The Baltimore Ravens made quite a few additions this offseason both in free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft.
They signed the likes of Sammy Watkins and Kevin Zeitler while also adding players such as Rashod Bateman and Odafe Oweh in the draft.
While the existing core will, of course, be returning, you’ll see a number of new faces in the starting lineup.
However, they may not be done adding new players just yet.
The Ravens’ cap situation will need to be navigated before they could consider signing any additional players in free agency. Baltimore currently has just under $10 million in cap space, per Over the Cap.
That might be enough to add one of the players on this list, but they might need to restructure a deal or two if they want to make multiple signings.
As a whole, the Ravens’ roster is well-rounded with few weaknesses. The biggest roster hole is like at pass rusher following the losses of Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency.
The team did draft both Odafe Oweh and Daelin Hayes, but the overall depth chart is rather thin at the moment. The following list will be indicative of that.
Let’s take a look at four free agents who would instantly improve the Ravens’ roster.
4. The Ravens could sign Jermaine Eluemunor
This will be the only non-pass-rusher on this list, just as a fair warning. The Ravens hardly have a gaping hole on their offensive line, and the starting five seem pretty set.
Ronnie Stanley will return from injury and look to pick up where he left off. Third-round pick Ben Cleveland is the favorite to start at left guard while Bradley Bozeman slides over to center. Kevin Zeitler and Alejandro Villaneuva will man the right side of the line.
All five starting spots are set. But what about the depth behind them?
Baltimore’s interior depth is pretty strong with the likes of Ben Powers, Ben Bradeson, and Patrick Mekari serving as the primary backups. But they’re fairly thin at tackle.
The current swing tackle is Tyre Phillips, a fourth-round pick who struggled mightily when thrust into a starting role at guard last season. Phillips has guard/tackle versatility, but the Ravens could use an upgrade.
Jermaine Eluemunor is a veteran free agent who would likely serve as an upgrade over Phillips while giving the team a true swing tackle who could back up Stanley and Villanueva.
Eluemunor started eight games at right tackle for the New England Patriots last season, and he finished with a very respectable 68.0 Pro Football Focus grade — considerably better than Phillips’ 47.3 grade.
Like Phillips, Eluemunor has experience playing both guard and tackle and would provide much-needed tackle depth to the Ravens’ offensive line.
While not a pressing need, Jermaine Eluemunor would be a worthwhile addition for cheap.
3. The Ravens could sign Olivier Vernon
Now on to players who would actually play a featured role with the team, first we take a look at veteran pass rusher Olivier Vernon.
The Ravens’ options to add a pass rusher are growing thin with the most recent signing being Ryan Kerrigan who’s on his way to Philadelphia. But one player who remains a free agent is Vernon.
The 30-year-old has spent the last two seasons in Cleveland but will be looking for a new home in 2021. Vernon played in 14 games last season and racked up a whopping nine sacks — his most since 2013, his second year in the league.
Even at age 30, Vernon is still going strong. The only problem is that he’s coming off a torn Achilles and likely won’t be ready for Week 1.
Vernon tore his Achilles in Week 17 of last year and there is currently no definitive timetable for his return, which certainly complicates the matter.
But it’s hard to argue that a healthy Vernon wouldn’t be an upgrade over what the Ravens currently have.
Pernell McPhee still has some juice left in him, but he’s more of a rotational player at this point. Tyus Bowser is a good player who might still have his best years ahead of him, but he’s not an overly dynamic pass-rusher.
Meanwhile, Jaylon Ferguson has been a disappointment in Baltimore. The Ravens could use a veteran edge, and Vernon makes sense if the medicals check out.
2. The Ravens could sign Melvin Ingram
Another veteran pass rusher who the Ravens could consider signing is Melvin Ingram. Ingram has been one of the NFL’s best edge rushers for close to a decade now, but he finds himself in the twilight of his career.
That said, he’s certainly still an effective player.
While his stat sheet might not be indicative of it, Ingram remained a productive pass rusher last season despite failing to record a single sack in seven games.
The longtime Chargers edge rusher finished with a PFF grade of 72.3 which ranked 27th at his position. In fact, his 76.3 pass-rush grade actually ranked top-20 out of all edge defenders.
Ingram is still a good player, even if he isn’t the perennial Pro Bowler that he once was.
Adding Ingram would allow rookies like Odafe Oweh and Daelin Hayes the opportunity to grow into their roles in the defense. After all, Wink Martindale’s scheme notoriously asks a lot of its outside linebackers.
Ingram played in a 3-4 front for most of his career with the Chargers and should have no trouble adapting to Baltimore’s scheme.
If the Ravens want to add a veteran pass-rusher before the start of the season, they could do much worse than Melvin Ingram.
1. The Ravens could sign Justin Houston
Justin Houston and the Ravens seem like they’re meant to be at this point. Baltimore has been connected to the veteran edge rusher for months now, yet no deal has gotten done as of right now.
The Ravens hosted Houston on a visit last month, but the team was always going to wait until after the 2021 NFL Draft passed to avoid messing up the compensatory pick formula.
However, we’re now a few weeks removed from the draft, and there has still been no indication that a signing will get done.
Houston has spent the last two seasons in Indianapolis proving that, even past the age of 30, he’s still got it.
More from Ebony Bird
- Will Baltimore Ravens be rewarded for risky Lamar Jackson decision?
- The Baltimore Ravens Big Gamble
- Ravens Super Bowl odds present fascinating insight on Lamar Jackson’s future
- Should Baltimore Ravens be interested in this recently released WR
- Do the Baltimore Ravens have serious interest in this free agent wide out?
The longtime Kansas City Chiefs edge rusher has logged 19 sacks over the last two years serving as the Colts’ best pass rusher. And perhaps even more importantly, he’s remained incredibly durable.
Vernon is coming off a torn Achilles. Ingram missed more than half of last season with a knee injury.
Houston? He hasn’t missed a game in two years.
Rumors continue to swirl that the Ravens will look to add Houston and continue the reshaping of their pass rush rotation. And if signed, he’d easily become the team’s best player at the position.
Not only would he be a much-needed addition to the defense, but he could help mentor players like Oweh and Hayes who could learn a thing or two from the four-time Pro Bowler.
If the Ravens are going to sign any free agent, Justin Houston makes the most sense.