Ranking the Baltimore Ravens unrestricted free agents in 3 tiers

Jan 10, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Matt Judon (99) celebrates after the AFC Wild Card playoff game win against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Matt Judon (99) celebrates after the AFC Wild Card playoff game win against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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Baltimore Ravens
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 16: Yannick Ngakoue #91 of the Baltimore Ravens runs on the field prior to an AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium on January 16, 2021, in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)

What should the Baltimore Ravens do with their unrestricted free agents? Let’s start with the top tier: Keeper tier

Yannick Ngakoue 

Ngakoue is a player that I’ve already written about as a player the Baltimore Ravens have to keep. The most common-sense way to build the pass rush is to retain the services of the former Maryland Terrapin. Ngakoue is a player in the prime of his career with a good track record for taking down quarterbacks.

The perfect world scenario sees the free agency haul including Ngakoue and Corey Davis. Even with the compensatory third-round pick that the Ravens got for losing David Culley to the Houston Texans, you don’t want to waste the pick that the Ravens gave away for Ngakoue.

Derek Wolfe 

Wolfe is a player that the Ravens should want to keep. Obviously, his price can always go outside of what the Ravens are going to be comfortable with. The Ravens do this a very particular way. They are going to let Wolfe test the market and hope to get him at their price.

Let’s talk about why you want to bring Wolfe back, Wolfe is a good blend of everything you want a defensive end to be in this type of defense. He’s not Aaron Donald but he’s going to push the pocket and get some sacks. He’s not Brandon Williams, but he’s going to stuff the run well.

One thing you’ll notice if you go back and watch the tape on this past season is that Wolfe didn’t get pushed around. This is a man who wins the battle in the trenches regularly. Whether he makes a play or not, he doesn’t make anything easy for the player(s) who are assigned with blocking him.

Wolfe is the kind of player that can be completely unnoticed and make an impact. Wolfe only had one sack in 2020, though that number could go up. He’s had four or more sacks in five out of nine seasons of his NFL career. He makes linebackers better and he helps win the line of scrimmage. Keep him.

Tyus Bowser 

The best part of Bowser’s game is that he can do it all. He can rush the passer, defend the run and pick off passes in coverage. Bowser is never going to be the next Terrell Suggs or Peter Boulware. Well, he’s not even going to be the next Yannick Ngakoue. His upside is becoming a player much more like Matt Judon. Because Bowser only has 10.5 career sacks he’s going to be a lot cheaper than Judon.

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