Free Agency: The Ravens Should Not Sign Rey Maualuga

Could recently released linebacker Rey Maualuga be the answer to the hole in the middle of the Ravens defense? I am here to tell you that he’s not

With the 2017 season vastly approaching, the Baltimore Ravens have still not addressed the linebacker position. Stand out Pro Bowler C.J. Mosely is set to anchor the defense, but there is an open hole next to him. Second team All-Pro Zachary Orr was forced into an early retirement this offseason. A very serious spinal cord injury ended the career of a talented up and coming linebacker. This has left the Ravens in a tough position.

Looking at the depth chart, the next man up would be Kamalei Correa. Correa, a second round pick last year, had a disappointing  rookie season. His play style seems to fit more of a push rusher than a middle linebacker. Behind Correa is Patrick Onwuasor, Brennen Beyer, and Cavellis Luckett. The three have started a combined one game. If you are the Ravens, that does not give you much confidence.

Could there be other options in free agency? Yesterday the Cincinnati Bengals released middle linebacker Rey Maualuga. The move was expected to come after the Bengals signed Kevin Minter.

Coming out of college, Maualuga was a big prospect. He was an All-American on a very good USC team. He was drafted by the Bengals and has spent his entire career with them, racking up 353 tackles at the middle linebacker position. In 2015 he signed a three year, $15 million contract extension but after a down season last year, the Bengals decided to move on.

A Struggling Talent

As intriguing as it would be to sign Maualuga, it is not something the Ravens should do. There is a reason that the Bengals cut him and brought in a replacement. Last season he only started in six games and struggled with injury. In early November, Pro Football Focus ranked Maualuga as one of the worst linebackers in the league. He was part of a 6-9-1 Bengals team that gave up 113.2 rushing yards per game last season. His inability to cover the pass is something that Zach Orr was able to do very well. The pass is an area where the Ravens struggled last season, especially in the middle of the field.

There is no doubt that the Ravens are looking for a middle linebacker, but there is no need to be desperate. I think there are other teams in much worse positions who will try to overpay Maualuga. According to Spotrac.com, he is valued very similar to former Raven Daryl Smith at around $1.2-1.3 million a year. Obviously this is just an evaluation and he is much younger, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him get more money. Going after a guy who only played in 30% of the defense is not a formula for success. It is better for the Ravens to hold off and see what they can find in-house and in the draft.