The Ravens failed to reach extensions with four players, including Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zeitler, in advance of a key deadline Feb. 19, meaning the team will need to apply dead money to the 2024 cap and those players will become free agents next month.
Zeitler, running back Gus Edwards, safety Geno Stone and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin all had void years in their contracts, a procedural move that pushed some money to future years but lowered the cap hit on those deals in 2023.
But if deals with those players were not reached by Feb. 19, those contracts would void, and all the void-year money would automatically be fully charged to the 2024 cap.
Zeitler’s deal proved to be the most costly, as he had roughly $4.3 million in void-year money that carries to the 2024 cap. Edwards ($1.8 million), Ya-Sin ($1.6 million) and Stone ($600,000) also had void-year money, meaning the team absorbs more than $8 million in dead money.
The Ravens still could re-sign Zeitler — or any of the others — but the cap hit remains. In Zeitler’s case, the Ravens would be on the hook for the $4.2 million in dead money from the voided contract, plus whatever 2024 cap charge was part of a new deal.
Zeitler, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod this year, previously said that he had hoped to remain with the Ravens.
“Obviously, I want to be back as a Baltimore Raven, there is no doubt about that,” he said as he cleaned out his locker after the season. “I’ve loved my time here. I love the people here, love my teammates here, and I want to keep playing with them. Hopefully that business side of football can be figured out nice and quick, and we can get that taken care of. But whatever happens, I am ready to roll.”
The pending loss of Zeitler, the Ravens’ starting right guard for the past three years, could be the start of significant turnover on the offensive line. Starting left guard John Simpson is also a pending free agent, and the long-term future of both starting tackles, Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses, is uncertain, as both have dealt with significant health issues the past couple of years.
Stone, Edwards and Ya-Sin also are all headed to free agency in March. Stone blossomed this year, totaling seven interceptions, the second-highest total in the league. He had signed a one-year deal to return to the Ravens last year but suggested after the season that he was ready to see what his value is on the free-agency open market.
Edwards ranked second on the team in rushing with 810 yards on 198 carries and scored 13 touchdowns, which equaled his career total in his previous five seasons combined. His total of 13 rushing touchdowns in a season ranks second in franchise history, trailing only Jamal Lewis (14 in 2003). Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Dalvin Cook and Melvin Gordon all are set to hit free agency, meaning the Ravens’ running back room for now features only Justice Hill and an injured Keaton Mitchell.
Ya-Sin appeared in 14 games for the Ravens this year, and totaled 13 tackles and two passes defensed.
With the void-year deadline now passed, general manager Eric DeCosta has another important deadline looming: Beginning Feb. 20 and until March 5, teams can choose to apply the franchise tag to a player. It’s believed the Ravens will do so with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Justin Madubuike.
On March 11, the so-called “tampering window” begins, during which pending unrestricted free agents can begin negotiating deals. Free agency officially begins March 13.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox