Ravens tender West, four other restricted free agents

- Advertisement -

The Ravens have taken a big step toward keeping running back Terrance West for the 2017 season.
West, offensive linemen James Hurst and Ryan Jensen, wide receiver Michael Campanaro, and safety Marqueston Huff were all given original-round tenders on Tuesday, according to The Sun. All five of these restricted free agents are now scheduled to earn $1.797 million in 2017 if no other team attempts to sign them to an offer sheet. It remains unclear whether the Ravens will tender cornerback Jumal Rolle, their remaining restricted free agent.
Originally a 2014 third-round pick of the Cleveland Browns, West rushed for 774 yards and five touchdowns in his first full season with Baltimore. Another team signing West to an offer sheet would be forced to surrender its third-round pick to the Ravens if they elected not to match the offer, making it very likely that the former Towson University star will be staying put for 2017.
Signing Campanaro would require a seventh-round pick since that was the round in which he was drafted by the Ravens in 2014. Huff was originally a fourth-round pick of Tennessee and mostly saw action on special teams this past season, but Baltimore’s lack of depth at the safety position likely contributed to him receiving a tender.
Despite his well-documented struggles when pressed into starting duty over his first three seasons, Hurst does provide some depth at right tackle with starter Rick Wagner appearing likely to depart via free agency. Hurst was originally an undrafted free agent, meaning the Ravens only own a right of first refusal and would not receive compensation if they elected not to match an outside offer sheet.
Jensen was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2013 draft and started three games in 2016 before falling down the depth chart in the second half of the season.
It’s worth noting that restricted tenders are not guaranteed contracts as the Ravens could cut any of these players without consequence to the 2017 salary cap. Last March, Baltimore surprisingly gave the low tender to tight end Chase Ford — who never played a down with the Ravens — before cutting him only a month later. Such a scenario could play out with a player like Hurst or Huff if the Ravens added depth at their positions in the coming weeks.

- Advertisement -