DeAndre Houston-Carson‘s seven-year Bears tenure has officially come to an end. After going unsigned in the five months since the legal tampering period began, the veteran special-teamer agreed to terms with the Ravens on Monday.
The former sixth-round pick became a core special-teamer in Chicago upon arrival and continued to operate in that capacity throughout his career. This will, however, mark a return to the Mid-Atlantic region for Houston-Carson, a Virginia native who played collegiately at William & Mary.
From 2017-22, Houston-Carson saw action on at least 64% of the Bears’ special teams plays. He topped out at an 82% usage rate during the 2019 and ’20 seasons. This role earned Houston-Carson, 30, a number of contracts with the team. Houston-Carson signed one-year Bears deals in each of the past four offseasons.
While Houston-Carson earned a handful of starts over the past two seasons, the Ravens are likely viewing this as an addition to their special teams. During a stretch featuring nine starts, however, Houston-Carson combined for 96 tackles from 2021-22. He has intercepted a pass in each of the past three seasons. In 419 defensive snaps in 2021, Pro Football Focus rated Houston-Carson in the top 10 among safeties. In 413 last season, PFF slotted him outside the top 70.
The Ravens rostering Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton, along with Geno Stone and Brandon Stephens, offers them a solid situation at this position. But Houston-Carson should have a path to Baltimore’s 53-man roster as an ST presence.