More than three months after initially visiting the Ravens, Jason Pierre-Paul is back on the team’s radar. The 12-year veteran is at the team’s facility Tuesday, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz (on Twitter).
One of the top players available on an obviously diminished free agent market by this point, JPP, 33, could be of use for a Ravens team that is only rostering two outside linebackers presently. Baltimore already turned to one veteran edge this offseason, re-signing Justin Houston after placing an unrestricted free agent tender on him. Another could be on the way. For the next two weeks, at least, help is needed.
The team lost edge player Steven Means to a Week 2 Achilles tear and has multiple outside linebackers on injury lists. Second-round pick David Ojabo is on IR. The Michigan product is not a lock to debut when first eligible given that he suffered an Achilles tear during a pre-draft workout. The team also has Tyus Bowser, who sustained an Achilles tear in January, on its reserve/PUP list. Neither Ojabo nor Bowser are eligible to play until Week 5.
A critical part of the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV-winning formula, Pierre-Paul has racked up 91.5 career sacks while bouncing back from multiple major injuries. He registered 9.5 sacks for the Bucs’ championship team two seasons ago, adding two more in a playoff slate that ended with he and Shaquil Barrett applying consistent pressure to Patrick Mahomes.
Then JPP’s numbers cratered in 2021. The former Giants All-Pro totaled just 2.5 sacks and five quarterback hits in 12 games, limiting his 2022 market. An early-offseason shoulder surgery also likely affected Pierre-Paul’s free agency appeal. The Cowboys had him on their radar in March but turned to the draft (second-rounder Sam Williams) to round out their post-Randy Gregory plan.
The Ravens are down to Houston (two sacks) and Odafe Oweh for the time being and will need to make a depth-based move ahead of Week 3.
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