Ravens free-agency tracker: QB Josh Johnson will also return (2025)

The “legal tampering” period — which marks the start of NFL free agency — began Monday at noon, allowing agents and NFL teams to negotiate and agree to deals. Deals became official Wednesday at the start of free agency.

The Ravens, with more than 20 players set to hit the market, will mostly be saying goodbye. A new deal for defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, coupled with Lamar Jackson’s escalating contract, leaves Baltimore without much room under the salary cap — though general manager Eric DeCosta will no doubt use all the tools at his disposal to free space.

We’ll update this post as news trickles out about players leaving, joining or returning to the Ravens.

DB Ar’Darius Washington ↔ Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are bringing back their only exclusive-rights free agent, the team announced Thursday.

Washington, who won a starting job as the Ravens’ nickel back before last season, played just two games before suffering a chest injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season.

The 5-foot-8, 177-pound Washington returned for the playoffs, when he played a combined 28 snaps on special teams and two snaps on defense.

Washington’s one-year contract is expected to be worth $1.1 million, according to Russell Street Report.

QB Josh Johnson ↔ Baltimore Ravens

One of the NFL’s most well-traveled quarterbacks is staying in Baltimore.

Johnson, who has played for an NFL-record 14 teams and will turn 38 in May, signed a one-year deal, the Ravens announced Thursday.

Johnson didn’t appear in any games last season, but with Tyler Huntley expected to leave in free agency, he could compete with Malik Cunningham for the backup spot in 2024. The Ravens could also look for another arm in the draft.

DE Brent Urban ↔ Baltimore Ravens

The dynamic duo, the “fumbutts,” are running it back next season. Defensive lineman Brent Urban will again play alongside his buddy nose tackle Michael Pierce on the defensive line, the Ravens announced.

Urban was part of the group of veterans who saw a career resurgence in Baltimore. The Ravens’ fourth-round pick in 2014, Urban left in 2019 before returning in 2022. Last season, Urban was a contributor in every game and finished with a career-best three sacks. His 22 tackles were the third best of his career and his best since the 2020 season.

As part of the rotation on former coordinator Mike Macdonald’s complex defense, Urban provided reliability and experience. Additionally, Urban contributed on special teams in all but one game he played. He was one of the depth players who laid the foundation for the Ravens’ defensive success.

If you’re lucky, you might get Part 2 of “Brent Urban and the Smelling Salts.”

LS Logan Ott → Washington Commanders

The Ravens’ fill-in long snapper has a new home, and it’s not far from Baltimore.

Ott, who signed with the Ravens after All-Pro Nick Moore tore an Achilles tendon in July, is headed to Washington after agreeing to terms on a three-year deal with the Commanders, according to NFL Network.

Moore is expected to play for the Ravens in 2024. Ott, meanwhile, will reunite with special teams coordinator Larry Izzo, who coached him with the Seattle Seahawks.

ILB Patrick Queen → Pittsburgh Steelers

Patrick Queen broke his teammates’ hearts Tuesday with the news that he is headed to their rivals on a three-year deal.

ESPN reported he is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers for $41 million. Queen indirectly confirmed it himself when he reposted a tweet that he will be “suiting up in the black and yellow” next season.

His Ravens teammates were quick to jokingly denounce him on Twitter.

Queen was a second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler last season. He and fellow inside linebacker Roquan Smith were the only linebacker duo to both make more than 130 tackles.

Queen, a former Ravens first-round pick, finished the 2023 season with 133 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one interception.

Read more here.

RB Derrick Henry → Baltimore Ravens

Although the Ravens have consistently been one of the best rushing teams in the NFL since drafting Lamar Jackson in 2018, they have only once paired their dual-threat quarterback with a running back who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards: Mark Ingram in 2019.

Baltimore surely hopes that will change next season with the addition of Derrick Henry, who signed a two-year, $16 million contract, a source confirmed to The Baltimore Banner. The 30-year-old has rushed for 1,000 or more yards in five of the last six seasons. In 2021, he tallied 937 yards in eight games before suffering a stress fracture in his foot that cost him the rest of the season.

