The Ravens re-signed Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard to a new three-year deal on March 21, bringing back one of the anchors of their run-first offensive approach. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but The Athletic reported that it is worth roughly $11.25 million.
Ricard, originally signed by the Ravens as an undrafted rookie out of Maine in 2017, had recently played out a two-year, $7.3 million extension he signed late in the 2019 season.
In announcing the new deal, general manager Eric DeCosta called Ricard “an important cog in our offense and the type of player we always seek to retain.”
Without an extension before the new league year began, Ricard hit free agency for the first time in his career, and although the role of the traditional fullback has declined in the NFL, Ricard was viewed by many teams as a hybrid fullback-tight end. Through social media, Ricard had referenced his work at tight end, which potentially could drive up his asking price.
One team thought to be eyeing him was the New England Patriots, who play about an hour from Ricard’s hometown of Spencer, Mass.
Instead, DeCosta was able to re-sign Ricard, who transformed from undrafted defensive lineman into one of the game’s elite blocking fullbacks in five seasons with the Ravens. Ricard made headlines early in his career as an old-school, two-way player who played both fullback and defensive tackle, and though the Ravens’ official roster still lists him as a fullback and defensive lineman, he has not played any defensive snaps since 2019.
He has made the Pro Bowl each of the past three years, and the physical, road-grading style of the 6-foot-3, 303-pounder typifies how the Ravens want to play under offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who was instrumental in Ricard’s switch to fullback.
Leading the way for quarterback Lamar Jackson or one of the running backs, Ricard on game film has frequently driven an opponent right off the field and out of view.
He has just three career carries, but Ricard has proved to be adept as a 300-pound pass catcher, with 29 career receptions for 167 yards and five touchdowns.
As the team’s top blocking back, Ricard played a vital role in the Ravens’ ground assault in 2019, when they set an all-time NFL single-season record with 3,296 rushing yards. They ran for an NFL-best 3,071 yards in 2000, before injuries curtailed the offense this past season.
The Ravens lost all three of their top running backs to season-ending injuries before the 2021 season began, and Jackson missed the final four games with a foot injury. They also played almost the entire season without All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), while top blocking tight end Nick Boyle (knee) missed 12 games. Both dealt with complications from 2020 injuries.
The injury-ravaged 2021 team ended the season with six straight losses en route to an 8-9 record, just the second losing season in John Harbaugh’s 14-year tenure.
Ricard was on the field for 57 percent of the Ravens’ offensive snaps in 2021, by far the highest percentage of his career.
Two years ago, the Ravens ranked No. 1 in the league in rushing but No. 32 in passing, and players and coaches alike vowed to strike more balance. This past season, they finished No. 3 in rushing and No. 13 in passing. While the Ravens want to have a consistent, quick-strike passing attack, they also want to control the line of scrimmage with physical play and protect leads with a chain-moving, clock-eating, ground-and-pound approach late in games.
Toward that end, the Ravens also signed free-agent right tackle Morgan Moses to a three-year deal in the first major offseason addition on offense.
Ricard is the first Ravens player to re-sign with the team this spring as an unrestricted free agent. The Ravens have lost several players, including cornerback Anthony Averett (Las Vegas), center Bradley Bozeman (Carolina), tight end Eric Tomlinson (Denver) and linebacker Chris Board (Detroit). Veteran safety Anthony Levine has retired, and safety Tony Jefferson was re-signed before free agency began.
Among the notable Ravens still on the market are defensive linemen Calais Campbell and Brandon Williams, edge rusher Justin Houston, cornerback Jimmy Smith and safety DeShon Elliott.
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