Ravens CB Tavon Young ‘unlikely’ to return on his current deal
By Kristen Wong
The Baltimore Ravens will be looking to trim the fat off their roster in 2022 to create enough cap space to re-sign Lamar Jackson, as well as others. Cornerback Tavon Young could be one victim of the Ravens’ necessary cost-cutting moves.
The Ravens are projected to have a little under $9 million of salary cap space in 2022, according to Spotrac. That means the Ravens will be one of the many teams operating tight against the cap this offseason and will need to subtract before they can add.
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec examined 10 potential cap-saving moves the Ravens can make, which includes a few obvious candidates like offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva.
Zrebeic proposes that cornerback Tavon Young could also be a cap casualty unless he and the Ravens arrive at a new deal. Here’s why it could happen:
"“He played every game last year, but the Ravens monitored his snaps and time on the practice field closely. He played less than half of the defensive snaps in nine of 17 games in 2021. He essentially was a part-time player.”"
Tavon Young could be one of the Ravens’ unfortunate cap casualties in 2022
Depending on how the Ravens handle the other to-be-extended corners on the roster (namely Anthony Averett and Chris Westry), Young may end up being one of Baltimore’s most experienced cornerbacks.
He enjoyed a decent 2021 season with 35 total tackles, one interception, and two sacks but was, as Zrebeic points out, more or less a “part-time player.”
Young’s contract may currently exceed the value he brings to the team, and cutting him would save the Ravens $5.85 million in available cap.
There are other options the Ravens could take if they want to keep Young rostered; the most obvious being convincing the former fourth-round pick to take a pay cut. Zrebiec notes that the Ravens could also release Young and sign him later in the offseason at a reduced rate.
Next. 4 young Ravens players whose roster spots are in jeopardy. dark
All factors considered, Tavon Young seems unlikely to be back in Baltimore on his current deal. Whether the two sides agree to a different deal remains to be seen.