cap Implications:  The Ravens signed Fort to a 2-yr extension in 2019, then released him last offseason, only to re-sign him early in the summer.  Then, he missed the entire season due to injury.  Coming off of injury, Fort is likely also looking at just a veteran minimum deal.

Tony’s Take: L.J. is like a fairly priced stock that pays dividends. Simply put he provides value when measured against the cost to retain him – and the Ravens should.

RB Devonta Freeman (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  16 games (8 starts); 576 yards (4.3 ypc), 5 TDs; 42.5% Offensive snaps.

Analysis: Freeman was definitely not the Freeman from 2016, but he had his moments where he channeled his former self. Despite largely ineffective and unreliable run blocking, Freeman would get the most out of the holes that were pried open in front of him. He still has that filthy jump cut and he can make tacklers miss in space. He also showed off his pass catching ability – frankly I thought he was underutilized. There was a lot to like from Freeman last season and he hardly looked like he was finished.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 on a 1-year, Veteran Salary Benefit Deal worth $1.075M; counted $802,778 on 2021 Cap (17 weeks at VSB deal reduced salary of $850K).

Cap Implications:  Picked up off the street in September, Freeman seemed to get better as the year wore on and probably earned himself an invite to training camp somewhere.  However, after turning 30 later this month, Freeman is likely look at another veteran minimum deal.

Tony’s Take: J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill will all return in 2022 and with 10 draft picks, the Ravens are likely to use one on a running back, particularly one with pass catching ability. An aging RB who at best would be third on the depth chart with no special teams contributions is a hard sell. The Ravens won’t buy.

 

OLB Justin Houston (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  15 games (15 starts); 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 17 QB hits; 53.2% Defensive snaps.

Analysis: When the Ravens signed Houston after the draft, it seemed like the type of move that could help put them over the top. While Houston clearly wasn’t the same Houston from his days in Kansas City, he still had plenty of juice left. And his performance last season confirmed as much. Although Houston was part of a rotation, he played an impressive amount of snaps and he delivered as a pass rusher, ranking in the top 10 in win rate according to PFF. You could see his impressive pass rush plan on display in key moments. In a similar role in 2022, he should still have plenty left, and he’s equally a solid edge setter/run defender.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 on a 1-year, $2.075M Deal.

Cap Implications:  Last offseason, Houston priced himself out of the COVID-compressed market and ended up settling for just a 1-year $2.075M deal in Baltimore.  Houston will be looking for a multi-year deal again this offseason, but will likely have more reasonable expectations this time around.  Given that his numbers were down in 2021 and that he’s now 33 years old, Houston will likely – assuming he doesn’t again price himself out of the market – be looking for a 1-year deal in the $6-8M range.

Tony’s Take: Houston was built to be a Raven and I would expect him to be brought back for one more season on a deal written over two or three years that plays out like a one-year deal. That said, the Ravens should wait until after the draft. Houston seemed to like playing in Baltimore. Maybe that affinity will fuel his patience and he’ll be willing to wait it out. If not, the Ravens should offer a modest 1-year deal with no guarantees. But I do expect him to test the market. He’s another aging player looking to put a bow on his career with a ring. If a contender is interested, he could be gone.

QB Josh Johnson (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  1 game (1 start); 28-40, 304 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; 98.3 QB rating.

Analysis: Johnson was a desperation signing when both Jackson and Huntley went down with injuries and illness. And he didn’t look all that bad in his one start against the Bengals. But ultimately, he’s not much more than a Hail Mary starter at this point in his career.

2021 Contract: Spent 4 games on Ravens’ roster; earning $188,889.

Cap Implications:  Johnson performed well in his 1 start last season and he seemed to fit in well in Baltimore. Wherever he signs, he will likely only sign for in vet minimum and likely with a chance to compete for the 3rd QB role only.

Tony’s Take: If willing, Josh would be a nice player to invite into camp. But players like him are always available off the street so I just don’t see the sense in making a financial commitment to him. I agree with Dev and his rosary. Johnson has no prayer of landing a contract with the Ravens.

 

LB Pernell McPhee (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  10 games (0 starts); 14 tackles, 1 sack; 21.5% of Defensive snaps.

2020 Key Stats:  15 games (13 starts); 34 tackles, 3 sacks; 43% of Defensive snaps.

Analysis: McPhee remains one of my favorite players. Unselfish, plays with passion, does the dirty work. He can still give plenty of value in the run game, setting the edge, and his technique remains flawless. But the wear and tear remains. McPhee was never a durable player to begin with. It seemed like after being relatively healthy in 2020, it caught up with him in 2021.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 on a 1-year, Veteran Salary Benefit Deal worth $1.075M; counted $743,056 on 2021 Cap.

