Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb has restructured his contract, according to The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson. The move would free up more salary-cap space to use on free agents and draft picks.
Webb will now make about $2 million less in base salary in 2015, per CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora.
It's reportedly a different restructure than the one outside linebacker Terrell Suggs took a week ago, when his base salary was converted into a reported $3 million bonus. That essentially meant Suggs would get the same money, but the cap hit was pushed to future seasons.
In Webb's case, according to La Canfora, Webb is simply taking less money to stay. The move showcases that Webb genuinely meant it when he recently said, "I'm a Raven for life."
Webb was reportedly set to take $12 million of the Ravens' 2015 salary cap ($8 million base salary), the second-highest team total behind quarterback Joe Flacco.
The cap-strapped Ravens traded defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, who was reportedly due $16 million, to clear space last week. Webb told The Sun that seeing Ngata traded made him worried about his own future.
"My heart just dropped," Webb told The Sun. "Like, 'am I next?' ... That's how I felt. Man, if Haloti's gone, I know I'm not here."
Baltimore has more of an immediate need at cornerback than on the defensive line, where there's depth with Brandon Williams, Timmy Jernigan and others. Releasing Webb would have reportedly saved just $2 million in cap space.
The Ravens are in need of help in the secondary and are relying on Webb to form a formidable duo with Jimmy Smith, who is returning from a season-ending foot injury.
Webb struggled with a back injury for the early part of last season, which knocked him out of essentially the first four games and took time to get over throughout the year. It was the latest injury Webb has worked through, as torn ACLs to both of his knees sidelined him in 2010 and 2012. Webb was honored Monday night as the Ravens' Ed Block Courage Award winner for overcoming those challenges.
However, Webb improved as the year went on and he got healthier. He finished with 46 tackles, eight passes defensed and one interception in 13 games (11 starts). Webb sealed the Ravens' trip back to the playoffs with a leaping interception against the Browns in Week 17. By season's end, he looked more like his old self.
"There is no place I would rather be than here," Webb told The Sun. "I'm loved here, the organization loves me, I love them. And I know I can improve on some of my play. I didn't have my greatest season last year, but I'm a Raven. I'm a Raven for life."
