Ravens have a smart free-agent option staring them in the face

The Baltimore Ravens had the best run defense in football last season—by a wide margin. They gave up just 80.1 rushing yards per game, held opponents to 3.6 yards per carry, and forced teams to abandon the run altogether most weeks. That success started up front, where Michael Pierce quietly anchored the middle and did the kind of dirty work that rarely makes headlines but wins games.

But then he retired.

Pierce’s departure caught just about everyone off guard. Combine that with Brent Urban still unsigned, and suddenly the Ravens’ once-loaded defensive front looks a little light. Baltimore did add depth in the draft, selecting Virginia Tech’s Aeneas Peebles in the sixth round. They also brought in Nebraska’s Nash Hutmacher as an undrafted free agent. But expecting either to step in and replicate what Pierce gave them on early downs? That’s asking a lot.

So when Mason Cameron at Pro Football Focus named interior run-stuffing depth as Baltimore’s biggest post-draft need, he wasn’t wrong. And there’s one name in particular that deserves a closer look.

Maurice Hurst makes a lot of sense for Baltimore’s defensive line puzzle

Here’s what Cameron wrote:

“Michael Pierce’s retirement leaves Baltimore’s defense without its most consistent run defender. The Ravens added some young depth in Aeneas Peebles in the 2025 NFL Draft, but another veteran in the ranks would be an asset… Maurice Hurst and DeMarcus Walker are two names to target.”

Of those two, Hurst is the better fit. He’s dealt with injuries throughout his career, but when healthy, he can still disrupt. His 2023 season with Cleveland was proof—posting an 84.6 PFF grade and making life difficult for opposing guards in limited snaps. That version of Hurst? That’s exactly what the Ravens could use right now: a rotational piece who can plug the run, offer some interior push, and allow Travis Jones and Broderick Washington to keep their legs deep into games.

The Ravens already have everything needed for a dominant pass defense. Malaki Starks will patrol the backend and allow Kyle Hamilton to move around again. Mike Green adds serious juice off the edge. The only thing standing between Baltimore and a top defense is making sure the run game doesn’t get overlooked because it was good last season.

Adding Hurst wouldn’t be flashy. But it would be smart. There’s no downside to a one-year, incentive-based deal. Best case? He gives them 20-30 meaningful snaps a game and clogs the lanes just enough to keep teams off schedule. Worst case? He doesn’t make it out of camp, and you roll with what you’ve got.

But if they're serious about chasing a Super Bowl—and the Ravens are—don’t leave easy fixes sitting on the table. Baltimore doesn’t need Hurst to be a star. They just need him to do what Pierce did: show up every week, hold the point of attack, and let everyone else feast.

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