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Sizing up the Ravens’ 2025 class of free agents

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The start of free agency is just six weeks away as the Ravens reflect on a disappointing finish to their 2024 season and ponder how to finally get over the hump next January.

Teams are still waiting for the NFL to set the 2025 salary cap, which could eclipse $270 million after it sat at $255.4 million this past season. For what it’s worth, OverTheCap.com projects Baltimore to have just under $6 million in space based on an estimated $272.5 million cap for the 2025 campaign.

In other words, general manager Eric DeCosta will need to create considerable cap flexibility by extending, restructuring, or terminating the contracts of select veterans. Teams must be in compliance with the 2025 salary cap by the start of the new league year on March 12.

A look back at last year reminds that most of the Ravens’ 2024 free-agent class didn’t return, which is just the nature of the business in the NFL.

Below is a look at Baltimore’s 2025 class of free agents:

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

The Ravens will have the opportunity to extend any of the following unrestricted free agents before they’re permitted to officially sign with any team beginning March 12 at 4 p.m.

WR Nelson AgholorEven the Week 18 knee injury to Zay Flowers didn’t reverse Agholor’s diminished role down the stretch. That reality coupled with no presence on special teams would appear to make a return unlikely for someone who turns 32 in May.

ILB Chris BoardAfter being voted the special-teams captain for the postseason and emerging as part of a platoon that replaced struggling second-year inside linebacker Trenton Simpson after the bye, Board, 29, returning on a team-friendly deal would make plenty of sense.

G Ben ClevelandDespite being tabbed as an annual favorite to earn a starting guard job, the 2021 third-round pick out of Georgia started a total of seven games over four seasons. At this point, you wouldn’t expect either side to have much interest in continuing the relationship.

LB Malik Harrison A special-teams mainstay who logged a career-high 372 defensive snaps, Harrison plays every linebacker spot and carries the value and versatility to warrant a modest extension. However, the 2020 third-round pick may draw more interest than he did last offseason.

WR/RS Deonte HartyThe former Archbishop Curley star appeared in just five games and dealt with injuries throughout his first year with the Ravens. Harty, 27, would’t appear likely to return as Baltimore aims for more stability and production at punt returner in 2025.

WR Diontae Johnson After a disastrous stint with the Ravens and a similar fate with Houston, Johnson was claimed off waivers to prevent him from joining another playoff team and leave open the possibility for a compensatory pick. Four teams have parted with Johnson over the last calendar year.

QB Josh JohnsonHe’ll be 39, but Josh Johnson is inexpensive and trustworthy for a team that doesn’t have the cap room to invest much in Lamar Jackson’s backup. Johnson’s status may depend on how Baltimore feels about former sixth-round pick Devin Leary, who spent 2024 on the practice squad.

OL Josh Jones The remarkable health of the offensive line led to Jones logging only 46 regular-season offensive snaps, but his ability to play multiple spots made him attractive to the Ravens last March and could warrant a return. You wouldn’t expect too much of a market for the 27-year-old.

OL Patrick MekariThe versatile 27-year-old found a home at left guard and started all 17 games for the first time in his career. Ideally, Baltimore would re-sign Mekari with designs of possibly returning him to the valuable sixth lineman role, but he could be in higher demand after playing so extensively.

CB Trayvon MullenA former offseason name of interest as a younger cousin of Jackson, Mullen has missed the last two years with season-ending injuries and may have run out of time to make any kind of an impression. That said, he’s still only 27 and a 2019 second-round pick.

FB Patrick RicardA former undrafted defensive lineman who developed into a five-time Pro Bowl selection, Ricard is one of the best development stories in team history and remains a great blocker. But he’ll be 31, so you wonder if the Ravens will offer the same $4 million salary that he made in 2024.

WR Steven SimsA late-season waiver claim who finished out the campaign as the primary punt returner, Sims didn’t perform well enough to expect him to be any kind of a priority to re-sign. That said, he could always return on a minimum non-guaranteed deal to compete for a roster spot.

OT Ronnie StanleyThe longtime left tackle is easily the most difficult free-agent call coming off the healthiest season of his career. Do you run the risk of losing your left tackle to a higher bidder or committing too much new money to one who turns 31 in March and carries an extensive injury history?

CB Brandon StephensDeCosta all but confirmed Stephens will hit the market after a disappointing contract year, so you wouldn’t expect him to be back. Still, the 2021 third-round pick developed into a versatile secondary piece over the last few seasons and figures to be valued somewhere.

DE Brent UrbanThe 2014 fourth-round pick has lasted more than a decade in the NFL and remained a nice rotational piece on the defensive line. However, Urban will turn 34 in May, and the Ravens need to start thinking about getting younger with their defensive line depth at some point.

WR Tylan WallaceA top special-teams contributor who showed growth as a reserve wide receiver in his fourth season, Wallace is the kind of depth piece Baltimore typically tries to re-sign on the cheap. He’s also shown ability to step up in crucial spots such as his catch on the final drive in Buffalo.

ILB Kristian WelchThe reserve linebacker returned to the Ravens in mid-October and became a regular on special teams over the second half of the season. Whether he returns might depend on the status of fellow backup linebackers such as Harrison and Board.

CB Tre’Davious WhiteThought to be the lesser of Baltimore’s two deadline trades, White provided much more than Diontae Johnson and averaged just over 20 snaps per game playing in sub packages. At the right price, his return could really pay off being another year removed from his injuries in Buffalo.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

The following players have accrued three years of service and have expiring contracts. The Ravens can tender each with a restricted free-agent offer, but other teams may then sign that player to an offer sheet. If that occurs, Baltimore has the right to match the offer and keep the aforementioned player. If the Ravens elect not to match, they would receive compensation based on which restricted tender they offered that player.

There are three different tenders that can be made: a first-round tender (a projected $7.279 million in 2025) would award the competing team’s first-round selection, a second-round tender ($5.217 million in 2025) would fetch the competing team’s second-round pick, and a low tender ($3.185 million in 2025) would bring the competing team’s draft choice equal to the round in which the player was originally drafted. For example, a restricted free agent selected in the fifth round would be worth a fifth-round pick if given the low tender. If a player originally went undrafted and is given the low tender, the Ravens would simply hold the right to match the competing offer sheet and would not receive any draft compensation if they chose not to.

With unheralded restricted free agents, the Ravens usually forgo a tender and may attempt to re-sign them at cheaper rates.

The original round in which each player was drafted is noted in parentheses:

S Ar’Darius Washington (undrafted)After stepping up to become a legitimate starter at a time of real need for the defense, Washington would probably receive the second-round tender at a minimum. However, a multiyear extension would offer him some security and the organization more cap flexibility.

CB Christian Matthew (undrafted)The 28-year-old spent the season on injured reserve, but he was never in real consideration for a roster spot, meaning he certainly won’t receive a restricted tender. A minimum non-guaranteed contract to compete for a practice-squad job isn’t out of the question.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

These players have less than three years of accrued service and can be tendered a contract for the league minimum based on their length of service in the league. If tendered, these players are not free to negotiate with other teams. The Ravens tender most exclusive-rights free agents with the idea that there’s nothing promised beyond the opportunity to compete for a roster spot. Exclusive-rights tenders are not guaranteed, meaning a player can be cut at any point without consequence to the salary cap.

RB Owen WrightOn track to make the 53-man roster before a broken foot landed him on IR in late August, Wright figures to be tendered and given a chance to compete this summer. But winning a job won’t be easy with Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, and Keaton Mitchell topping Baltimore’s depth chart.

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