Baltimore Ravens: Shane Ray and Pernell McPhee help bolster pass rush

The Baltimore Ravens signed Shane Ray and brought back Pernell McPhee as they are trying to add some more pass rushers for their defense.

After the Baltimore Ravens lost Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith in free agency, getting veteran pass rushers like Shane Ray and Pernell McPhee will give them much-needed depth and both could be potential role players on the edge. Combined, Baltimore is losing 15.5 sacks from Suggs and Smith in 2018. So far, they are addressing a big hole on their defense that was the best in the NFL last year.

The Ravens drafted Jaylon Ferguson in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL Draft and still have Tim Williams and Tyus Bowser at outside linebacker. Ferguson had 45 career sacks in college as he broke the NCAA sack record that was originally held by Suggs. Bowser could even be a candidate to be a hybrid inside/outside linebacker as he has some coverage potential. Williams and Bowser were only role players, with Matt Judon getting the starting role last year (with 19 career sacks), and both Williams and Bowser have a combined 5.5 career sacks.

Judon is the starter on one side but they still need a starting edge rusher opposite of him. Ferguson, Ray, Williams, Bowser and McPhee will all be the main competitors at that spot.

The Baltimore Ravens are getting both Ray and McPhee on cheap deals and were both signings that will not impact potential comp picks. Both were former 1st round picks and signed for one-year deals as good value signings that have high upside with relatively little risk, despite injuries that held them both back the past few years.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, they were both signed for around $1 million. Both of those deals could quickly look like great values as they could big key role players and could complement each other well with speed (Ray) and power (McPhee).

With OTAs starting for the Baltimore Ravens this week, they needed more bodies and more talent in camp at the outside linebacker position.

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound outside linebacker and former Missouri Tiger Shane Ray has 14 career sacks with the Denver Broncos. Ray had his best season in 2016, sacking the quarterback eight times and was healthy for the full season. He brings some speed as an outside pass rusher, but injuries held him back in the other three years he was in Denver. Once Denver drafted Bradley Chubb in the first round, time was ticking for Ray as his days as a Bronco were numbered.

The 6-foot-3, 265-pound McPhee is an eight-year veteran who has 31 career sacks, with 17 coming in Baltimore over the first four years of his career. McPhee gives them a veteran presence and some versatility as he can play with his hand in the dirt or as a stand-up rusher.

The only two secure spots at outside linebacker are Matthew Judon as a starter and Jaylon Ferguson, who was drafted in 2019. Tim Williams and Tyus Bowser should be on the roster but if Bowser moves to inside linebacker, that would help both of them out when it comes to sticking on the roster.

Both Ray and McPhee hope to make the roster as depth and/or rotational contributors but McPhee could play defensive end also. Either way, the competition at edge rusher will be one to watch during OTAs and training camp.