Ravens free agency tracker 2023: Tight end Josh Oliver to Vikings, guard Ben Powers to Broncos
Welcome to the Ravens’ free-agency tracker, which will be updated throughout the offseason.
With the NFL’s new league year beginning Wednesday at 4 p.m., teams can officially announce signings and trades. Here’s a rundown of who the Ravens have agreed to sign, who they’ve lost and who’s still on the open market:
Free agent additions
Cornerback Trayvon Mullen: The 25-year-old cornerback — who was claimed off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys in January and is a cousin of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s — has agreed to a one-year deal, his agent Kevin Conner confirmed to NFL Network on Tuesday. No other terms were disclosed.
Mullen, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound corner who was the Defensive Most Valuable Player of the 2019 College Football Playoff national championship game, had 134 tackles, four interceptions and 28 passes defended in 37 games for the Raiders.
Free agent losses
Tight end Josh Oliver: The 25-year-old who spent the last two seasons in Baltimore and was one of team’s most improved players last season agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal with the Vikings on Monday, a source confirmed to The Baltimore Sun.
A third-round pick by the Jaguars in 2019 who was traded to the Ravens in March 2021, Oliver played in all 17 games last season, starting nine of them. In addition to being one of the league’s better blockers, he also caught 14 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
In return, the Ravens are in line to get a compensatory sixth-round draft pick in 2024, per a formula that takes into account a player’s average salary per year, playing time and awards. Compensatory picks won’t become official until next March.
With three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews and 2022 fourth-round picks Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar expected to feature more next season, Oliver became expendable for the Ravens given their lack of cap space.
Left guard Ben Powers: After surprisingly winning the starting job last season and grading out as one of the NFL’s best blocking guards, the 2019 fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma cashed in, agreeing to a four-year, $52 million deal with the Broncos, according to multiple reports.
The deal makes Powers one of the league’s highest paid players at the position for a Broncos team that is looking to rebound from a dismal 5-12 campaign last season.
It also became evident that the Ravens would be unlikely to afford the 26-year-old, with general manager Eric DeCosta admitting as much in January.
Baltimore is set up to get a compensatory fourth-round draft pick in 2024 after losing Powers. It also means their starting left guard job could be up for grabs this summer, with 2021 third-third pick Ben Cleveland having struggled with injuries and conditioning and restricted free agent Trystan Colon more natural at center.
Notable moves
- The Ravens applied the nonexclusive franchise tag to Lamar Jackson last week, keeping their star quarterback off the free agent market but giving him an opportunity to pursue a contract with another team. Baltimore will have five days to match any offer sheet Jackson signs, or they could let him walk and receive two first-round draft picks in exchange. The nonexclusive tag is about $32.4 million, and the move does not preclude the Ravens from signing Jackson, 26, to an extension before a July 17 deadline. It seems to indicate they are confident they could match any offer he receives from another team. Jackson is the eighth player in Ravens history to be franchise-tagged, and several of his predecessors, most recently outside linebacker Matthew Judon in 2020, have played full seasons under the tag. But the Ravens have never been in this position with a quarterback.
- The Ravens cut veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell on Monday, creating $7 million in cap savings. Though the 36-year-old defensive lineman announced last month that he would return for a 16th season in the league, the move was not a surprising one. Campbell, who was under contract for one more season, had a $9.4 million cap hit in 2023 and was scheduled to earn a $2 million roster bonus and $4.5 million in salary. He was one of the league’s most consistent defensive linemen last season and has long been a respected voice in the locker room.
Unrestricted free agents
Quarterback: Lamar Jackson
Running back: Kenyan Drake, Justice Hill
Wide receiver: Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson
Offensive line: Ja’Wuan James
Outside linebacker: Justin Houston, Jason Pierre-Paul, Steven Means, Vince Biegel
Cornerback: Marcus Peters, Kyle Fuller, Kevon Seymour, Daryl Worley
Restricted free agents
Quarterback: Tyler Huntley
Offensive line: Trystan Colon
Inside linebacker: Kristian Welch
Outside linebacker: Del’Shawn Phillips
Safety: Geno Stone
Long snapper: Nick Moore
Exclusive rights free agents
Safety: Ar’Darius Washington
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