Despite the NFL opening the franchise tag window on Tuesday, the Ravens aren’t expected to use it after tagging two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson two years ago and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike last March.
However, it’s a reminder that the new league year is rapidly approaching.
The NFL hasn’t yet officially set the 2025 salary cap, but Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta will need to create more flexibility to reshape a roster with clear championship aspirations.
Using a projected salary cap of $272.5 million — which would mark a $17.1 million increase from last year’s limit — for the 2025 season, OverTheCap.com estimates Baltimore to have just under $6 million in space, which ranks 22nd in the league as of Feb. 18. On the bright side, that’s still more space than conference champion Kansas City or fellow AFC contender Buffalo at the moment.
In evaluating potential cuts, we must remember the rule of 51 as only the top 51 cap numbers on the roster count against the cap from the start of the new league year on March 12 until the opening of the regular season. In other words, the savings created from any release or trade is offset in part by the next player moving into the top 51. For example, if a released player set to make $3 million is replaced in the top 51 by someone carrying a $900,000 salary, the end result is $2.1 million in net savings on the salary cap.
Of course, there’s always the danger of creating new roster holes in addition to the ones that are already present. No matter how attractive cap savings are in March, every move has potential on-field consequences come the fall.
Below is a list of candidates for a release, contract adjustment, or trade for salary cap purposes with the savings listed in parentheses:
K Justin Tucker ($4.2 million after June 1)
Skinny: Acknowledging the seriousness of allegations of Tucker’s inappropriate sexual behavior that have come from a total of 16 massage therapists in the Baltimore area, we still don’t know where the seven-time Pro Bowl kicker stands with the Ravens as they’ve been silent since issuing a Jan. 30 statement saying they “take any allegations of this nature seriously and will continue to monitor the situation.” It’s no secret the 35-year-old was having the worst season of his career before coming out of the Week 14 bye making all five of his field goal tries and all 23 extra points to conclude the regular season and playoffs on a positive note. But given the potential range of fallout from these allegations and any lingering doubt about Tucker’s 2024 on-field performance, the organization may choose to release Tucker with a post-June 1 designation being the best option from a cap standpoint.
S Marcus Williams ($2.1 million saved after June 1)
Skinny: Williams’ release was a foregone conclusion from the moment he was benched in mid-November, but the 28-year-old was amenable to a late-season contract restructure that created immediate 2025 savings rather than forcing the organization to carry an extra $9.9 million on the salary cap until after June 1. Such cooperation from Williams — who was never going to see that money anyway — eased some of the fallout from what turned out to be one of DeCosta’s worst free-agent signings since he succeeded Ozzie Newsome as general manager in 2019.
CB Arthur Maulet ($2.25 million)
Skinny: A rock-solid 2023 season prompted Baltimore to re-sign Maulet to a two-year, $4 million contract last March, but August knee surgery and multiple injuries limited the slot corner to just three games. And with Marlon Humphrey having an All-Pro season seeing his most extensive time in the slot since 2020, that scheduled $2.25 million salary for Maulet would be better allocated elsewhere than hoping a backup entering his age-32 season will rebound from multiple leg injuries. A pay cut appears in order at the very least.
NT Michael Pierce ($2 million after June 1)
Skinny: Though Pierce missed six weeks with a calf injury that landed him on injured reserve in late October, releasing the 32-year-old — who still played at a quality level when healthy — without a post-June 1 designation would save just $667,000. In other words, the veteran seems likely to return unless he intends to retire or the Ravens add an impact defensive linemen or two in April’s draft, which would prompt a longer look at the 2025 depth chart.
DT Broderick Washington ($2.75 million after June 1)
Skinny: The 28-year-old’s play hasn’t matched what the Ravens envisioned when signing him to a three-year, $15.75 million extension in the 2023 preseason, but saving $900,000 with a release lacking a post-June 1 designation hardly seems worth it. But much like Pierce, Washington could find himself vulnerable at the end of the preseason if the Ravens draft a defensive lineman or two this spring.
TE Mark Andrews ($11 million)
Skinny: After allowing frustrations to calm over the last month, it should be obvious that the Ravens aren’t about to release their three-time Pro Bowl tight end despite his disastrous playoff performance against Buffalo. That said, talented understudy Isaiah Likely — who’s 4 1/2 years younger — is also entering a contract year, and we’re talking about a front office that still tries to justify trading Anquan Boldin more than a decade later. In other words, no matter how much the organization loves Andrews, not being open to the possibility of a trade that could fetch a good return and create substantial cap space would be naïve. Or the Ravens could go in the opposite direction and extend someone entering his age-30 season, which would lower a 2025 cap number that’s just under $17 million.
