The new league year is officially underway, and that means the Ravens free agents are now on the open market.
The Ravens did not reach new deals with a number of their players, including safety Ed Reed, outside linebacker Paul Kruger, inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and cornerback Cary Williams before Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline. Now all of them are unrestricted free agents and are able to sign elsewhere.
The Ravens have 11 unrestricted free agents. In addition the Reed, Kruger, Ellerbe and Williams, the list also includes left tackle Bryant McKinnie, safety Sean Considine, defensive tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu, tight end Billy Bajema, cornerback Chris Johnson, defensive end Ryan McBean and linebacker Ricky Brown.Â
As free agents, they are able to talk, visit, negotiate and sign with any team around the league.
The Ravens had reportedly talked with Ellerbe and Reed about new contracts, but did not reach deals before Tuesday's deadline. They could still end up returning to the Ravens after testing the market, which is what linebacker Jameel McClain did last offseason and Ray Lewis did back in 2009.
Ellerbe and Reed have both said they want to come back to Baltimore. Kruger and Williams are both expected to get big paydays that will likely be out of the Ravens' price range.
In addition to the unrestricted free agents, the Ravens reportedly applied restricted free agent tenders to tight ends Dennis Pitta (second round) and Ed Dickson (original round), and Art Jones (second round). They will be back in Baltimore next season unless another team gives the Ravens a draft pick corresponding with the tender offer and makes the player a contract offer that the Ravens won't match.
Longer snapper Morgan Cox and wide receiver David Reed were scheduled to become restricted agents, but they both re-signed with Baltimore on two-year deals.
Offensive lineman Ramon Harewood was also scheduled to be a restricted free agent but he reportedly reached a one-year deal to avoid becoming a free agent.