In 2023, Henry tied a career low for yards per carry, finishing with 4.2. However, he still rushed for 1,167 yards.

He’ll lead a running back room that includes Justice Hill and possibly Keaton Mitchell, who is recovering from a December ACL tear. The Ravens have already lost Gus Edwards in free agency, and J.K. Dobbins is on the market.

Read more here.

ILB Del’Shawn Phillips → Houston Texans

Well, the Texans signed a Ravens inside linebacker.

A Raven for the last two years, Phillips has been a significant contributor despite playing behind two guys who almost never take a break. Until the final game of the season when the Ravens rested many of their starters, Phillips did not see more than nine defensive snaps. However, those he played, he performed well, and he held his own against the Steelers’ starting offense in the 17-10 loss.

But Phillips has been one of the Ravens biggest contributors on special teams. He played at least 71% of the special teams snaps in every game except that Pittsburgh game in which he saw an increased role on defense. He finished the season with 13 tackles and one forced fumble.

LG John Simpson → New York Jets

John Simpson is headed to New York to protect veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers after he agreed to sign a two-year deal worth up to $18 million, according to NFL Network.

Simpson’s departure leaves the Ravens with a hole at left guard that could be followed by a hole at right guard if free agent Kevin Zeitler finds a new home. Simpson and Zeitler started 15 games at left guard and 17 games at right guard in Baltimore last season, respectively, helping anchor one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.

Simpson was a reclamation project when he joined the Ravens’ practice squad in December 2022. A fourth-round pick of the Raiders in 2020, Simpson had been cut after losing his starting left guard job in Las Vegas. He acknowledged later that, when he arrived in Baltimore, he felt like he had “zero confidence, and I had to work through that, and it wasn’t easy.”

But Simpson impressed Ravens coaches with his development, and he beat out rookie Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu in training camp for the left guard spot. Simpson led the Ravens in offensive snaps last season (1,119) and graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 43 overall guard among qualifying linemen. He allowed just one sack and 26 quarterback pressures, according to PFF, but flags were a problem. Simpson was called for a holding penalty eight times, tied for the most in the NFL.

With Ben Cleveland primarily a right-sided player, the early favorites to take over at left guard are Aumavae-Laulu and Andrew Vorhees, who sat out his rookie season last year while recovering from a torn ACL. But the Ravens could also find veteran help in free agency, and general manager Eric DeCosta typically adds multiple linemen through the draft each year.

LB Malik Harrison ↔ Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens and Malik Harrison are running it back. ESPN reported Monday night that the Ravens signed the 26-year-old linebacker to a one-year deal.

After being drafted in the third round of the 2020 draft, Harrison was considered an inside linebacker for the Ravens. The next season, he was designated as an outside linebacker. By 2022, Harrison was considered simply a linebacker because of his ability to play where needed.

This season, with David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh dealing with injuries, Harrison was leaned on at outside linebacker. Due to injuries that sidelined him for three games, Harrison’s numbers dropped, but when he played, he was a reliable depth piece.

Harrison was also a significant part of the special teams this season. He played at least 68% of the special teams snaps in every game he played while also playing 10% to 50% of the defensive snaps.

CB, Ronald Darby → Jacksonville Jaguars

Another Raven is headed to Jacksonville.

Darby played 16 games last season, starting seven, and allowed just 23 completions on 48 targets as the nearest defender in coverage, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. The Maryland native’s coverage success rate was a solid 60.4%, just behind Marlon Humphrey (61.7%) and ahead of Brandon Stephens (58.1%), an impressive return for a player who signed a one-year prove-it deal worth $1.7 million in August.

With Humphrey out at the beginning of the season, Darby was a fixture in the cornerback rotation. He saw his playing time decrease toward the middle of the season. Unlike cornerbacks Arthur Maulet and Rock Ya-Sin, Darby did not play a huge role on special teams. He finished the season with 28 tackles.

