The Ravens have officially reunited with outside linebacker Pernell McPhee on a one-year deal, boosting their pass rush with a familiar face.
"I'm happy to be back," McPhee said. "Let's get this thing rocking again."
It's the second signing the Ravens have made at pass rusher on the same day, as Baltimore also inked Shane Ray earlier Friday.
McPhee helps offset the loss of Terrell Suggs and Za'Darius Smith this offseason, adding a proven pass rusher to the mix. The Ravens have Tim Williams, Tyus Bowser, third-round pick Jaylon Ferguson and Ray competing opposite Matthew Judon. McPhee's 31 career sacks is more than all five combined (28.5)
McPhee, 30, was a fifth-round pick of the Ravens in 2011 and developed into a strong, versatile pass rusher during his four seasons in Baltimore before getting a mega deal elsewhere in free agency.
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Mississippi State product made an immediate impact as a rookie with six sacks. He helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII the following year.
In his 2014 contract year, McPhee broke out with 7.5 sacks. He rushed as a stand-up edge, with his hand in the dirt and even inside on passing downs.
That performance landed McPhee a mega five-year deal with Chicago worth nearly $40 million during the 2015 offseason, making McPhee a signature chess piece in the Bears' defense.
McPhee had a strong first season in Chicago, starting 12 games and making 53 tackles, six sacks and one interception. However, knee and shoulder injuries limited him to 22 games the following two seasons, in which he notched a combined eight sacks.
McPhee was released after three seasons in Chicago, and the Washington Redskins signed him to a one-year deal last offseason. He proved healthy enough to play in 13 games in a reserve role. McPhee didn't notch any sacks in 204 defensive snaps, but did have eight quarterback hits, per Pro Football Focus.
His return to Baltimore brings him back to the place he credited with making him the player he is. McPhee is in the same mold as Smith, providing flexibility to rush from multiple spots. McPhee could especially help the Ravens bolster their interior pass rush. He was a gritty, ferocious player who embodied "Play Like a Raven."
