The Baltimore Ravens have decisions to make on a number of free agents this offseason, but no decision is more important than the one regarding center Bradley Bozeman.
Bozeman is one of quite a few notable free agents the Ravens have set to hit the open market next month, and of them all, he’s probably the most important.
The Ravens obviously want Bozeman back, and by all accounts, Bozeman is very interested in a return. But oftentimes that isn’t enough to make a deal happen. Finances tend to get in the way.
So. in reality, the answer to the question posed in the article title is rather straightforward — yes, the Ravens should try to re-sign Bradley Bozeman. The real question comes down to the price point.
How much should the Ravens pay for Bradley Bozeman?
The Ravens have just under $10 in projected cap space entering the offseason, per Spotrac. They can create more space by releasing players such as Alejandro Villanueva and restructuring contracts of players like Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey.
Extending Lamar Jackson would also free up space, but no matter what moves they make, they aren’t going to be a team flush with money. That’s what makes the Bozeman situation so tricky.
Following a pair of average seasons as the team’s starting left guard in 2019 and 2020, Bozeman slid over to his natural center position and put together the best season of his career.
The 27-year-old finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of 73.3 that ranked 11th out of all qualified centers in the NFL. His 73.8 pass-block grade was top-five at his position.
Given how many holes the Ravens already have to fill on their offensive line, it’s crucial the team does everything they can to keep him this offseason. Doing so might be a problem, however.
Reports suggest that the two sides aren’t close at the moment, and that shouldn’t come as a surprise. In a relatively weak offensive line class, a player as young and durable as Bozeman should demand plenty of interest.
Bozeman could receive offers of over $10 million per season which is more than the Ravens can probably afford at this stage. Even if/when they make necessary roster moves, fitting him on their books will prove challenging.
Still, the Ravens must do everything they can to avoid letting Bozeman walk. If it takes paying more than they’d like and making other roster decisions a little more uncomfortable, then so be it.
Even if the Ravens offer as much as they realistically can, it’s far from a guarantee that Bozeman ultimately re-signs. Right now, it seems more likely that he’s playing elsewhere in 2022.
However, if Bradley Bozeman is willing to take a little less than market value, the Ravens might just be able to convince him to stay.
Verdict: Re-sign (hopefully)