The Baltimore Ravens are going to have a whole new look on defense next season after losing several key players including C.J. Mosley, Eric Weddle, Terrell Suggs, and Za'Darius Smith. However, some good news surfaced for the team on Wednesday as the Ravens reached a big-time deal with former Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas. There was plenty of speculation in regards to where Thomas would land in free agency, and the fact that he is with a defensively prominent team is a dream fit for a player of his caliber.
The deal is worth $55 million over four years with $32 million guaranteed. The signing could be just what the team needs to remain an elite defensive team ahead of the 2019 season. Thomas has been selected to six Pro Bowl teams and five All-Pro teams, three of which were first-team selections. Thomas knows what it takes to win a Super Bowl and was a huge contributor on one of the best defensive rosters in recent history with the Legion of Boom. Thomas can bring that knowledge over to Baltimore as well as his hard-hitting play style and elite coverage skills despite his season-ending leg injury in 2018.
Unfortunately for the Ravens, Mosley led the team in tackles, Suggs led the team in tackles for a loss, Weddle led the team in defensive snaps, and Za'Darius Smith led the team in sacks and quarterback hits last season. There is a lot of making up to do for the Ravens defense, but there are still plenty of players on the roster capable of making up those numbers.
Thomas can bring forth a strong veteran presence and lead a secondary filled with unbelievable talent consisting of players like Tony Jefferson, Marlon Humphrey, and Jimmy Smith. Linebackers Patrick Onwuasor, Kenny Young, and Matt Judon all offer a legitimate chance of making up the tackles Mosley accounted for last season. Baltimore drastically needed a leader like Thomas to bring cohesiveness and intensity to a team with an overwhelming amount of talent.
The Ravens remain a candidate to be one of the league's best defensive units heading into the 2019 season considering the system they use and defensive coordinator Don Martindale knows his players well. Martindale is likely clicking his heels now that the team has a player like Thomas and although Thomas has had a tough time staying healthy at times the last few seasons, his presence is irreplaceable and unmatched. The former Seahawks star had not missed a single game for the first six seasons of his career and likely has a lot expected of him ahead of this season.
Baltimore will have to overcome the losses of their defensive stars and develop who they have right now to re-instate their elite level defensive capabilities. The losses they experienced this offseason are not easily replaceable, but the players on the current roster should not be taken lightly by opposing offenses next season. The Ravens defense has remained firmly in the top-ten in terms of defensive efficiency the last few seasons, and there's no reason to believe that would change in 2019.
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