Ebony Bird
FanSided

4 free agents the Baltimore Ravens should not bring back

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 12: Wide receiver Seth Roberts #11 of the Baltimore Ravens and teammates running back Mark Ingram #21 and wide receiver Marquise Brown #15 celebrate Roberts' touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium on December 12, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 12: Wide receiver Seth Roberts #11 of the Baltimore Ravens and teammates running back Mark Ingram #21 and wide receiver Marquise Brown #15 celebrate Roberts' touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium on December 12, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 12: Defensive tackle Michael Pierce #97 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the New York Jets during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 12, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 12: Defensive tackle Michael Pierce #97 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the New York Jets during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 12, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /

1. Michael Pierce:

Hear me out here. The Ravens gave Brandon Williams a big five year contract in 2017. Michael Pierce has blossomed into a good run defending defensive tackle, what is basically what Williams is. The Ravens need more pass rush on the defensive line. If the Ravens have to upgrade the defensive line one way or another, they may as well go after another player on the defensive line. In my previous article, I listed interior pass rusher as the top need for the Ravens. This is something the Ravens have to consider addressing in free agency.

The Ravens get so little pass rush from the defensive line. Pierce is a good player, the Ravens just have to go in another direction. The Ravens showed that under the radar signings could help the defensive line from a run defense point of view. When you look at the money that the NFL is spending on the defensive line, the bulk of it is spent to get after the quarterback. Imagine if the Ravens could bring in a player like Chris Jones, Arik Armstead or Derrick Wolfe. It would provide similar value against the run and it would be an upgrade for the pass defense. This offseason, pass rush has to be the keyword in Baltimore this offseason.

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The Ravens have to improve the front seven of their defense. Instead of staying the same, they need to go after a different skill set on the defensive line. If the Ravens defense was more consistent against the run in 2019, and the defensive line was an impenetrable wall, it would be hard to make this argument. If the Ravens are going to spend money on the defensive line in free agency, let it be for some interior pass rush.

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