Eric Weddle signs with the Baltimore Ravens

Veteran free safety Eric Weddle will leave the San Diego Chargers after nine NFL seasons to sign with the AFC North’s Baltimore Ravens in NFL free agency.

According to San Diego Chargers beat writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, Kevin Acee, long-time Chargers free safety Eric Weddle has decided to leave Southern California in free agency to sign with the AFC North’s Baltimore Ravens.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter gave the scoop on what type of contract Weddle was signing with the Ravens after nine solid seasons with the Chargers in the AFC West: a four-year deal worth $26 million. Weddle will receive $13 million in the first two years as well.

Weddle is a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro in his nine years with the Chargers. At 31 years old, Weddle is still in the back-end of his prime and should provide great value to John Harbaugh’s secondary in Baltimore the next few years.

Weddle had somewhat of a falling out with the Chargers organization the last two years, so there really isn’t any surprise that he would leave San Diego in 2016 NFL free agency. He was one of the higher profile defensive backs available this spring and became the biggest get at free safety after Eric Berry went back to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Baltimore is coming off a down year in the AFC North. Perhaps the signing of a veteran star defensive back like Weddle will help get the normally strong Ravens defense back on track in 2016.

If Weddle plays up to expectations in the first two years of the deal, then it was a worthwhile signing for the Ravens. Otherwise, that is a lot of cash for a disgruntled veteran free safety that will exit his prime in the next few seasons.

For more posts on 2016 NFL free agency, please check out our NFL free agency hub page.