Who will stay, who will go? Examining the case for Ravens' 20-plus free agents (2024)

The Baltimore Ravens’ unrestricted free-agent class is set to include their 2023 touchdowns leader, their top two backs, their most accomplished wide receiver, their two starting guards, a Pro Bowl inside linebacker, their return specialist, two of their three leaders in sacks and the AFC leader in interceptions.

A long-standing Ravens philosophy has been to draft, develop and reward their own. The final stage of that team-building plan will be a significant challenge this offseason with Baltimore having so many quality free agents and limited cap space to utilize.

Tuesday’s franchise-tagging of defensive lineman Justin Madubuike keeps the team’s most coveted pending unrestricted free agent off the open market. However, the $22.1 million price tag will also make it more difficult for the team to be active in free agency without several cap-cutting moves.

With the dramatic $30 million cap increase, several teams will have cap space to burn and the Ravens’ free agents will probably be popular targets. Teams can contact the representatives for pending free agents on Monday as the two-day legal tampering period begins. Deals can be finalized after 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the start of the new league year.

Which Ravens free agents will stay and which will go?

Odell Beckham Jr., WR

Age: 31

2023 stats: 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games.

Beckham is not a free agent, but there’s a good chance he soon will be. Baltimore restructured his contract to eliminate the void years and set the stage for him to be a post-June 1 release if he’s not re-signed by the end of next week. Beckham had modest numbers in playing last season on a one-year, $15 million deal. However, the Ravens loved what he brought to the team, and he mostly delivered when given opportunities. Still, re-signing him feels more like a luxury than a necessity. They have Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor, and they’ll look to add another pass catcher in the upcoming wide receiver-loaded draft.

Verdict: Goes

Jadeveon Clowney, OLB

Age: 31

2023 stats: Tied a career high with 9 1/2 sacks and didn’t miss a game for just the second time in his career.

The Ravens want Clowney back, and by all accounts, he wants to be back. He had one of the best years of his career after joining the team halfway through training camp. But it seems unlikely that he’ll give Baltimore another huge discount after outplaying his one-year, $2.5 million deal. In recent offseasons, the Ravens have avoided spending significant money on veteran free-agent edge rushers — and they don’t really have the cap flexibility to do it this year. Clowney easily could get an offer that the Ravens don’t feel positioned to match. But if both sides want it to happen, there is a deal to be made.

Verdict: Stays

Dalvin Cook, RB

Age: 28

2023 stats: After rushing for only 214 yards on 67 carries in 15 games for the New York Jets, Cook was let go and signed with the Ravens in January. He only saw action in the divisional playoff round, rushing eight times for 23 yards.

Cook hoped to help the Ravens on a Super Bowl run and show NFL decision-makers that he had plenty of juice left. Yet, he played only in garbage time against the Houston Texans. The Ravens will cast a wide net at running back, and that could include Cook if the price is right.

Verdict: Goes

Ronald Darby, CB

Age: 30

2023 stats: Played in 16 games (seven starts) and had seven pass breakups.

One of the more unheralded players on the team, Darby stepped in for the injured Marlon Humphrey and played well, showing no effects from the knee injury that ended his 2022 season. He’d be a strong re-signing for the cornerback-needy Ravens. But this is not a particularly strong free-agent cornerback class and Darby could potentially get bigger offers elsewhere.

Verdict: Stays

J.K. Dobbins, RB

Age: 25

2023 stats: Sustained a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 1 against the Texans.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said last week that he would soon touch base with Dobbins. A second-round pick in 2020, Dobbins has played in just nine regular-season games over the past three years. He’ll almost certainly have to accept a prove-it deal to show he can remain healthy. But you couldn’t blame him if he did that elsewhere, given the bad injury luck he’s endured in Baltimore.

Verdict: Goes

Devin Duvernay, WR/RS

Age: 26

2023 stats: In 13 games, he had four catches for 18 yards and averaged 12.6 yards on punt returns and 19.3 on kick returns.

Duvernay has the look of a player who might benefit from a change of scenery. He’s been a solid returner for the Ravens, but they’ve struggled to incorporate him into the offense. Injuries also seemed to impact Duvernay’s explosiveness. Never underestimate Baltimore’s desire to keep a good special teams player, but you’d have to think Duvernay will look for a team that will use him more on offense.

Verdict: Goes

Gus Edwards, RB

Age: 28

2023 stats: Set career highs in rushing attempts (198), rushing yards (810) and touchdowns (13), but averaged a career-low 4.1 yards per carry.

DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh said there’s interest in re-signing Edwards. However, his usage at times, especially late last season, spurs questions of just how motivated they’ll be. With his age and injury history, Edwards probably won’t break the bank. In a saturated running back market, the Ravens could opt for younger and healthier.

Verdict: Goes

Malik Harrison, LB

Age: 26

2023 stats: Played in 14 games (eight starts) and finished with 20 tackles.

The Ravens value Harrison’s ability to set the edge as a strong-side linebacker and his versatility to play inside. They like the physicality he brings to the defense and special teams. Baltimore presumably will value him more than 31 other teams.

Verdict: Stays

Tyler Huntley, QB

Age: 26

2023 stats: Saw action in five games (one start), throwing for 203 yards and three touchdowns.

