ExtremeRavens Posted 15 hours ago Posted 15 hours ago The NFL’s legal tampering period begins Monday at noon — that two-day vestibule before the new league year when teams are permitted to negotiate with agents of impending unrestricted free agents. This year, the Ravens arrive with a particularly crowded ledger of decisions, most notably at center with Tyler Linderbaum. With each passing day the three-time Pro Bowl selection doesn’t re-sign with Baltimore, another team with a need at the position seems to emerge and the result could be a rising price tag that would diminish the odds that the 2022 first-round draft pick out of Iowa remains in Charm City. At the same time the Ravens are trying to keep some of their own free agents, general manager Eric DeCosta is also working the phones and surveying the league’s landscape. After finishing 8-9 last season and out of the playoffs for the first time since 2021 with a roster that was expected to compete for a Super Bowl, it’s an especially consequential stretch of the calendar. Among the more pressing questions within it is whether DeCosta will deliver on the “couple of big-ticket items” he referenced earlier this offseason. At the nexus of those moves, of course, is quarterback Lamar Jackson, whom Baltimore is eager to sign to an extension to drastically lower his looming $74.5 million salary-cap figure. “I don’t want to go into free agency with that hanging over our head,” owner Steve Bisciotti said in January. “I made that clear to Lamar, and I think he was very appreciative of my stance, and hopefully willing to work with Eric and not get this thing dragged out into April like it was the last time. It was very hard for him to build a roster when that thing is not settled.” Though an extension is the preference, DeCosta doesn’t view Jackson’s contract as an albatross to the rest of his offseason plans – simply tacking on void years can clear up about $38 million in cap space. That would then free up the money needed to address other needs, including pursuing an elite pass rusher. “We do have a nice little nest egg,” DeCosta said. “It’s not as much as we’d like.” But it is enough to be involved in attracting a player who could immediately help a defense that tied for the third-fewest sacks (30) in the NFL last season — also the Ravens’ fewest since 2010 — and finished near the bottom in pressure and pass-rush win-rate. Defensive tackle Travis Jones had a career-high five sacks, but for the first time in franchise history no player recorded at least six. The Ravens also have three free agents at outside linebacker (Dre’Mont Jones, Kyle Van Noy, David Ojabo), and everyone from the owner down understands the pass rush wasn’t where it needed to be. DeCosta has also shown a penchant for pursuing recognizable names. Last March, it was three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who signed a one-year, $5 million deal in free agency. In March 2024, it was future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Derrick Henry with a two-year, $16 million contract. In April 2023, it was popular wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with a one-year, $15 million deal that also helped push the Jackson contract extension over the finish line after the quarterback had requested that Baltimore sign the veteran. Who will be this offseason’s splashy addition? Here’s a look at some potential pass rushers Baltimore could pursue in free agency or via trade. Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals With the Bengals not using the franchise tag on Hendrickson, the NFL’s 2024 sack leader is expected to hit the open market. He won’t come cheap, though. With Hendrickson projected to get a three-year deal worth at least $99 million, landing the divisional star would be a financial strain on Baltimore. The Ravens already have four players with at least a $26 million cap hit for 2026, and adding to that would eat into other needs, particularly for a 31-year-old coming off an injury-marred season in which he played in just seven games. Still, his elite traits and production are rare: He’s third in the NFL in sacks since 2020 with 74 1/2 and has 15 career forced fumbles. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders Crosby is still in the midst of a $106.5 million deal that has him under contract through 2029, though there have been reports that he isn’t willing to endure another rebuild in the desert and wants out. Like Hendrickson, Crosby is elite. He has 56 1/2 sacks over six seasons, routinely delivers a high pressure rate, is consistently near the league lead in tackles for loss and is a stout run defender. The 28-year-old also had each of his past two seasons cut short by injury. But leaving that aside, there are two problems as far as the Ravens would be concerned: the asking price (likely two first-round draft picks) and a $35.8 million cap hit next season, though the latter could be assuaged by his new team re-doing that deal. Bigger yet, there is also competition to consider, with the Dallas Cowboys having expressed interest as well as owning two first-round picks this year, including No. 12 overall. That would be awfully appealing for a Raiders team with a lot of holes, and DeCosta is not one to part with draft picks. Perhaps if the Ravens sweetened the deal with a player as part of an offer they could make a move, but it’s probably too rich. Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota Vikings Greenard, who will turn 29 in May, is another top-tier edge rusher who could be dealt soon given the Vikings’ cap constraints. Though he still has two years left on a four-year, $76 million deal that he signed in March 2024, Minnesota is more than $45 million over the cap. Already, the Vikings will reportedly dump running back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to clear space, and dealing Greenard would open up a lot more. With 38 career sacks across six seasons, including 12 1/2 and 12 in 2023 and 2024, respectively, he would add some serious juice to the Ravens’ edge. He would also be more affordable and the Vikings wouldn’t command as much — probably a second-round pick — in return. If there’s a downside, it’s that Greenard had just three sacks last year and missed five games because of a shoulder injury that required surgery, but if healthy he would be an instant upgrade. Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux speaks at a news conference in June. The young edge rusher could fit well with the Ravens, who need pass rush help. (Angelina Katsanis/AP) Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants The fifth overall pick in 2022, Thibodeaux is entering the final year of his contract and hasn’t quite lived up to billing, with 23 1/2 sacks over 53 games during that span. What New York views his value as — and what the rest of the league does — could be a sticking point in whether he gets traded now. If the Giants are insistent on, say, a third-round pick, that would probably make it difficult for a deal to materialize. Perhaps a fourth-round pick and a player could make it happen, but the Ravens probably don’t have a player who would fulfill that scenario, and they could consider that too much anyway. Also: Would coach John Harbaugh be willing to send a player who could help Baltimore win now while he’s still at least a year away from the Giants being a formidable contender? Bradley Chub, free agent Chubb, who will turn 30 in June, was released by the Dolphins in February as expected. Like others on this list, he also comes with injury baggage, having infamously suffered a torn ACL in a Week 17 blowout loss to the Ravens during the 2023 season that wiped out his 2024 campaign. But when healthy he was productive, with a team-high sacks in 2023 and 8 1/2 last season. There’s also familiarity: Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver was with him the past two years in Miami. He also wouldn’t be that expensive. Given his injury, Chubb will likely net a short-term deal in the $10 million to $15 million range. Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers At 35, Mack is on the back end of his career. He has been productive, though, with 11 1/2 sacks over the past seasons after a career-high 17 in 2023. He’s also a classic example of the wily, aging veteran the Ravens have long had a habit of employing. Mack would not break the bank, either, with a projected one-year deal somewhere around $18 million. Of course, given that he could play just one more year, he might simply choose to stay with the Chargers, who are reportedly making him a priority, making it unlikely then that he would follow new Ravens coach Jesse Minter from Los Angeles. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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