Justin Houston should be Ravens top target with Terrell Suggs leaving
The first wave of legal tampering didn’t go exactly the way the Ravens Flock may have hoped. Terrell Suggs is going to the Arizona Cardinals. Now, Justin Houston should be the Ravens top target:
The Baltimore Ravens either took Terrell Suggs for granted or he just got an offer he couldn’t refuse. One way or another, Suggs isn’t going to finish his career with the purple and black. Suggs is one of five key defensive players that the Ravens expect to lose through free agency. C.J. Mosley is all but out the door, re-signing Za’Darius Smith is unlikely, Eric Weddle is gone and Brent Urban could get away as well. The Ravens need to do something for a defense that has just been dramatically re-shaped. Justin Houston is a player the Ravens should target.
Houston would be the best possible replacement for Suggs. While it could never be the same as number 55, Houston would provide leadership and would be the main force off the edge for the Ravens. With Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams still unproven, and Smith on the way out, the Ravens have to add to the outside linebacker position.
Having a proven commodity on the edge is huge. It’s what the Ravens have had in Suggs for years and it is what has allowed players like Za’Darius Smith and Matt Judon to develop as budding stars. Without a proven star like Houston, the Ravens will have to hope Bowser or Williams can take a step up. The Ravens can address their pass rushing situation in the NFL Draft but they have a ton of needs, and free agency isn’t going all that well for them thus far.
Houston has had 18.5 sacks in the last two seasons while Suggs has racked up 18 in the same time frame. With their production being about even as of late, and Houston being six years younger, this would possibly end up being an upgrade for the Ravens. It’s never going to feel right seeing Suggs leave for another team, but the Ravens can’t sit there and feel sorry for themselves. They have to replace what Suggs brought to the table the best that they can.
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The Ravens made some moves to free some cap space. They don’t have a ton of cap room, but the Ravens have some money to work with. They are letting key players walk out the door and they have to spend their cap space on somebody. Houston would be the perfect free agency answer from Eric DeCosta.