After dominating the NFL with a 13-4 record, the Ravens are expected to lose a large number of players in free agency. The team was able to sign defensive tackle All-Pro Justin Madubuike to a four-year, $98 million contract extension, but other key contributors such as Odell Beckham Jr., Kevin Zeitler, Gus Edwards, JK Dobbins, Devin Duvernay, and John Simpson on offense, as well as Patrick Queen, Geno Stone, Ronald Darby, and Kyle Van Noy on defense, are still eligible for free agency.
While all of the players listed above are anticipated to leave Baltimore this offseason, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports that the Ravens and outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney are interested in continuing their partnership.
Clowney joined the Ravens midway through training camp on a one-year, $2.5 million contract. After having one of his greatest seasons since his time in Houston, Clowney is unlikely to play on another cheap contract.
Clowney finished second on the Ravens with 9.5 sacks in 2023, matching his career high of 2017. If Clowney can have a complete summer with the team, he should be able to avoid a letdown year in a scheme where he thrived, like he did in his second year in Cleveland.
If the Ravens re-sign Clowney, he will join a group of outside linebackers that includes Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, two players Baltimore has yet to see break out.
The team is still hoping to have Tyus Bower back after the veteran missed the entire 2023 season due to a knee ailment.
Tyus Bowser claims he is fully recovered from knee surgery and will return next season, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Bowser will be returning to a contract year, the final season of his four-year, $22 million contract. All of this assumes that the Ravens do not try to minimize his $7.5MM cap impact by $5.5MM by cutting him before his return.
The Ravens have some unproven, youthful assets at the position, but the team will likely hope to add playmakers such as Clowney, Bowser, and/or a potential new addition in the draft or free agency. As free agency begins this week, we’ll likely learn more of their plans for the position.
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