May Recap: Who exactly did the Ravens sign in Free Agency?
Submitted by Brennan Stewart
May was a busy month in free agency for Eric Decosta and the rest of the Baltimore front office. In total, 25 new players were signed to the team (18 of which were undrafted free agents). After the amount of injuries suffered last season, it is no surprise that so much depth has been added to the roster. The purpose of this article is to break down some of the more recent signings as well as the signings that fans should be most excited for heading into the 2022 season.
RB Mike Davis
The first player from free agency who caused a lot of buzz was Mike Davis, who signed with the team on May 5th after just one season with the Atlanta Falcons. As of right now, Davis is third on the Ravens depth chart, placed behind Gus Edwards and ahead of Justice Hill. Out of the four running backs currently on the depth chart, Davis is the only one who played the entirety of last season. As Davis will likely serve more of a “safety cushion” role on the team, his signing is not too exciting compared to others we have seen so far this offseason. While first on the depth chart in Atlanta last year, Davis only rushed for 138 yards in 17 games.
LB Vince Biegel
Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Vince Biegel signed with the Ravens on May 11th. In the 2020 preseason, Biegel suffered an Achilles injury that kept him from playing until the second half of last year. When Biegel finally returned from Injured Reserve, he recorded two tackles in only five games. However, back in 2019, Biegel recorded 59 tackles (27 solo) in 15 games. To put that in perspective, Tyus Bowser (1st on the depth chart at WLB) recorded 59 tackles in 15 games last season, 33 of which were solo. While Biegel is currently three places behind Bowser on the depth chart, it is comforting to have him there as another safety cushion on this roster.
DE Brent Urban
On May 18th, the Ravens signed a one-year deal with defensive end, Brent Urban. This was the second DL signing of the preseason, as the Ravens signed Michael Pierce back in March. Urban, who was drafted by the Ravens in 2014, is returning to Baltimore after playing for the Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, and most recently, the Dallas Cowboys. While Urban is currently second on the depth chart at RDE behind Calais Campbell, many have already speculated if he will be moved to LDE in place of Derek Wolfe. Wolfe, who had hip surgery in January, has already stated that he fully intends to play this season, however, the Ravens do not seem to be taking any chances with the defensive line.
I fully intend on coming back this season.
— Derek Wolfe (@Derek_Wolfe95) March 16, 2022
[Related Article: Hungry Like The Wolfe?]
Urban, who stands at 6’7″, brings a lot of size to the defensive line. Like Biegel, however, he did not complete the full season last year, earning just three tackles in six games. His 2020 season looked more compelling, as he recorded a career-high 36 tackles in 16 games, 17 of which were solo.
LB Diego Fagot
Fagot may be one of the most overlooked signings so far in this offseason. On May 18th, the former captain of Navy Football signed with Baltimore after he was granted permission from the Department of Defense. Fagot was a shining star at Navy, becoming just the third player in the school’s history to lead the team in tackles three years in a row. One aspect of his playing style that likely made him a target of the Ravens front office is his versatility. Fagot was known to stay on the field for all four downs, meaning he also had a spot on special teams. In his 47 games with Navy, Fagot recorded 282 tackles (138 solo), 35.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. Fagot is currently fourth on the depth chart at LILB but do not be surprised if he makes his way up through the ranks this season.
QB Brett Hundley
Brett Hundley lands himself at third on the depth chart after signing with the Ravens on May 21st. He currently sits behind Tyler Huntley and ahead of Anthony Brown, who was recently signed on May 1st. Hundley has been in the NFL for several years now, having been drafted in 2015 by Green Bay. However, he has not played since the 2019 season. With Lamar Jackson not present at OTAs, Hundley is one of three quarterbacks currently practicing with the team. The last time the Ravens saw a third-string QB take the field was in 2020 after Trace McSorely stepped in for Robert Griffin III in Week 12. While fans are hopeful that Lamar has a full and healthy season, Hundley serves as more insurance on the depth chart.
CB Kyle Fuller
Last but certainly not least is Kyle Fuller, who officially signed with the team on May 26th. Fuller will serve more of a veteran role on the team this season, as it will mark his ninth in the NFL. He was drafted in 2014 by the Chicago Bears as the 14th overall pick. As of right now, the Ravens have a pretty crowded secondary for Fuller to find a spot in. Obviously there’s the talent of both Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters (who are both coming back from injury), but then there are also the two new rookies Jalyn Armour-Davis and Damarion Williams who have something to prove as well. Fuller had 51 tackles last season, 40 of which were solo. Although he is not currently listed on the depth chart, it should be interesting to see where Fuller lands once preseason games start in August.
