The Baltimore Ravens will host veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy for a visit next week. The news was first reported by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
The insider reported on Friday, July 21 that the former Los Angeles Chargers ILB Kyle Van Noy, now a free agent entering the 2023 season, is slated to meet with the Ravens in the next few days to see if both parties can agree to a deal.
Veteran free agent Kyle Van Noy is visiting the #Ravens, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 21, 2023
Van Noy, 32, has some pass-rush juice from the linebacker spot with at least five sacks in each of the last four seasons.
The news emerged on the day in which Baltimore placed linebacker Tyus Bowser on the Non-Football Injury list, as well as on the heels of the announcement of Dawuane Smoot resigning with the Jacksonville Jaguars before his scheduled visit to the Ravens for next week, which he ditched in favor of staying put in Florida.
Later on Friday, Ryan Mink confirmed the news on the Baltimore Ravens' official website, adding that the visit could be the final hurdle toward signing Van Noy to fix the absence of Bowser and the whiff on landing Smoot.
The former has been experiencing some knee issues, and the Ravens would rather add some experience and warm bodies to their defense instead of gambling on it.
As Mink pointed out in his note, Van Noy is a world-renowned veteran at the position in the NFL, already 32 years old, but a rather "productive linebacker" with "extensive experience in multiple systems."
Van Noy is coming off a year spent with the Chargers in which he appeared in all 17 games racking up 46 tackles, five sacks, and nine quarterback hits. For comparison's shake, Smoot compiled 21 tackles and 12 quarterback hits with five sacks last season in Jacksonville through 15 games.
The Detroit Lions selected Kyle Van Noy with the 40th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played for the franchise for two seasons and a half before getting traded to the Patriots, where he had his best seasons playing at the peak of his talent and reaching his prime.
Since he left New England after the 2019 season, Van Noy has played for the Miami Dolphins, returned to the Patriots for a campaign, and lastly played in Los Angeles for the Chargers in 2022.
Van Noy has played 16 and 17 games in the last two years racking up 112 total tackles, 16 quarterback hits, and 10 sacks. He's reached five or more sacks in the last four years without failing at it, and also in five of the last six campaigns.
Veteran linebacker Van Noy would be an extraordinary addition to the Ravens' defense, probably even better than Smoot's would have been.