In an offseason where big names like Justin Madubuike and Jadeveon Clowney are on the market, the Baltimore Ravens may need to say goodbye to a terrific young safety in former seventh-round pick Geno Stone.
The Ravens might not be willing to give the breakout star a new contract despite leading the AFC in interceptions with seven. Teams with cap space, especially one rebuilding team in the AFC South with multiple very strong Ravens connections, could make for an attractive landing spot.
Dennard Wilson, who played a big role in the former seventh-round pick's rise to stardom, left his role as Ravens defensive backs coach to take the Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator job. That's not the only former Raven percolating around new head coach Brian Callahan's staff.
Anthony Levine, who spent nine years darting down the sidelines as an ace special teamer for the Ravens, was hired as an assistant special teams coach by the Titans in 2023 and was retained by Callahan. Stone had spoken very highly of the impact Levine had on him.
“I just had great vets around me really,” Stone said on NFL Network, “I had a guy, Anthony Levine, that was next to me every day and preaching what to do. I just kind of followed what he did. His lead. He was in the league for 12 years, so I had a guy like that to lean on...The guy that had been through the kind of same process I was going through and kind of just staying by his side and picking his brain each day."
Geno Stone on his upcoming free agency and status with the Ravens
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) February 21, 2024
“Baltimore is always home but business is business…I just want to be somewhere where I’m appreciated, who wants me, and for me to be a starter, wherever it may be” pic.twitter.com/aBJHoRG57G
Baltimore Ravens safety Geno Stone could sign with Titans
Following the NFL's insane salary cap rise that ballooned all the way to $255 million, the Titans are now fourth in the NFL in cap space with $87 million to play around with. After trading Kevin Byard and being faced with both Terrell Edmunds and K'Von Wallace hitting free agency, Tennessee has a hole at the position.
The Ravens will try to make a run at Stone, but Eric DeCosta needs to make sure he figures out what is going on with Madubuike first before trying to get Stone back as their third safety. The opportunity provided to him in Tennessee, where he could be a defensive cornerstone, could be very attractive.
Baltimore may offer him familiarity in that he will be with the same organization, but Tennessee could be a home away from home for Stone with Wilson and Levine on the staff. With a tremendous amount of money to spend, the Titans are a major threat to take Stone away from the Ravens.