Free Agency: Ranking priority for Baltimore Ravens top free agents
4. Patrick Onwuasor:
Prior to 2019 Patrick Onwuasor was considered a player the Baltimore Ravens absolutely needed on their defense. Onwuasor, similarly to Anthony Levine, was a versatile chess piece that Baltimore could flex throughout their defense. Line him up in coverage or send him on a blitz, “Peanut” could do it all.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t quite the case in 2019. Sure, the box score looks fine, but the play on the field simply didn’t match up with what he gave the Ravens in 2018. Onwuasor simply underwhelmed in 2019 and was often overshadowed by guys like Josh Bynes and L.J. Fort, both of whom were added midseason. This creates an interesting scenario for Baltimore as now Onwuasor is a free agent.
Must Read. How do the Baltimore Ravens find themselves in Kansas City’s position next year?. light
The start of the conversation is how much do you pay him? Baltimore reportedly offered Onwuasor a contract extension prior to the season, but he declined and bet on himself to earn a higher wage. That backfired and now we’re back to square one.
The Ravens would love to keep Patrick Onwuasor around for the right price, but they could very easily be outbid. Players with Onwuasor’s skill set are hard to come by, and teams will be attracted to his upside.
As much as Baltimore would retain him, I simply don’t see a scenario where the two can agree to a team-friendly deal. Onwuasor will hit the open market and will find as home somewhere else in 2020.
Verdict: Let him walk