After nearly two months of silence, we've finally heard something related to veteran defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and his pursuit of a deal with an NFL franchise, something he's been denied of late according to reports emerging on Monday.
Quite a seasoned player, Suh is still trying to find the proper opportunity for him in 2023, which seemingly only goes through signing with a contender that would allow him to re-enter the league in time to make a postseason run in January 2024.
Even though Suh has spent time of late with three different contenders, including the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has yet to sign a deal in 2023 to make his comeback after lifting the 2020 Super Bowl.
Speaking on UK Sky Sports in late October and as we reported here, Suh (serving as an NFL analyst for the broadcaster) revealed that the Baltimore Ravens had engaged in talks with him then, expressing interest in signing the experienced tackle. Suh said, "You never know. We’ll see when we get back to the States and get settled.”
The legend @terryfosterdet on Ndamukong Suh reaching out to the Detroit Lions about a potential reunion. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/WFGGCIBPFi
— Spencer Raxter (@Spenmorax) December 10, 2023
Now, according to Terry Foster (formerly of the Detroit News), we know that Suh himself approached another franchise, the Detroit Lions, to talk to them about a potential reunion Lions. That meeting, however, didn't go well for the veteran as the Lions "slammed the door shut," as retold by Terry Foster on his appearance at the Woodward Heavyweights podcast on Dec. 10.
Foster explained that the franchise's front office thinks Suh doesn't fit the current culture of the Lions, adding that they see Suh as a "me" persona and a little bit of an egocentric diva that could disrupt the locker room vibes.
Suh, for context, spent five seasons with the Lions before departing in March 2015 and after becoming the no. 2 overall pick of the 2010 draft made by Detroit more than a decade ago.
The veteran won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in his first year with the Lions while getting named to the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro first team then. He would get three more Pro Bowl calls in his tenure with the Lions as well as three namings to the All-Pro teams.
Suh signed a six-year, $114 million deal with the Miami Dolphins in 2015 but he departed Florida only three seasons after that as he was released by the franchise.
The Rams subsequently acquired him in 2018, but most notably Suh caught up and was part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' roster that secured victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at the end of the 2020 season led by GOAT Tom Brady.
With Suh's readiness to contribute and the refusal of Detroit to sign him, there is still a chance the Ravens try their luck and bring the veteran to Maryland to strengthen their line, one that is already dominating opposing teams in the league.
With just four games left in the regular season, the Ravens (leading the AFC all by themselves and legitimate contenders) could explore a potential one-year deal with Suh for the remainder of the season to bolster the line as the Bucs did back in 2020 on their way to winning the chip.
It's never too late to add a bonafide superstar veteran and the Ravens are masters of those transactions as their 2023 signings (Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Van Noy, etc...) have already more than proved this year.
The Ravens face a vulnerable Jaguars team this week and FanDuel Sportsbook is giving you a $150 bonus if Baltimore wins! Sign up, deposit at least $10 and bet $5 or more on the Ravens to win and you'll get $150 in bonus bets if they do. The clock is ticking, so sign up for FanDuel now!