6 pass rushers the Ravens could sign after the Vince Biegel injury
By Justin Fried
6. Ravens target: Pernell McPhee
Perhaps the Ravens could phone up an old friend given the bind the team is in. Pernell McPhee wasn’t re-signed this past offseason and the assumption by many was that this could be the end of McPhee’s 11-year career.
At 33 years old, McPhee is a shell of the player he used to be and saw his role diminish significantly last season. That said, he could still provide some much-needed insurance for the Ravens.
McPhee knows the system, having spent the last three seasons with the team (his second stint, of course), and is still a capable player who could fill a role as a situational veteran pass rusher.
There are more appealing options out there and it’s unclear if McPhee plans to play again, but if the Ravens are looking for a dirt-cheap veteran with experience in their system, they aren’t going to do better than McPhee.
5. Ravens target: Takkarist McKinley
A former first-round pick, Takkarist McKinley fell well short of expectations in Atlanta and was released prior to the expiration of his rookie contract in 2020. Since then, he’s looked to resurrect his career with his most recent stop coming in Cleveland.
McKinley was an effective player for the Browns last season, racking up 2.5 sacks and eight QB hits in 11 games. Unfortunately, he too tore his Achilles in late December and is still working his way back from said injury.
At just 26 years old, McKinley represents the player on this list with the most long-term upside. He may never be the player the Falcons drafted him to be, but the former UCLA star proved to be a more-than-capable rotational edge rusher last season.
Provided the medicals check out, McKinley should be high atop the Ravens’ list of potential targets.