The Ravens now have one of the best safety pairings in the league.
Baltimore has signed safety Tony Jefferson to a four-year deal, the club confirmed after free agency officially opened Thursday.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports it's a worth $36 million. NFL Media's Ian Rapoport tweeted that Jefferson left "money on the table from the Browns" to come to Baltimore.
It's a huge get for the Ravens, as Jefferson was one of the best free agents on the market and for sure the top safety.
The Ravens came into the offseason looking to dramatically improve their secondary, and this goes a long way in helping to do that. Jefferson was the sixth-highest graded safety in the NFL last year, per Pro Football Focus. Eric Weddle received the second-highest grade.
Jefferson, 25, is very strong against the run but also covers well. He excells at stopping the run and playing near the line of scrimmage, which would pair well with Weddle.
Jefferson hasn't yet built a reputation on making splash plays (two career interceptions, six forced fumbles), but he is extremely well rounded. He is also strong in coverage.
The 5-foot-11 Oklahoma product went undrafted in 2013. Now entering his fifth year, he is still on the ascent. Last season was his first as a full-time starter and he racked up 96 tackles, two sacks, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
It appears that Weddle may have played a role in recruiting Jefferson to Baltimore. Jefferson was taking questions from fans on Twitter on Feb. 20 when Weddle tweeted this:
