Boy, that escalated quickly.
Latest NFL signings:
* RB Josh Jacobs to the Packers.
* DT Christian Wilkins to the Raiders.
* DE Bryce Huff to the Eagles.
* G Jonah Jackson to the Rams.
* WR Gabriel Davis to the Jaguars.
* S Darnell Savage to the Jaguars.
* C Tyler Biadasz to the Commanders.
* TE…
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 11, 2024
When the legal tampering period opened yesterday at noon, there was a sense of anticipation, followed by a bit of a lull. News of D’Andre Swift signing in Chicago broke the silence, and Dion Dawkins did a weird bit where trolled Bills fans immediately before news of a contract extension.
🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♂️🚶🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/QrlXfgpfy0
— Dion Dawkins (@DDawkins66) March 11, 2024
The #Bills and 3× Pro Bowl LT Dion Dawkins have reached agreement on a 3-year, $60.5M extension, per @AdamSchefter.
Dawkins was playing with everyone on social media making believe he was released. Classic Dion. pic.twitter.com/0PQ4JtLjFR
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 11, 2024
Otherwise, it was quiet. TOO quiet. All at once, free agent signings began breaking everywhere in a non-stop cascade. Christian Wilkins with a big contract in Vegas. Bryce Huff to the Eagles. Kirk Cousins under center in Atlanta. But probably of the most interest to Ravens fans early on was the movement generated in the running back market.
Four running backs have reached deals so far …
Saquon Barkley ➡️ Eagles
D'Andre Swift ➡️ Bears
Tony Pollard ➡️ Titans
Josh Jacobs ➡️ PackersWho will Ravens land?
Derrick Henry? Austin Ekeler? Zack Moss? Do they re-sign J.K. Dobbins or Gus Edwards?
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) March 11, 2024
The Giants and RB Devin Singletary have agreed on a 3-year $16.5M deal worth up to $19.5M. Per @AdamSchefter 💰 pic.twitter.com/lyOCJWXbqq
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) March 11, 2024
Antonio Gibson is signing a 3-year, $11.25M deal with the Pats, per @TomPelissero
$5.3M fully guaranteed in the deal pic.twitter.com/CspesUEKb6
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) March 11, 2024
Within the first three hours, multiple running backs had inked deals in new destinations, including a guy who had been rumored as a potential Ravens target in Saquon Barkley. Making matters worse was the departure of one of our own RBs, as Gus Edwards opted to rejoin Greg Roman’s system in LA.
Chargers to sign RB Gus Edwards. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/TODalUdXh5
— NFL (@NFL) March 11, 2024
As much as I kind of figured it was coming, my heart held out hope that there’d be room for an inexpensive deal to keep Gus in town. Coming off a 13-touchdown campaign last season, though, it was always likely that The Bus would have multiple suitors. The fit is a good one, but it still hurts. Good luck and godspeed, Gusto.
Gus wasn’t the only departure in the open market, though.
Bengals signing safety Geno Stone to two-year, $15M deal. (via @rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/gKnQVtqT2Q
— NFL (@NFL) March 11, 2024
Less luck and godspeed, Geno.
A breakout season from Geno Stone put the Ravens in a hard spot, as they would’ve needed to pay their third safety starting money, and there just wasn’t enough wiggle room. Stone’s seven interceptions meant there would be plenty of phone calls coming his way… but man, why did it have to be Cincy?
Devin Duvernay has signed a 2-year deal worth $8.5M base, with upside to get to $12.5M with the Jaguars, per @RapSheet pic.twitter.com/0sEBmPU7Tk
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) March 11, 2024
The sting in this one is that it never quite felt like Duv hit his stride here. Clearly, he showed tons of burst, especially in his special teams game, but beginning his career under Roman’s run-heavy offense really hampered the open-field threat that I feel like he could have become. By this point in his career, I don’t know that Duv will ever really factor in as a primary weapon, and he has an uphill battle playing behind Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis in a Jacksonville offense that really sputtered down the stretch. Here’s hoping he can get it going at a new destination.
For now, the Ravens are biding their time in this wave of free agency, as has been Eric DeCosta’s MO for many years now. Once the available cap begins to dry up, and the market with it, free agents without a home or teams desperate to make a deal may come calling, and that’s been Baltimore’s sweet spot. We’ll see how the next couple of days play out.
Source: Baltimore Ravens and Derrick Henry have been in contact today.
— Brad Stainbrook (@StainbrookNFL) March 11, 2024
Stay tuned.
