The Baltimore Ravens fielded a very talented roster for the 2021 season. However, the group finished at just 8-9 for multiple different reasons, with injuries being at the top of the list.
One of the players that Baltimore brought in during 2021 free agency was outside linebacker Justin Houston. The veteran has a long history of being a successful pass rusher at the NFL level, and he continued that with the Ravens, finishing the year with 4.5 sacks. Although the number marked the second-lowest total of his career, he still finished third on the team in sacks behind fellow outside linebackers Tyus Bowser and Odafe Oweh.
Not only did Baltimore get solid production on the field from Houston, but he made a massive impact off of it as well. He was a veteran presence for players like Bowser and Oweh, and he earned the nickname “Yoda” for all that he was able to teach.
Houston signed a one-year, $2.075 million contract with the Ravens in the 2021 offseason, a deal which for the veteran’s prior production was lauded as one of the steals of free agency. Many expected Houston to get much more on the open market, but his strong desire to come to Baltimore led to him signing a much cheaper deal than anticipated.
For the Ravens, their need at outside linebacker was amplified in a big way in Week 18 of the 2021 season as Tyus Bowser went down with a torn achilles. While head coach John Harbaugh gave a very optimistic timeline on Bowser’s return, the team should overcompensate at the position just incase their sack leader isn’t ready for the beginning of 2022. Bringing back a player like Houston who already has a year in the organization and showed that he can still produce is a great place to start.
Although Houston isn’t the player he was a few seasons ago, he is still a valuable piece for any defense. He brings solid production and leadership both on as well as off of the field, and for a player who likely wouldn’t break the bank to bring back and also seemingly enjoyed his first year in Baltimore, it feels right that Houston and the Ravens reunited during the 2022 offseason.