#1: He’s Old
It is no secret that as NFL players move into their 30’s, their bodies start to break down. Suggs, after playing 14 NFL seasons, is 34-years-old. He turns 35 on October 11.
As an outside linebacker, Suggs has stood the test of time, being productive whenever he has been on the field. He led the Ravens with eight sacks last season, and made the Pro Bowl as recently as 2014 when he registered 12 sacks.
Even though Suggs will probably still be productive in 2017, that does not change the fact that he is an aging player. Steelers pass rusher James Harrison will turn 39 as the ’17 season kicks off, but the Ravens have made it clear that they want to get younger.
One could argue that if Suggs is productive next season, the Ravens should keep him around, but it is hard to picture that the Ravens would keep a 35-year-old linebacker on the roster as they try to get younger.