The Ravens have 11 players set to become unrestricted free agents, and we will provide a breakdown for each of them heading into the start of the new league year on March 9.
Let's finish the series with defensive tackle Brandon Williams:
2016 stats: 16 starts, 51 tackles, one sack, one pass defensed
Overview
A third-round pick out of small-school Missouri Southern State in 2013, Williams has grown into one of the league's top run stoppers. He's a huge cog in the middle of Baltimore's defense, perfectly suited to take on double teams and free up the linebackers behind him. At the same time, Williams has the power and athleticism to make plays himself, including pushing the pocket to apply pressure on the quarterback. For all those reasons, Williams is one of the top free agents set to hit the market.
Why Ravens Should Keep Him
Baltimore's first priority on defense is to stop the run. That's what Williams does, and he does it very well. Since Williams became a starter in 2014, Baltimore has given up the third-fewest rushing yards (93.8 per game) in the NFL.* *He's still young at 28 years old, and could get even better with Pro Bowls in his future. Williams is not only effective on the field, but he is also a fan favorite off it thanks to a goofy personality.
Why Williams May Walk
Williams is going to make a lot of money this offseason, and some team could offer more than the Ravens. While Baltimore has been clear about its desire to retain Williams, the Ravens also have a good insurance policy if he leaves in the form of Michael Pierce, who showed a lot of promise as an undrafted rookie last season. Williams is now about to listen to offers from other teams during the "legal tampering" period before free agency officially opens.
