The Baltimore Ravens are in a salary cap nightmare, and unless the team clears some space, next year's roster will look drastically different.
So, should the Ravens cut star cornerback Marlon Humphrey and redistribute the money they save by parting ways with the defender projected to make $22.8 million this year?
As of right now, Baltimore will only have $7.3 million to work with in free agency, far too small a number to re-sign its own free agents, let alone sign a big fish that could potentially get the team over the hump and into the Super Bowl for the first time in the Lamar Jackson era.
Humphrey is poised to make the third most money on the team next season if the Ravens hold onto him, but according to OverTheCap.com, cutting Humphrey after June would save $11.75 million in cap space and only give the team a dead cap hit of $11.12 million.
As a former All-Pro, Humphrey earned every dollar of his five-year contract extension when he signed it in 2020, but injuries limited him to just 10 games last year, and he struggled as injuries lingered on his foot, hamstring, and calf.
What makes him seem the most dispensable, though, is that the team was dominant last season even while he was on the sidelines, having the No. 1 ranked defense and three of the top cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
Although Baltimore is more likely to restructure Humphrey’s contract than cut him this offseason, his name is one to monitor this offseason, considering his injury woes last year, other free agents that may take priority, and the NFL Draft supplying potential replacements.
More must-reads: