BALTIMORE — Asked about his newest teammate after Saturday night’s practice at M&T Bank Stadium, Ravens rookie first-round pick Odafe Oweh almost immediately cited how many sacks Justin Houston has piled up in his career.
The 32-year-old edge rusher’s experience and production — 97 1/2 sacks in 10 seasons with Kansas City and Indianapolis — prompted months of communication, negotiation, and recruitment before Houston agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $4 million with incentives on Saturday. Baltimore is hoping Houston can continue his streak of four straight years with at least eight sacks while also helping young edge rushers like Oweh reach their potential in the NFL.
The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Houston may no longer be the dominant force who made four straight Pro Bowls with the Chiefs from 2012-15, but seven seasons of eight or more sacks carry a great deal of clout when the rest of the outside linebackers on the roster have none among them after the offseason departures of Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue. His addition wouldn’t figure to alter defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s blitz-heavy style to any major degree, but the Ravens hope Houston can elevate both their 2021 pass-rushing floor and the long-term ceiling of Oweh and other young edge defenders.
“It’s an opportunity for me to learn from a guy that has 97 sacks. That’s always great,” Oweh said. “I’m learning from Calais [Campbell] every day, and now you just added another guy that has a history of just getting to the quarterback. I can use help [and] every angle I can get. We just added another nice outside linebacker, so I just see it as competition as well, but we got better.”
What Houston brings to the field in his 11th NFL season remains to be seen as multiple teams were interested in his services this offseason, but the Ravens have been quick to remind us that sacks tell only a part of a pass rusher’s story. Houston’s eight sacks for the Colts would have led Baltimore last season, but Pro Football Focus noted his 8.3% pressure rate on 388 pass-rushing snaps being the lowest mark of his career and his 32 total pressures also being his fewest since 2011 when discounting his injury-shortened 2016. For context, the 2011 third-round pick from Georgia recorded 60 total pressures, 11 sacks, and a pressure rate of just under 14% in 433 pass-rushing snaps for Indianapolis in 2019.
Houston graded 65th overall and 61st in pass rushing among qualified edge rushers last season, according to PFF. For what it’s worth, Tyus Bowser, Pernell McPhee, and Jaylon Ferguson all earned higher overall grades from the publication in 2020.
Head coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens will “have a role for him and he has a chance to really help us” with Houston likely to be a situational rusher on a pitch count in an attempt to maximize his effectiveness. However, the key to Baltimore’s pass rush in 2021 likely remains the short-term development of Oweh, who impressed with several pressures and ran down speedy quarterback Tyler Huntley on a scramble to the sideline during the stadium practice. Any wisdom Houston can share with the 6-foot-5, 251-pound rookie would be a major plus that wouldn’t show up on the stat sheet.
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“It’ll be interesting to see over the long haul what kind of career he has,” said Harbaugh about Oweh, who registered just seven sacks in 20 career games at Penn State. “But four days in, I think you try to form a first impression in terms of how does his skill set translate for any player — how does it translate from college to the NFL. The way he moves has translated very well in the first four days. I’m very excited about that, but also the way he works. He’s a very serious guy every day.”
The Ravens clearly did their homework on Houston, who’s close with cornerback Marcus Peters — who was heavily involved in the recruitment process — dating back to their days playing together in Kansas City. The reported price tag of $2.075 million plus incentives involves little risk, but months of dialogue reflect some caution about where the veteran outside linebacker is at this point of his career and Baltimore’s philosophy of not overpaying for pass rushers.
Houston’s career resume brings experience and credibility to the group and likely serves as a wake-up call for 2019 third-round pick Jaylon Ferguson, who may now find himself on the roster bubble. The Ravens are gambling on Houston having another good season left in the tank, but the hope is he can also be valuable influencing the likes of Oweh and 2021 fifth-round pick Daelin Hayes on the practice field and in meeting rooms.
“They’re a pretty young group, so to get another guy who has been around and done so many great things, it should help those guys quite a bit,” said Harbaugh, who also recognized the leadership of McPhee and Bowser. “Especially whether it’s football or just life or just having a long great career, all those things help.”
