The Baltimore Ravens have many different pending free agents that they will need to make decisions on in the coming weeks and months. There is plenty of talent on both sides of the ball that could leave for other teams, but Baltimore could also opt to re-sign multiple players.
One key piece of the Ravens’ defense who is slated to hit the open market is safety DeShon Elliott, who has quickly become a fan favorite over his first four years in Baltimore. The former University of Texas star was a sixth-round selection of the Ravens back in the 2018 draft, and has shown flashes of excellence on the field. However, he’s also suffered three season-ending injuries in four years, which is a major cause for concern.
Over his time in the NFL, Elliott has totaled 109 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception. However, he’s only played in 28 out of a possible 65 regular season games, so his stats don’t tell the whole story about the player that he is.
Elliott came into the league as more of a strong safety, but after the release of Earl Thomas III, was slotted to be the team’s starting safety right before the 2020 season began. He responded by playing every game and growing in his role, which got many excited about his future with the team.
In 2021, the safety picked up where he left off but suffered a torn pectoral and torn bicep during Baltimore’s Week 9 game with the Minnesota Vikings, ending his season. He also suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 6 of 2019 against the Cincinnati Bengals and fractured his forearm in 2018, missing his entire rookie year.
The market for Elliott in 2022 free agency is unclear. A team could choose to look past his injury history and bank on his past performances and potential, while others could shy away from him. If Elliott is looking for a one-year deal to prove his worth (and health) in 2023 free agency, then it would certainly be a move to look at for the Ravens.
Elliott has shown that he can be a very high-level player, but it wouldn’t be wise to bank on his health until he shows he can play multiple seasons at full strength. However, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve a good sized contract. It’s just a matter of if a team wants to bank on his injury history and commit a long-term deal to him. If that isn’t an option, a reunion between Baltimore and the safety on a shorter deal could be in the best interest of both sides.