The Ravens have signed veteran defensive tackle Angelo Blackson, who saw consistent playing time with the Chicago Bears the past two seasons in their defensive line rotation.
The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Blackson had 22 tackles in 15 games with Chicago last year and played 42% of their defensive snaps. He posted a career-high 43 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2021. Blackson has made 42 starts in eight seasons.
"He's a big, physical, hard-playing, tough, rugged, defensive lineman," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "[He's] also another guy that really wanted to be here. He wanted to play for the Ravens [and] likes the way we play. So, we like that. He can help us."
A fourth-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2015, the 30-year-old Blackson has played for the Titans, Texans, Cardinals, and Bears. His defensive line coach in Houston was Anthony Weaver, who will now again coach him in Baltimore. Blackson also played with Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith the past two years.
"I have a great deal of respect for him," Smith said. "The guy runs to the ball, plays hard, so I'm excited just to be back out here with him, hang out with the guy, another familiar face. I know it's a great addition to our defense, and I think he's going to help us."
Blackson will join the Ravens at OTAs this week as their defensive line, led by Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Broderick Washington, Brent Urban and Travis Jones, begins to take shape. Veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell signed with the Falcons during free agency, leaving a bigger role for others to fill and Blackson could help.