When Baltimore signed quarterback Malik Cunningham off the New England Patriots’ practice squad in December, it was the strongest indication yet that Huntley, Lamar Jackson’s primary backup the past four seasons, would hit the open market. The Ravens don’t traditionally invest much in backup quarterbacks. With his experience and athletic ability, Huntley should generate interest in a market traditionally kind to competent backup QBs.

Verdict: Goes

Josh Johnson, QB

Age: 37

2023 stats: Did not see any action as the No. 3 emergency quarterback.

The Ravens could bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with Cunningham for the No. 2 job. Yet, they’ll probably go younger.

Verdict: Goes

Arthur Maulet, CB

Age: 30

2023 stats: Had 37 tackles, two sacks, an interception, five pass breakups and two fumble recoveries in 14 games (three starts).

Maulet was a savvy signing by DeCosta, and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald got the best out of his skill set. But the Ravens like using Humphrey or safety Kyle Hamilton in the nickel role, and they also have young slot corners Damarion Williams and Ar’Darius Washington already on the roster.

Verdict: Goes

Sam Mustipher, C/G

Age: 27

2023 stats: Played in nine games and started two.

A Baltimore native, Mustipher stepped in for an injured Tyler Linderbaum and held his own. With the Ravens potentially losing many offensive linemen from last year, it makes sense to keep Mustipher around for depth and experience.

Verdict: Stays

Tyler Ott, LS

Age: 32

2023 stats: Snapped in every game for the Ravens.

Signed after Nick Moore tore his Achilles late in the offseason, Ott did a nice job. However, the Ravens tacked a year onto Moore’s deal after his injury with the intention that he’d be their long snapper moving forward.

Verdict: Goes

Del’Shawn Phillips, LB

Age: 27

2023 stats: Had 24 tackles, playing primarily on special teams, but started the regular-season finale against Pittsburgh.

Phillips has been a core special-teamer for the Ravens over the past two seasons. With the team primed to lose several linebackers and special teams regulars, he could be a guy the Ravens try to keep.

Verdict: Stays

Patrick Queen, ILB

Age: 24

2023 stats: Starting every game for a fourth straight year, Queen made a career-high 133 tackles to go with 3 1/2 sacks, an interception and six pass breakups.

This is simple economics. The Ravens love everything about Queen, the 2020 first-round pick. But there will likely be a cadre of teams willing and able to offer Queen far more money than Baltimore. It always seemed far-fetched that the Ravens would be able to keep Queen after they made Roquan Smith the highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL. Queen deserves what’s coming for him.

Verdict: Goes

John Simpson, G

Age: 26

2023 stats: Won the left guard job during training camp and started every game.

There’s a good number of veteran guards available, so it’s not out of the question that Simpson gets lost in the shuffle and returns on a modest deal. But the Ravens have younger and cheaper starting guard options on the roster.

Verdict: Goes

Geno Stone, S

Age: 24

2023 stats: Led the AFC with seven interceptions and added 68 tackles and nine pass breakups in 17 games (11 starts).

Stone will get a nice contract and a guaranteed starting job somewhere. He’s another guy the Ravens love and wish they could keep. But it’s unlikely they have the cap flexibility to invest good money in a No. 3 safety with Marcus Williams and Hamilton on the roster.

Verdict: Goes

Brent Urban, DL

Age: 32

2023 stats: Had a career-high three sacks and made 22 tackles in 17 games (three starts).

Urban loves being a Raven, and the team loves having the affable Canadian around. Unless the Ravens feel Rayshad Nichols is ready to crack the 53-man roster or they use an asset on an interior defensive lineman, re-signing Urban makes sense.

Verdict: Stays

Kyle Van Noy, OLB

Age: 32

2023 stats: Posted a career-high nine sacks in 14 games and had 30 tackles and two forced fumbles.

The Ravens probably aren’t getting another major discount with Van Noy, who thoroughly outperformed his one-year, $1.6 million deal. They figure to sign a veteran edge rusher at some point, but they’ve shown they are not afraid to wait. If Van Noy is still holding out for a new team later in the offseason, the chances increase that he’ll return.

Verdict: Goes

Daryl Worley, S

Age: 29

2023 stats: Played in 12 games (two starts) and registered 12 tackles.

Stone’s potential departure would create a need for a No. 3 safety. Worley probably wouldn’t cost much more than the veteran minimum.

Verdict: Stays

Rock Ya-Sin, CB

Age: 27

2023 stats: He broke up two passes and had 13 tackles in 14 games (one start).

DeCosta didn’t miss much last offseason, but the signing of Ya-Sin didn’t pan out. He hurt his knee in training camp and struggled to find his footing. Darby and Maulet are more likely to return.

Verdict: Goes

Kevin Zeitler, G

Age: Turns 34 Friday

2023 stats: Started 15 games at right guard, made first career Pro Bowl.

When the Ravens let Zeitler’s contract void last month, they added $4 million of dead money to their cap. To absorb that and give him a new contract weeks later seems like poor business. One of the best free-agent signings in team history, Zeitler has said he’d like to keep playing — and there should be a market for him.

Verdict: Goes

(Top photo of Geno Stone and Odell Beckham Jr.: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)