The Ravens have already made one addition Friday; another could be coming soon. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy visited the team on a free agent visit, as noted (on Twitter) by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Van Noy has played with four teams during his career, but the versatile defender is best known for his time with the Patriots. His second stint in New England came after a one-year tenure in Miami and set up another single campaign, this time with the Chargers. He had to wait until May to ink his Los Angeles deal last year, but his free agent wait has been much longer in 2023.
The 32-year-old logged a snap share of 70% with the Chargers, his lowest figure since 2016. Despite that drop in playing time, Van Noy remained productive, posting eight tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits and five sacks. That made 2023 the fifth season out of the past six in which he recorded at least five sacks, a consistent string showing his value as a rotational rusher when used in conjunction with his skills as an inside linebacker.
The BYU product showed a desire to re-up with the Chargers, but he finds himself as one of several veteran edge defenders seeking a deal in advance of training camps. Baltimore has been active recently in seeking additions in the pass rush department, scheduling a visit with Dawuane Smoot before he ultimately re-signed with the Jaguars.
The Ravens have Tyus Bowser in place as an experienced member of their edge unit, but James Houston remains unsigned after leading the team in sacks last season. That leaves young options in place, including 2021 first-rounder Odafe Oweh, 2022 second-round selection David Ojabo and rookies Tavius Robinson and Trenton Simpson. Like Van Noy, the latter is expected to serve in a hybrid inside/outside role at the NFL level. While he acclimates to that task and Baltimore searches for development from others, Van Noy could serve as an effective depth option.
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