Tony Jefferson spurns Browns, agrees with Baltimore Ravens
Free agent safety Tony Jefferson has reportedly agreed to a big money contract with the Baltimore Ravens, and spurned the Browns in the process…
The Baltimore Ravens aren’t known for always making a ton of noise on the free agent market, but they have reportedly agreed to terms with one of the top safeties available, Arizona’s Tony Jefferson.
Ravens expected to sign Cardinals S Tony Jefferson barring any last-minute negotiating snags, per @diannaESPN and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2017
Jefferson was inexplicably an undrafted free agent coming out of Oklahoma in 2013. He just turned 25 in January, and has set himself up to sign another big money contract at the end of this deal with the Ravens, which should put him among the highest paid safeties in the NFL.
It’s become abundantly clear that Jefferson is ready for an expanded role in this league after he started a career-high 14 games this past year (previous high was eight) and racked up 96 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Why You Should Love This Move
You should love this move because it gives the Baltimore Ravens arguably the best safety pairing in the entire NFL.
.@PFF safety ranks last year:
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) March 9, 2017
1. Eric Weddle - BAL
5. Tony Jefferson - signing with BAL
15. Ladarius Webb - cut?
Last offseason, the Ravens signed Eric Weddle, who was obviously excellent this past season. Weddle has always played at a high level, but he took it to another level in his first year with the Ravens. With Jefferson now in the fold, the Ravens now have a couple of very instinctive and aggressive safeties that can play the run and pass.
Why else should you love this move?
Jefferson turned down more money to play in Baltimore versus the alternative of Cleveland, among other suitors.
The #Ravens are expected to sign safety Tony Jefferson, who leaves more money on the table from the #Browns, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2017
Not every player in this year’s free agent pool is selling out for money (looking at you, Calais Campbell). Jefferson is a great competitor, and if you’ve followed him on Twitter, you may have seen this move coming…
https://twitter.com/_tonyjefferson/status/833762897603858434
any safeties you would love to play with?????? 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
— Eric Weddle (@weddlesbeard) February 20, 2017
Eric Weddle must be quite the salesman. This is a great move for the Baltimore Ravens, one that can help turn around their fortunes as a team and get them to the playoffs for the second time since their Super Bowl victory.