Will Sunday be Suggs’ Last Home Game as a Raven?
Terrell Suggs has always been a life force to the Baltimore Ravens and their defense since coming into the NFL back in 2003. But with all the young Ravens talent behind Suggs on the roster, will he be expendable come the offseason?
Suggs is in his 15th season in the NFL (all with the Ravens) and is having one of his best seasons of his career. He was recently selected to his seventh Pro Bowl, and earlier today he was honored as the Team MVP for this season, his first in his career.
NFL fans and everyone in the media know that Suggs is the heart and soul for the Ravens and the city of Baltimore. He’s held the torch as team leader ever since Ray Lewis retired after the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII, but is his time up in Baltimore?
Suggs is currently in his second to last year of his current contract, and with talks about his age and the young players stepping up and impressing, there is a chance Suggs could be in a different uniform come 2018.
I know, it sounds crazy, but the Ravens did the same with other long term players, such as Ed Reed and Haloti Ngata.
Releasing or trading Suggs would open up around four million in cap space, which the Ravens desperately need. The upcoming free agent class for wide receivers is loaded with talented names such as Jarvis Landry and Terrelle Pryor, as well as current Ravens Mike Wallace and Michael Campanaro.
The Ravens made sure to start searching for Suggs’ replacement by drafting two outside linebackers this year in Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams. Although neither have had big rookie years, they have the skills to be a force down the road.
Another factor has been the emergence of Matthew Judon. The second year man out of Grand Valley State, a Division Two school, has been on another level all season. Judon has notched seven sacks on the season, and is currently tied for fourth all time in team history for tackles for loss in a single season with 16.
The Ravens could use this season as Suggs passing the torch to Judon, while he get shipped off as a free agent or in exchange of a draft pick.
Will this actually happen? Only time will tell. Suggs is 35 years old, he can retire any minute now. I highly doubt the Ravens would get rid of Suggs, he is showing he can still play at a high level, plus the outrage from fans would be way too much to handle.
No matter what happens with Suggs, just know the Ravens will bounce back quickly.
Outside Linebackers are the Ravens’ bread and butter. They develop players there better than anyone. Players such as Adalius Thomas, Bart Scott, and Paul Kruger became household names in Baltimore before signing big paydays somewhere else.
Regardless of how this will all play out, make sure you watch this game. Yes if the Ravens win they make the playoffs, but this could be the last time we see the number 55 in purple and black.
P.S. Make sure you have your textbooks ready, class will be in session at Ball So Hard University.
