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Baltimore Ravens: 5 Players to Move On From in 2019

By Matthew Deinlein

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 26: Cornerback Jimmy Smith #22 and free safety Eric Weddle #32 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrate after a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium on October 26, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 26: Cornerback Jimmy Smith #22 and free safety Eric Weddle #32 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrate after a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium on October 26, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – NOVEMBER 04: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens throws the ball in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Why Joe Flacco isn’t on the list

Most fans want the Flacco era to end at the conclusion of the season, but that might not be the best move for the Ravens. If he is released in 2019, The Ravens will save 10.5 million, but if they release him in 2020, the Ravens save 20.25 million.

Not only do the Ravens get twice the money in 2020, but the free agent class is loaded with talent like Myles Jack, Jaylon Smith, Yannick Ngakue, Melvin Gordon, Tyreek Hill, Michael Thomas, Hunter Henry, Brandon Scherff, Russell Bodine, JC Tretter, and a lot more. Most of these players will get re-signed, but there will be stars that don’t. Jaylon Smith might not be able to get big money in Dallas with Dak also being a free agent and wanting big money. Another could be Michael Thomas, depending on how the Drew Brees-less Saints look.

Flacco could be useful for the first half of next season if Lamar Jackson isn’t ready, which is a very real possibility due to his issues with accuracy and having the lowest Wonderlic score by 8 points compared to the other starting quarterbacks in the NFL. If Lamar is ready to start, should he be thrown into the possible mess of an offense next year?

The Ravens won’t have John Harbaugh next year and his coaching staff could be gone with him. The same coaching staff that worked with a lot of successful dual-threat quarterbacks and was a huge talking point and advantage for Lamar Jackson coming to Baltimore. Could the Ravens use Joe Flacco to help iron out the offense and then when it’s ripe, put Lamar in to succeed?

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Flacco can stay for next year and be what Tom Savage and Mike Glennon were. A placeholder for the future of the team. It isn’t the nicest way to end things with him, but it’s the best way to make sure Lamar succeeds.

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