Breaking: Ravens Beat Jets To $12.25 Million Edge Rusher Signature
The veteran pass-rushers Jakeeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy of the Baltimore Ravens will likely be re-signed in 2024 NFL free agency, if John Harbaugh gets his way. But after Clowney had a “outstanding” visit with the New York Jets, Harbaugh might not have the last say.
While Clowney and Van Noy are still available, Harbaugh admitted to reporters on Monday, March 25, that he has “been texting” both of them, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. In addition, Harbaugh told Hensley that he is “hopeful” the seasoned team will return.
Regarding Clowney’s odds of making it back to M&T Bank Stadium this season, the Ravens may only have hope. The Jets, and general manager Joe Douglas in particular, are more firmly optimistic.
When Clowney visited the Jets on Wednesday, March 20, the latter stated everything went according to plan. “I spent about an hour just talking to him in my office and getting to know him,” Douglas said to reporters. A really fruitful visit, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
In spite of Douglas’s admission that there is “no news to report” on an impending signing, the Ravens will probably need to act quickly to have Clowney resigned.
Ravens Should Beat Jets to Jadeveon Clowney’s Signature
A Ravens defense devoid of edge experience might benefit from keeping Clowney or Van Noy. It would be a coup to have both return after they contributed 18.5 of Baltimore’s 60 sacks, which led the league, in the previous campaign.
Leading the way was Clowney, who recorded 9.5 QB takedowns, which is a career-high total for a single season. The intricate pressure methods created by previous defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald are mostly responsible for the 31-year-old’s success rushing the passer, but Clowney also shown that he has enough left in the tank to prevail in one-on-one situations.
According to Pro Football Focus, that’s what he did 15.5% of the time in the first few games of his tenure with the Ravens.
Even while only rushing four, the usually blitz-happy Ravens could still put pressure on the pocket thanks to Clowney’s ability to outmuscle individual blockers. That’s what occurred in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Chargers when Clowney won off the edge for this sack and forced fumble.
It is plays like these that justify the Ravens’ victory over the Jets and Clowney’s signing. particularly given that the defense was completely destroyed by free agency and there aren’t many tested goods on the edge.
Ravens Need Veteran Help for Younger Pass-Rushers
In addition to Clowney and Van Noy still being unsigned, outside linebacker Tyus Bowser, 28, was released by the Ravens. Harbaugh and Zach Orr, the new defensive coordinator, will therefore be depending on the younger pass-rushers to make up the difference.
Among the interesting choices is Odafe Oweh, who in his third season tied a career-high total with five sacks. Oweh possesses the necessary raw talent, but he is inconsistent.
For another young edge-rusher, David Ojabo, it’s a different story; he just can’t seem to get onto the field. Nearly the whole of his debut season in 2022 was lost due to an Achilles tendon tear, and Ojabo’s comeback campaign was ruined in November by an ACL tear.
The Ravens are still depending on Ojabo to fulfill the kind of potential they saw as sufficient to warrant the use of a second-round pick in order to obtain him. Thankfully, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Harbaugh stated that Ojabo is “healthy and he expects him to break out this year.”
Ojabo, Oweh, and the re-signed free agent Malik Harrison provide the Ravens with alternatives at the edges of their front seven. Even yet, adding an established presence would make the pass-rush rotation appear much more formidable.
It makes reasonable that somebody would be familiar with both Clowney and the team and scheme.
