4 Ravens players likely playing their final game on Sunday

1. Brandon Williams, DT, Ravens

Calais Campbell isn’t the only veteran Ravens defensive lineman playing out the final days of his Ravens career. The same is probably true for nose tackle Brandon Williams as well.

Much like Jimmy Smith, Williams has spent his entire nine-year NFL career with the Ravens having signed a massive five-year, $52.5 million extension prior to the start of the 2017 season.

And while he’s never quite lived up to that contract, he’s still served as a valuable run-stuffing, block-eater in the middle of the Ravens defense for the better part of the last decade. That alone has to count for something.

Unfortunately, at 32-years-old, Williams has been a shell of his former self in 2021. The formerly dominant run-stopper has been a big reason why the Ravens’ run defense has been as inconsistent as it has been this season.

Williams’ 44.9 PFF grade is easily the worst of his career and ranks 110th out of 127 qualified interior defensive linemen. Prior to 2021, he had received a PFF grade below 70.0 just once, that coming in 2019 when he still graded out at a respectable 64.8.

With the veteran nose tackle set to hit free agency in the offseason, it’s hard to imagine the Ravens look to bring him back. They’re trying to get younger up front, and given how much Williams fell off in 2021, it’s difficult to envision a scenario where he returns in 2022.

Much like the others on this list, Williams has served the Ravens well. But father time waits for no one, and that much has been evident this season.

Sunday will very likely be the final game of Brandon Williams’ Ravens career.