Too often have the Baltimore Ravens seen above-average pass rushers walk in Free Agency, but can Matt Judon get paid and stay in Charm City after 2019?
The price for a player who can rush the passer at a high-level increases each year, with even above-average guys getting massive money. For the Baltimore Ravens, the team has seen plenty of these guys leave for big contracts before like Paul Kruger, Pernell McPhee, and most recently Za’Darius Smith. Following 2019, Matt Judon will be an unrestricted free agent and could very well leave the Ravens as well, but should the team let him walk?
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Unlike the guys we just mentioned, Judon has been steady and consistent throughout his time in Baltimore. His 19.0 sacks since 2016 have perhaps made him the Ravens steadiest edge rusher after Terrell Suggs, who left this off-season to join the Arizona Cardinals. In 2019, Baltimore will rely on Matt Judon more than ever before and it seems like a safe bet that he’ll deliver.
Even if Judon only meets his average of just over 6.0 sacks per season, it would still be in the team’s best interest to resign him. In all reality, the Ravens would like to have him signed long-term before the season starts, but it seems likely that he’ll bet on himself and wait. If he breaks the double-digit sack barrier, all bets are off.
Letting edge rushers like Matt Judon hit Free Agency is a risky game to play. It’s incredibly easy for a team with a lot of cap space to lure household names away from their teams with a fat paycheck, just ask C.J. Mosley. But, the most complicated aspect of resigning edge rushers, especially 3-4 players like Judon, is how to pay them. Let me explain…