Ebony Bird
FanSided

Baltimore Ravens Free Agency: 4 underrated defensive targets

By Billy Kosko

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 09: Carlos Dunlap #43 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on before the game against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC Wild Card game at Lumen Field on January 09, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 09: Carlos Dunlap #43 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on before the game against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC Wild Card game at Lumen Field on January 09, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

With Free Agency Frenzy underway for the Baltimore Ravens and the rest of the NFL, we take a look at four underrated defenders the Ravens could target.

Baltimore Ravens free agency has already begun! The Ravens brought in veteran guard Kevin Zeitler! What a fantastic way to start Ravens free agency.

I know that it is impossible to fill the void on our offensive line from Marshall Yanda retiring. But this move, especially for the price, is about as close as we are going to get right now.

With that being said, I found four potential targets for the Baltimore Ravens to help out the defensive side of things.

Malik Hooker, S

Malik Hooker was drafted 15th overall in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The Colts did not pick up his fifth-year option. I imagine they didn’t because health has been a major concern for him to start his career.

Even though health is a concern, he very capable of making an impact when healthy. From 2018 to 2019, he had seven career interceptions and 96 combined tackles. PFF actually has Hooker listed as the most underrated free agent at the safety position.

Joshua Reed recently wrote an article about how the Ravens’ defense could benefit from adding a third safety (and another slot corner in case Tavon Young can’t stay healthy). I have to say I wholeheartedly agree with him.

The best part? Because of the injury, Over the Cap has his valuation at $1.1 million. That means we could easily bring him on a one-year $2-3 million prove-it-deal. We have two starting safeties, so it is a risk worth taking.

Carlos Dunlap, DE

More from Ebony Bird

I am sure Ravens fans remember Dunlap from his days with the Bengals. Well, rumor has it that the Ravens are interested in him. And it could work. The Seahawks brought Dunlap in to help the defense last season.

In eight games for Seattle, Dunlap had five sacks and 14 quarterback hits. Matt Judon had six sacks the entire season. Personally, from a price standpoint, I’d rather bring in Dunlap than bring back Judon. He might end up being three-times less the price than what Judon is rumored to want.

From 2013 to 2019, Dunlap never had less than 7.5 sacks. If the price is right, which my estimate is around $6 million a year, then go ahead and bring him to Baltimore!

Duron Harmon, S

Duron Harmon is another potential candidate at safety for Ravens free agency. Harmon played for a terrible Lions defense in 2020. Even so, he posted a career-high 73 tackles and had two interceptions. I am sure he would love the idea of coming to the Baltimore Ravens’ defense.

Honestly, the last time I saw Harmon was in 2014. I don’t really watch a lot of Detriot Lions football. During our 2014 playoff run, we played the New England Patriots. Harmon was the one who hauled in the game-ending interception.

Harmon would be a solid third safety. He has 23 interceptions in his career (playoffs included). Now, Over the Cap has Harmon’s valuation a bit higher than Hooker’s at $6.6 million. However, there are a good number of free-agent safeties, so Harmon coming in at a reduced role may allow us to give him a cheaper contract. That’s if no one else tries to sign him, though.

Jordan Jenkins, OLB

Last season, the New York Jets signed Jordan Jenkins to a one-year deal at $3.75 million. He had a couple of sacks, 32 combined tackles, and six quarterback hits. Those are not the best numbers. However, in 2018, he had seven sacks. Then, in 2019, he had eight more sacks.

This could be a guy we bring in with a two-year deal at around $4-5 million a year. I feel like he would much rather play for us than the New York Jets. It would also be ideal because we are probably going to draft an edge rusher, but we don’t always like to start rookies. That would make it so Jenkins and this rookie could share snaps.

dark. Next. MDM: Baltimore Ravens take Rashod Bateman in latest 2021 NFL mock draft

He is surely not the best option at outside linebacker, but he may be a cheap player worth bringing in. I would much rather have Tyus Bowser back, but rumor has it that he may command up to $10 million a year in free agency. If we can afford it, great, but if not we have to look elsewhere in Ravens free agency.

Home/Ravens News