'Baltimore Is Always Home!' Will Geno Stone Re-Sign With Ravens?
The Baltimore Ravens defense was tied for the league lead in turnovers in 2023 with 31, and safety Geno Stone was among the best at taking the ball away.
Stone had a breakout campaign last season, as he led the Ravens and was second in the league with seven interceptions. With Stone set to become a free agent this offseason, he's poised to cash in as he's set to hit the market after his best season as a pro.
Geno Stone makes an interception vs. the Seattle Seahawks.
USA Today Sports
While Stone said he would like to stay in Baltimore, the former seventh-round pick also understands multiple factors will play into what uniform he puts on next season.
"At the end of the day, Baltimore is always home," Stone said on NFL Network. "But business is business...I just wanna be somewhere where I’m appreciated and who wants me to be a starter.”
The Ravens are strapped for cap space, as they only have just over $5 million and have other key free agents, including defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, who led the team with 13 sacks, linebacker Patrick Queen, who also just had the best season of his career, and veteran edge rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, who combined for 18.5 of the Ravens' league-leading 60 sacks.
Other factors that can make re-signing Stone difficult for Baltimore are it gave safety Marcus Williams a five-year $70 million deal in free agency in 2022, and Kyle Hamilton will be eligible for a new deal after next season. Having three big contracts at one position is far from ideal from a team-building aspect, though that won't be a problem until next season if all three remain on the roster.
The Ravens can save $7 million by designating Williams as a post-June 1st cut or $12 million by trading him after that day, according to OverTheCap. When healthy, Williams has been productive for Baltimore, though staying on the field has been difficult, as he's played in 21 regular season games in the last two seasons.
He had four interceptions and eight passes defended in 2022, and he didn't allow a single touchdown in 10 games, according to Pro Football Reference. Williams, 28, played much of the 2023 season with a torn pectoral muscle, as he finished the season with one interception and eight passes defended. When Williams was targeted in coverage, he allowed 24 catches on 37 targets for 322 yards, four touchdowns, plus a career-high 117.2 passer rating.
Stone, 24, allowed 28 catches on 44 targets for 350 yards and two touchdowns with a 63.8 passer rating in 17 games, according to Pro Football Reference.
Stone's future may come down to what the Ravens decide to do with Williams. If the Ravens see a higher upside with Stone because of his age and production, Williams may have played his final snap in Baltimore. But if the Ravens still believe in Williams, that could mean that Stone and other key free agents from the best defense in the NFL last season will be heading elsewhere this offseason.
