Cap Casualties: A Cautionary Tale For Ravens

With free agency drawing closer, organizations have begun to make difficult decisions by cutting some of their better players. The Baltimore Ravens could be one of those teams soon.

It happens to every organization in football. 

Teams that try to remain competitive going into the 2024 season are left with the unenviable task of releasing some of their solid players in the hopes of creating cap space. The "cap casualties" are released, and usually find homes with teams that get the last ounce of great football left in them. 

For a team like the Baltimore Ravens, those "cap casualty" decisions are creeping ever closer as the organization looks to keep some of their younger talent. 

While Baltimore can open up cap space by restructuring contracts, they also could save money by releasing some of their better overall players...those who have been with the organization for a while now.

The top name that comes to mind is tight end Mark Andrews. If the Ravens were to release their Pro Bowl tight end with a post-June 1st designation, they would save over $11 million while eating only $5 million in dead cap. 

Quite the amount saved. 

Other players like cornerback Marlon Humphrey ($11 million), fullback Patrick Ricard ($4 million), and left tackle Ronnie Stanley ($15 million) could all be in that cap casualty range as free agency begins. 

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This isn't to say that Baltimore will absolutely release these players, but just that if the team wants to create plenty of cap space, there are some difficult conversations that need to be had.

This time of year is always difficult for NFL vets. They have their set contracts, but teams can go back on it quickly in order to save money for the future. 

If the Ravens are serious about contending in 2024, those conversations should definitely continue now.