Darby, 30, could also be even better in 2024, when he’ll be two years removed from the ACL tear that ended his 2022 season with the Denver Broncos.

WR Devin Duvernay → Jacksonville Jaguars

Devin Duvernay, a third-round pick who became known more for returning kicks than catching passes, agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the opening day of the negotiation period.

Duvernay’s career as a wide receiver has been up and down. He jumped from 20 catches his rookie season to 33 and 37 the next two years before falling to four catches this year. He dealt with injuries this year but also increased competition. The Ravens drafted Zay Flowers, then signed Nelson Agholor and Odell Beckham Jr., leaving little need for Duvernay on offense.

However, Duvernay made his name on special teams. He was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Ravens and an All-Pro returner in 2021.

The Jaguars reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with an $8.5 million base.

S Geno Stone → Cincinnati Bengals

“Geno might be the best seventh-round pick that we’ve ever had,” DeCosta said at the NFL combine.

The Bengals, an AFC North rival, must have noticed. They agreed to terms with Stone on the first day of the legal tampering period.

Stone, who finished second in the NFL with seven interceptions last season, has earned a shot at a starting role. The Ravens, however, don’t need another starting safety, nor can they afford one.

In addition to being a seventh-round draft pick, Stone was also cut from the Ravens twice, once because he tested positive for COVID and there wasn’t room for him on the roster when he came off injured reserve. After being claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans in the 2020-21 season, Stone returned to Baltimore on a one-year deal. He played 15 games with one start and made 21 tackles and one interception. He then signed another one-year deal and saw his role increase. He played 17 games with seven starts and 38 tackles.

Stone signed another one-year deal ahead of the 2023 season, his first contract to break $1 million. With injuries to the secondary, Stone was afforded more opportunities and seized them. In 17 games with 11 starts, he accumulated 68 tackles to go with those seven interceptions.

“I feel like I showed what I can do in this league,” Stone said. “It’s something I’ve always been trying to do, obviously. That’s what everyone in this league wants to do — is show who they can be — and I feel like this was kind of my breakout year. I’m happy that it was this year and the year we had as a team. I’m just appreciative of everything I’ve been through this year.”

RB Gus Edwards → Los Angeles Chargers

Gus Edwards, one of the Ravens’ most accomplished running backs in team history, agreed to terms with the Chargers on the opening day of the tampering period. He’ll jump from playing for John Harbaugh to working with Jim Harbaugh, hired away from Michigan in the offseason.

Edwards leaves Baltimore as one of the franchise’s most unlikely success stories. Over his six years with the Ravens, he had 699 carries (fourth most in franchise history) for 3,395 yards (fourth most) and 26 touchdowns (fifth most) despite never being a feature back. His rushing average (4.9 yards per carry) ranks second among Ravens running backs with at least 200 carries, trailing only J.K. Dobbins (5.8 yards per carry), another free agent.

Edwards was a hidden gem in the foundational 2018 draft class headlined by quarterback Lamar Jackson, offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and tight end Mark Andrews. Undrafted out of Rutgers, he started his rookie season on the Ravens’ practice squad, made his NFL debut in Week 6 and broke out after Jackson took over for the injured Joe Flacco in the season’s second half.

A physical, downhill runner who excelled in offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s power running schemes, Edwards quickly became one of the NFL’s most reliable backs. He’s one of only two players in league history to start their career with three straight seasons of 700-plus rushing yards and at least 5 yards per carry, along with Cleveland Browns All-Pro running back Nick Chubb.

Edwards tore his ACL on the eve of the 2021 season, three months after he’d signed a two-year contract extension worth $10 million, and was limited to nine games in 2022. Last season, he had a career-high 198 carries and 810 yards in 17 games and was one of the NFL’s best goal-line weapons, finishing with a career-high 13 touchdowns. But his production outside of the red zone dropped off, and he averaged a career-low 4.1 yards per carry overall.

The Ravens could also lose Dobbins in free agency, which would leave them with just Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell — still recovering from a torn ACL — under contract at the position.