Cap Implications:  At 33, McPhee has also entered the 1-year, vet minimum deal portion of his career.  Some reports have indicated that McPhee may be considering retirement.

Tony’s Take: Another favorite for all the reasons Dev described. But Father Time is undefeated. I could see Pernell as a future assistant coach. Maybe it’s time for him to start thinking about that.

 

RB Latavius Murray (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  14 games (6 starts); 501 rushing yards (4.2 ypc); 30.4% of Offensive snaps.

Analysis: Murray ended up putting together a decent season but you can see the tread on his tires. He was at his best pounding the rock in-between the tackles, and he saved his best for last against the Steelers in the finale. He can still give you one of those games every once in a while. But other than being a third string, “break glass in case of emergency” player, Murray gave them about the best that he could last season.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 on a 1-year, $1.075M Deal, which included incentives.  Murray earned $500K in incentives.

Cap Implications:  Signed right before the start of the season, Murray performed well enough to earn an additional $500K in incentives. At 32 years old, Murray will likely have to sign a similar 1-year deal again in 2022.

Tony’s Take: No need to expand here. See Devonta Freeman above.

 

FB Patrick Ricard (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  13 games (11 starts); 39.1% of Offensive snaps; Pro Bowl.

2020 Key Stats:  15 games (10 starts); 44.7% of Offensive snaps; Pro Bowl.

Analysis: Project Pat remains a fan favorite and he put together another stellar year. He took on more responsibilities thanks to Boyle’s recovery. And he continued to prove his value as a road grader in the run game, and some sneaky versatility as a pass catcher. But the problem is that he doesn’t offer much personnel deception. When he’s in motion, you pretty much know what the team is trying to do and where they are trying to go with their run game. It might be time to change things up.

2021 Contract: Final year of 2-year $7.3M contract extension signed in late 2019; counted $3,983,334 on 2021 Cap.

Cap Implications:  Ricard will be an interesting valuation.  Most teams no longer use Fullbacks, so his market is automatically limited, but as we’ve often seen, it only takes one team to pay up.  If he finds such a team, Ricard will have priced himself out of town.  However, if no such offer materializes, Ricard could come back on a new deal that is a bit of a bump over the yearly average ($3.65M/yr) of his present deal.

Tony’s Take: Nick Boyle’s health in 2022 could determine the Ravens price-point for Ricard’s services. If Nick is good to go, Project Pat becomes less of a necessity in the Ravens rushing attack. I think Ricard’s body language and the veiled messages on social media suggest that the “project” has run its course. Bringing back the 2021 fifth-round draft pick, FB Ben Mason, wasn’t just a coincidence.

 

OT David Sharpe (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  3 games (0 starts).

Analysis: Sharpe remains an intriguing backup/swing tackle who has shown some ability in pass protection situations. But he’s really not anything more than a practice squad type player. If he’s in the actual OT rotation next season, that would be a really bad sign.

2021 Contract: Signed to 53-man roster for final 2 weeks of the season, after spending 11 weeks on PS (with 3 PS elevations); earning $390,611 in total.

Cap Implications:  Sharpe has bounced around during his career and hasn’t been able to find home, so another 1-year minimum deal is likely the best offer he will receive.

Tony’s Take: Players like Sharpe are often referred to as “camp fodder”. And the reality is, that’s all he’ll be in 2022 if the Ravens are committed to improving their offensive line.

 

CB Jimmy Smith (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  10 games (2 starts); 18 tackles, 0 INTs, 0 sacks; 27% of Defensive snaps.

2020 Key Stats:  11 games (5 starts); 27 tackles, 0 INTs, 1 sack; 42.6% of Defensive snaps.

Analysis: Like Williams, it seems like this is the end of Jimmy’s time with the team. He even started showing some of his age last year, although he can still play press man with the best of them. On a purely situational level, Jimmy could provide plenty of value. That’s what the Ravens wanted to do with him, using him as a flex player who could even give them some snaps at safety and as a slot defender. But the injuries forced him to play more. And he himself is simply unreliable to stay healthy.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 on a 1-year, $2.25M Deal.

Cap Implications:  Given his age and injury history, the days of multi-year, multi-million dollar deals are behind him.  If Smith does not decide to retire, he’s looking at a veteran minimum deal or something close (perhaps with incentives included to potentially boost his pay).

Tony’s Take: Jimmy hasn’t been available for a full 16-game season (now 17 games) since 2015. Since then, the most he’s played is 12 games and just 30 of the last 49 regular season games. And when he did play in 2021, there were times when his willingness to tackle was reminiscent of your overtly frugal friend reaching for the check at an expensive restaurant. It’s time to move on.

 

TE Eric Tomlinson (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  17 games (7 starts); 1 reception, 0 TDs; 25.7 % of Offensive snaps.

