Justin Houston to Carolina; Will Baltimore Ravens Sign Veteran Pass Rusher?
Linebacker Justin Houston is officially off the market after signing with the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Houston spent the last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and led the team in sacks in 2022 with 9.5 despite being in a limited role. With Houston now out of the picture, Baltimore is expected to roll with its pair of young edge rushers, David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh.
Along with the Ojabo and Oweh, the Ravens also have linebacker Tyus Bowser and rookie Tavius Robinson who was taken in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
This is a young group that is full of promise but is also unproven, as Bowser is the only player who has registered more than five sacks in a season. Oweh, a former first-round pick, has recorded just eight sacks since being drafted in 2021, while Ojabo missed all but one game in 2022 recovering from an Achilles injury.
Adding depth to this group would be smart in case injuries occur or a player does not live up to expectations, but who should the Ravens target?
The Ravens recently met with free-agent pass rusher Kyle Van Noy and had a visit scheduled with Dawuane Smoot until he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Van Noy is still available and would provide great depth in Baltimore as he has experience as both an off-ball linebacker and an edge rusher.
The Ravens could also look to free agents Jadeveon Clowney and Robert Quinn.
Clowney is likely looking for a starting role and may be out of Baltimore's price range, but would provide a solid veteran presence if the two sides managed to come to an agreement.
Quinn is two years removed from recording 18.5 sacks with the Chicago Bears and while he only recorded one takedown last season, could flourish in a limited role with Baltimore.
You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.
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