Baltimore Ravens free agency 2019: Top 5 targets

The Baltimore Ravens overcame a sluggish start in 2018 to win the AFC North. What players could they add via free agency to make the team better?

It’s a franchise, like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, which relies far more on the draft than free agency. But it is also the beginning of a new era for the Baltimore Ravens under new general manager Eric DeCosta, who takes over for the legendary Ozzie Newsome. Last April, the stellar executive provided the team with 12 draft choices, including quarterback Lamar Jackson with the final pick of the first round.

But what if the 2018 AFC North champions and DeCosta opted to spend a little come mid-March? Here are five players the organization could target to make John Harbaugh’s team a bit better.

5. OLB Anthony Chickillo (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Veteran Terrell Suggs continues to play at a high level and comes off his 16th season. He finished 2018 with 34 tackles, knocked down six passes and was tied for second on the club with seven sacks. The seven-time Pro Bowler has 132.5 career regular-season quarterback traps, 33 forced fumbles, seven interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries – returning one of those opponent miscues for a touchdown in ’18. Teammate Za’Darius Smith finished the season with 45 stops and led the Ravens with 8.5 sacks.

And both of these performers could become unrestricted free agents on March 13. So with the Ravens attempt to re-sign one or both? The latter has 18.5 sacks in four NFL seasons and could command big money on the open market. The Ravens still have three-year pro Matt Judon under contract as well.
If the team does choose to address this position in free agency, Steelers’ defender Anthony Chickillo could be an option. He’s totaled a combined seven sacks the past three seasons and is also a big-play performer on special teams as well.

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