Without Ezekiel Ansah, where can Baltimore Ravens look for pass-rush help?
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh talks with general manager Eric DeCosta during rookie camp in Owings Mills, Md. on May 4, 2019 Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
By Aaron Kasinitz | akasinitz@pennlive.com
The most prominent, productive edge rusher remaining on the free agent market agreed to sign with the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday night, about two weeks after he visited Baltimore.
It's easy to see why the Ravens didn't chuck a bundle of cash at Ezekiel Ansah. The former Lions Pro Bowler has a shoulder injury that could keep him sidelined through the first month of the 2019 season, according to reports, and a desperate free agent splash would've gone against Baltimore's offseason plan of generating future financial flexibility and building a core that can grow together.
It's just as easy, though, to surmise that the Ravens are discontent with their lack of established depth at outside linebacker. And the opportunities to make meaningful additions are drying up.
Nick Perry, whom the Green Bay Packers released in March, is still available. The 29-year-old battled injury troubles in recent season after piling up 11 sacks in 2016, and he's spent his career rushing off the edge in a 3-4 scheme.
And now that signings won't count toward the compensatory pick formula, Baltimore has reason to consider bringing younger pass rushers like ex-Bronco Shane Ray and ex-Jet Kevin Pierre-Louis into the fold.
But perhaps the news of Ansah joining Seattle will force Ravens fans to more seriously ponder the viability of Baltimore's in-house options. Matt Judon's a bona fide starter entering his fourth NFL season and NCAA FBS all-time sacks leader Jaylon Ferguson arrives as a polished third-round rookie. Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams, as they have all offseason, remain the largest variables.
The Ravens took Bowser in the second round of the 2017 draft and scooped Williams a round later, but neither has played well enough through two NFL seasons to drum up much confidence. They combined for 2.5 sacks last year.
A handful of available free agents — Perry, Ray and Pierre-Louis included — have been more productive in the NFL than Bowser and Williams. Still, the two rising third-year players have familiarity in Baltimore's system and remain on cheap rookie deals for the next two years.
Bowser might be in line to start if the Ravens don't sign another pass rusher, while Williams will need to impress in training camp to secure a role as a rotation rusher. Things would be a lot simpler for the Ravens if one of those two outside linebackers emerged as a steady contributor in 2019.
At this point, it's hard for the Ravens to trust that. So the team will continue surveying the free agent market, and fans can keep clamoring for pass-rushing help.
Baltimore dumped resources into its secondary this offseason, while watching outside linebackers Za'Darius Smith and Terrell Suggs depart in free agency. The Ravens' choice to invest in a top-tier defensive backfield might help ease the concerns of coaches and executives about an uninspiring group of pass rushers. Strong coverage is another way to bother an opposing quarterback.
Nevertheless, the Ravens have just one outside linebacker on the roster with more than three career sacks — and with Ansah off the market, there's no recent Pro Bowler twiddling his thumbs and waiting for Baltimore to make an offer.
-- @AaronKazreports