Ravens: Marcus Peters helped recruit Justin Houston to Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens defense got that much better following the addition of Justin Houston a little over a week ago. And it seems as though Houston’s arrival was partially spurred on by the recruitment of one Marcus Peters.

Peters and Houston were teammates with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2015 to 2017, and the two grew quite close during their time together. So close that Peters immediately reached out to Houston this offseason.

The two-time All-Pro cornerback wanted Houston to join him in Baltimore, something that eventually did come to fruition.

It took a few months for things to come together, but Peters and Houston are once again teammates. And their relationship might have factored into Houston’s decision.

Marcus Peters recruited Justin Houston to join the Ravens.

Houston recently explained how Peters contacted him shortly after the 2020 season ended.

"“Well, Marcus Peters called me as soon as the season was over with, and he was like, ‘What are you doing, man? Where are you going? Man, come to Baltimore. I need you here.’ So, I was talking to him, then the Ravens hit my agent up. I came in on a visit, and they were just explaining the scheme and we were walking through it, and they were showing me all the good stuff about it; I fell in love with it. I kind of knew I wanted to be here when I saw that.”"

Peters spoke highly of the Ravens’ culture and it didn’t take long for Houston to fall in love with the team’s defensive scheme.

The 32-year-old visited the team in April, but it took over three months for the two sides to reach an agreement. That’s because the Ravens weren’t his only suitors.

Of his numerous teams interested, the Pittsburgh Steelers offered him perhaps the largest contract. But Houston turned down more money from the Steelers to join their AFC North rivals.

He liked the fit in Baltimore, and it certainly didn’t hurt that he had a friend in Peters waiting for him upon his arrival.

Head coach John Harbaugh spoke about the relationship between Houston and Peters.

"“A number of players, Marcus Peters and he are very close. I know Marcus has been working on him to get him here for a while. Even in the last couple of days, Marcus made a couple visits over my way to make a couple calls.”"

The Ravens are hoping to see both Houston and Peters play key roles in the team’s defense in 2021.

The band is back together in Baltimore. Let the reunion tour commence.