Ravens 2018 free agency: What you need to know
By Joe Schiller
Unrestricted free agents
Luke Bowanko, C
Brandon Boykin, CB
James Hurst, OG/OT
Ryan Jensen, C
Steven Johnson, ILB
Brent Urban, DE
Mike Wallace, WR
Benjamin Watson, TE
Terrance West, RB
With limited cap space, it’s hard to see the Ravens re-signing many of their unrestricted free agents. There’s just not enough cap room and the team has pressing needs at various other positions. This isn’t abnormal as Ozzie Newsome isn’t afraid to let players walk in free agency. The Ravens saw Rick Wagner and Kyle Juszczyk depart in free agency just last season. Other teams have more cap space and money always seems to talk over everything else.
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The Ravens’ top target on this list should be center Ryan Jensen. He had a solid season as the starting center and quickly became an important piece of the offensive line. Marty Mornhinweg and Greg Roman will continue to stress the run game next season and Jensen is a bully in that facet of the game. He’ll be highly pursued by other teams and the Ravens won’t be the highest bidder. If Jensen leaves, expect either Matt Skura, Alex Lewis or a rookie draft pick to be an option at center.
Restricted free agents
Exclusive-rights free agents
Quincy Adeboyejo, WR
Alex Collins, RB
Vince Mayle, TE
Patrick Onwuasor, ILB
Maurquice Shakir, OG
Matt Skura, OC/OG
Exclusive-rights free agents are players whose contracts have expired after just one or two seasons in the NFL. The Ravens can place a tender on these players and they can’t negotiate with other teams. This means they’re essentially under team control unless they chose to sit out and not play.
The Ravens have important players on this list. Running back Alex Collins came on the scene out of nowhere and rushed for 973 yards and six touchdowns in 2017. Patrick Onwuasor earned the starting spot next to C.J. Mosley and could be there again next season. Matt Skura was a key backup stepping in for a decimated offensive line while Quincy Adeboyejo will get a bigger role with the wide receiver talented limited on the roster.