Ravens Release Tavon Young
The Baltimore Ravens released cornerback Tavon Young on Wednesday, a move that will free up additional cap space for the Ravens ahead of the start of NFL free agency.
Young, a Maryland native graduating from Potomac high school, was drafted by the Ravens in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Young’s six year tenure with the Ravens was marred by injuries that kept Young from putting together a consistent season.
Young played in all 16 games as a rookie in which he totaled 53 tackles to go along with two interceptions and eight passes defensed. But after a strong rookie campaign Young’s 2017 season would be cut short after tearing his ACL during offseason OTA’s.
Young returned in 2018 playing in 15 games, intercepting one pass while making 36 tackles. Young would sign a three-year extension worth $25.8 million that offseason, making him the highest paid nickel cornerback at the time. However, Young would be unable to play in 2019 after he was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury.
Young would return in 2020 but would once again have his season cut short after tearing his ACL in week two breaking up a pass against the Houston Texans. After missing nearly two seasons because of injury, Young would play in all 17 games for the Ravens in 2021. Young’s role this past season increased after the season ending injury to cornerback Marcus Peters. Young would finish 2021 with 34 tackles, three passes defensed, and one interception.
Young showed flashes when healthy that he could be an elite cornerback in the NFL, but the inability to stay on the field lead to the Ravens releasing the 28-year old. Young will hit the open market, but there will remain the possibility of a return to Baltimore for 2022.
