10 NFL stars who must be extended this preseason

By Ian Wharton | Aug 10, 2018

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 03: Defensive end Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after a tackle against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 32-16. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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GREEN BAY, WI – NOVEMBER 19: C.J. Mosley /

C.J. Mosley, LB, Baltimore Ravens

The NFL went through a lull for a few years as far as elite linebacker talent. The Luke Keuchly-Bobby Wagner tier went unrivaled as greats like Navarro Bowman and Patrick Willis suffered injuries or aged poorly. The reemergence of off-ball linebackers picked up a lot of steam in 2017 as C.J. Mosley took his game to another level, and Reuben Foster and Eric Kendricks had terrific campaigns.

Mosley was as close to a sure-thing as a prospect out of Alabama as we’ve seen in recent years. He had elite intangibles to go with dominant tape as the middle man for Nick Saban’s defense. While he’s not the smoothest athlete in coverage, he’s quick to diagnose and execute his assignment.

He’s a model for what the Ravens do defensively, and they simply cannot let him walk away. It helps that the Ravens could have over $45 million in cap space in 2019 if they terminate Joe Flacco’s albatross contract and Brandon Carr’s deal as they should after the season. Neither player is in the team’s long-term plans and could end up on the bench this year.

Valuing Mosley isn’t too hard. Kuechly’s league-leading deal was signed nearly three years ago, and it’s time for that to be topped. Mosley has the strongest argument of any linebacker in the league for that to happen now.

Proposed contract extension: Five years, $65 million, $28 million guaranteed.