Baltimore Ravens: What Tyus Bowser’s return means for free agency

The Ravens spent the better part of the last day and a half watching key members of their defensive front seven head for greener pastures, but perhaps the most integral piece in question has all but officially been locked in.

Tyus Bowser agreed in principle to a four-year, $22 million deal with the club on Wednesday, assuring at least one member of the pass rusher committee is here to stay.

Despite not blowing up the stat sheet in any particular category, Bowser is easily coming off his best year as a pro. His impact on the field is most felt in the versatility he brings to the table.

Not only does he bring pressure on the quarterback and help in the run game, but sometimes overlooked is the vast improvement he made as a coverage backer in the 2020 season.

Key moments this year like Bowser’s interception against the Browns in week 15, as well as the endzone interception against Pittsburgh during the Covid game (amongst other plays he made in that contest to keep things way closer than they probably should have been), could be just a small taste of what’s to come for the 25-year-old.

And that’s just it, Bowser is still only 25 years old. While his first three years in Baltimore certainly left a bit to be desired, there was still a steady trend of improvement over each season that culminated in him coming into his own in 2020.

At such a young age and coming off his best season to date, the Ravens may have locked in one of the truly budding defensive stars in this league, for a cap number that will certainly be looked at as a steal if that scenario comes to fruition.

According to reports, the deal is for four years, $22 million equals out to $5.5 million a year, with the potential to reach $6.75 million if all contract incentives are met. With the way we’ve seen even mid-level pass rushers being paid over the last few seasons, this financial figure may be the most enticing part of the signing for the Ravens.

After losing a handful of notable names since the beginning of the legal tampering period, it would be shocking if the Ravens relied solely on the draft to fill the holes still left in the front seven. For a team in win-now mode, there’s at least a small level of known production that you’d like to have heading into the new season.

The Bottom Line:

Bowser’s contract allows the Ravens the flexibility to pounce on someone who fits that mold if another veteran player on the market matches that “right player, right price” mantra.

Kevin Zeitler and Tyus Bowser both firmly fall into the category of “classic Ravens off-season moves”, and thanks to the financial expertise we’ve so often seen in this building, they likely aren’t done. Welcome back Tyus, the Ravens Flock is excited to have you back for 2021 and beyond.