A player with Anthony Levine's versatility can be difficult to replace, but the Ravens are keeping him in the fold.
Levine has agreed to terms with the Ravens on a one-year deal, the team officially announced. Levine has played safety and linebacker while making his mark as a valuable special teams captain during his eight seasons with the Ravens. One of his highlights last season came in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins when he ran 60 yards on a fake punt.
Not only has Levine been versatile, he has been durable, never missing a game since 2012. The longer Levine has been with the Ravens, the more roles he has assumed. He has always excelled on special teams, but he has also been used as an extra safety or linebacker in passing situations, giving Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale more options in coverage. Levine has been effective both in coverage and as a blitzer, with a career-high three sacks in 2017. Last season, Levine was not used as frequently in the secondary after the Ravens traded for Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters, but Levine still finished with 14 tackles while remaining one of the team's locker room leaders.
The 32-year-old Levine was an undrafted free agent in 2010 and was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers. After spending two years on the Packers' practice squad, Levine joined the Ravens where he carved his niche as a player whose value goes beyond statistics.
