After end to season, roster talk heats up
With the Ravens’ shocking 28-12 loss to the sixth-seeded Tennessee Titans on Saturday night come questions about the soon-to-be status of multiple key free agents as the team enters its offseason.
As several players filled the team’s locker room Sunday morning to clean out the remainder of their lockers, they fielded questions about their disappointment with the previous night’s results and their future with the franchise.
Some, like impending unrestricted free agent Michael Pierce, said they would be interested in returning to the Ravens but knew the business side of the NFL would ultimately decide their fate.
The Ravens will have a little under $35 million in cap space this offseason, according to Spotrac, but have 17 impending unrestricted free agents. Here is a look at which Ravens players may stay or leave in free agency, as well as possible retirements and cap casualties.
Unrestricted free agents
Unrestricted free agents are free to sign with any team.
LB Josh Bynes; DT Justin Ellis; C Hroniss Grasu; OLB Matthew Judon; DB/ LB Anthony Levine Sr.; OLB Pernell McPhee; WRChris Moore; LB Patrick Onwuasor; DT Domata Peko; DT Michael Pierce; S Jordan Richards; WR Seth Roberts; T Andre Smith; CB Jimmy Smith; WRDe’Anthony Thomas; SS Brynden Trawick; DT Jihad Ward
Restricted free agents
Restricted free agents are eligible for “a qualifying offer,” a contract that other teams can match.
C Matt Skura
Exclusive rights free agents
Exclusive free agents are free agents who reach the end of their contract with less than three years of service time in the NFL. If the player’s team offers him a oneyear contract and the league minimum, they cannot negotiate with other teams.
G Randin Crecelius; RB Gus Edwards; G Parker Ehinger; S Fish Smithson
Team option
DB Brandon Carr: The Ravens can pick up Carr’s $4.5 million base salary and $1.5 million roster bonus in 2020 by March 18, or let him become a free agent. Carr has started 192 straight regular-season games over his 12-year career, the longest active streak among NFL defensive players.
Potential retirement
G Marshal Yanda: Questions regarding Yanda’s retirement have surfaced since he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the 2017 season. Yanda returned, however, and has played at a Pro Bowl level in the past two seasons. The 35-year-old refused to answer questions about his future after Saturday night’s loss, saying he would address it at a later time.