Will the Ravens add a veteran edge rusher before training camp?

The lack of action to this point may suggest not but the value at this point might be too good to pass up.

Actions speak louder than words and all of the Baltimore Ravens actions in this unusual offseason unlike any we’ve ever seen due to COVID-19 give every indication that they have the utmost faith and confidence in their current group of edge rushers to get the job done on the perimeter of the defense for the upcoming season.

The fact that they haven’t added a notable or big-name veteran outside linebacker in free agency, yet, and elected to not select one with any of their 10 draft selections on the position this past April would lead one to believe that they will ride with the group consisting of 2019 third-round pick Jaylon Ferguson heading into his second season, veteran Pernell McPhee who they resigned, 2017 second-round pick Tyus Bowser heading into the final year of his rookie season, franchise-tagged Pro Bowler Matthew Judon, and maybe an undrafted rookie that makes the cut like Chauncey Rivers out of Mississippi State.

However, even though General Manager Eric DeCosta’s action to this point have expressed sticking to the status quo and that he’s more focused on locking up some the team’s young cornerstone players up for a new contract in the near future like All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley and All-Pro corner Marlon Humphrey, he can’t help but notice the value on the veteran free-agent market at one of the thinnest and frankly lackluster position groups on the team outside of Judon.

While some might think I’m setting up for another sales pitch for the Ravens to make a run a signing former No.1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney, there are a trio of vets still waiting on the open market that has proven to be far more productive and a lot more consistent in the pass rush department than Clowney and they’ll come at a much lower price tag as well.

Former Minnesota Viking and four-time Pro Bowler Everson Griffen, former Green Bay Packer, Los Angeles Ram and six-time Pro Bowler Clay Matthews and former New York Giant and Arizona Cardinal Markus Golden remained unsigned and with players reporting to camp over the course of the next two weeks, any of them would be an ideal fit with the Ravens and could be had on reasonably priced deals.

Unlike Clowney who has never registered a double-digit sack season yet is still reportedly seeking a contract that pays him at or near top dollar pass rusher money, Griffen, Golden, and Matthews have recorded multiple seasons of 10 or more sacks and won’t command anywhere near top dollar even though skilled pass rushers are at a premium.

Not to neg on Clowney even more, but just for comparison’s sake, he recorded just three sacks in 13 games for the Seattle Seahawks last season, his lowest total since his rookie year, despite playing his natural 4-3 defensive end position full time for the first time since he was wreaking havoc for then Gamecocks at South Carolina. Both Griffen and Golden recorded more than double that woeful total and were available for more games. Matthews played the same amount of games as Clowney, broke his jaw during the season, returned to action, and still managed to post a respectable eight sacks last season.

In 15 regular-season games, Griffen recorded 8.5 sacks and added another sack and a half in the playoffs. Golden was able to shake the injury bug that plagued him the previous two seasons and became one of the lone bright spots on a pitiful Giants’ defense by playing in all 16 regular-season games and leading the team in sacks with 10—the second-highest total of his career—and registering a career-high 27 quarterback hits.

While DeCosta and company opted not to add to the edge rusher position so far this offseason, they did, however, reshaped and remodeled their defensive line with the additions of veteran athletic defensive linemen Calais Campbell via trade and signing Derek Wolfe in free agency. They also added versatile defensive tackle/end Justin Madubuike in the third round of the draft out of Texas A&M.

The hope and plan from the outside looking in is that the Ravens are banking on their much improved interior pass rusher taking some of the attention and onus off of their guys on the edge so that they can capitalize on more one on one opportunities and get to the quarterback quicker and more often. If all goes according to plan, it could mean big years for some of their guys on the edge who are in contract years and could price themselves out of Baltimore if they increase their sack production.

Aside from Ferguson and maybe Rivers if he makes the final 53, the Ravens have no players at the position under contract beyond the 2020 season with Judon, Bowser, McPhee, and even Jihad Ward who spends some time lined up on the edge in certain packages are all slated to be unrestricted free agents next offseason. That could leave them with a gaping hole at the position if some or all of them sign elsewhere.

If the Ravens were able to get either Griffin or Golden or Matthews to sign on short term deals through at least the 2021 season, it could buy them some more time to draft and develop some younger talent at the position and not be forced to put all their eggs into the Ferguson basket if he does indeed breakout in 2020 like he and the teams hopes he does.

Either Griffen or Golden player would be an ideal fit for the RUSH linebacker spot in the Ravens defense and Matthews versatility to both rush the passer and drop into coverage would make him an ideal backup for Judon at the SAM linebacker spot and a cheaper replacement or at least stop-gap starter if he winds up breaking the bank elsewhere in free agency after this year. All three of these vets could come right in and have an immediate impact as rotational pass rushers.

Since there haven’t been any physical offseason team activities like minicamp or OTAs (Organized Team Activities) due to the pandemic, the only thing that they’ve missed out on was virtual meetings. The only real challenge that any of them would face is signed this late in the game would be learning the playbook but since they all have at least five years of experience in the league under their belts, it shouldn’t be too steep of a learning curve.