2020 Key Stats:  6 games (2 starts); 0 receptions, 0 TDs; 12.3 % of Offensive snaps.

Analysis: Tomlinson is one of those warhorses who gives you everything he has and is an able blocker, dirty work player. However, he is what he is at this stage. He provides little versatility other than as an in-line blocker. His lack of athleticism hurts the run scheme at times but if Boyle continues to have challenges with his health, Tomlinson is a capable backup.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 on a 1-year, Veteran Salary Benefit Deal worth $1.035M; counted $850K on 2021 Cap.

Cap Implications:  Tomlinson has been playing on 1-year deals for the last several years and seems destined for the same in 2022.

Tony’s Take: A lunch pail-like player, Tomlinson is a grinder. He also might be a necessity if the team’s doctors are less than satisfied with Nick Boyle’s prognosis. If they are, Eric will play elsewhere.

 

WR Sammy Watkins (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  13 games (7 starts); 27 receptions, 394 yards (14.6 ypr), 1 TD; 36.9% of Defensive snaps.

Analysis: I’ll raise my hand and say I was wrong about Watkins. I drove the bandwagon in the off-season during free agency. The fit seemed really good. But Watkins’ inability to stay healthy reared its ugly head yet again. Watkins looked much better in the beginning of the season when Jackson was slinging the ball all over the field. He was able to make some key clutch catches, something he was known for in Kansas City. Remember the catch v. Detroit setting up Justin Tucker’s iconic 66-yard field goal game winner? The good moments were few and far between though. Watkins also dropped his share of bad passes, and he lost a TD in the lights against Miami which proved to be a big miss.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 on a 1-year, $5M Deal.

Cap Implications:  Certainly not totally due to his own fault, but Watkins numbers took a big drop in 2021.  While Watkins will certainly command more than a minimum deal, he’ll likely have to settle for a lesser deal in 2022.

Tony’s Take: Well…

 

CB Chris Westry (RFA):

2021 Key Stats:  6 games (2 starts); 17 tackles, 0 INTs; 16.9% of Defensive snaps.

Analysis: All in all, the coaching staff’s belief in Westry seemed to pay off. The big, long, and talented corner flashed some valuable boundary ability. He’s at his best in those situations when he can use his size and length to close passing windows on quarterbacks along the sidelines. But he also struggled at times in off coverage situations. Westry is someone who can start in a pinch but the matchups have to be right and you don’t want him to be more than a rotational corner who can log snaps on the outside.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 on 1-year, $660K deal.

Cap Implications:  Entering his 4th year, Westry is slated to be a Restricted Free Agent.  As an UDFA, Westry is likely to receive the low ROFR RFA tender of $2.433M, although, even that may be too much.  The Ravens were high on Westry for much of the year and would probably like to find a way to retain Westry for depth purposes, so he would seem to be a candidate for a 2-year deal that would average far less than $2.433M.

Tony’s Take: Westry can match up against big receivers and that may be deemed a necessity if the team parts ways with Jimmy Smith, as I expect. Westry has some upside and has shown the ability to recover once a ball is in flight. But $2.433M seems a bit rich. Westry could be one of those signings that we hear about prior to the new league year and if so, it’s because the Ravens got their guy for something less than $2.433. I’d give him that money, but over a two-year period.

DT Brandon Williams (UFA):

2021 Key Stats:  13 games (13 starts); 35 tackles, 0 sacks; 33.2 % Defensive snaps.

2020 Key Stats:  13 games (13 starts); 33 tackles, 0 sacks; 41.2 % Defensive snaps.

Analysis: Williams looks like a player hanging on at the end. Although he had a few games where still took control of the line of scrimmage, and imposed his will, he was also handled by the competition at times. Overall, Williams really doesn’t deliver any splash plays behind the line of scrimmage. He’s a one-dimensional anchor but there are too many times when he’s displaced or rooted out at the nose spot so teams can run right by him.

2021 Contract: Played 2021 on final year of 5-year, $52.5M Deal; counted $12.92M on 2021 Cap.

Cap Implications:  Given his age and that he’s coming off of a poor year by his standards, Williams is likely facing the prospects of settling for a 1-year deal.  He’ll likely command more than the minimum and the deal could also include incentives to boast his pay if he plays well.

Tony’s Take: At this point in his career, B-Dub is replaceable. The Ravens once regularly uncovered defensive trench anchors like Williams on Day 3 of the draft or even of the undrafted variety and that was during an era when teams committed more to the running game. Players like Kelly Gregg, Ma’ake Kemoeatu and Michael Pierce come to mind. The Ravens should be able to find a similar player on the cheap. If Williams is amenable to a vet minimum deal to stay with the devil he knows, he could stay. If they sign him before the draft, there should be no guarantees but my preference would be to wait and see how free agency and the draft shake out before making a real commitment to Williams. And if he does move on, he will be missed.

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