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Report: OLB Matt Judon seeking $20 million per year contract

Could this place him outside the Ravens’ limit?

By Kyle P Barber
NFL: AFC Wild Card Round-Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, the soon-to-be free agent pass rusher, Matt Judon, is pursuing a contract of $20 million per season.

This will likely push Judon out of the Ravens’ price range, seeing as overthecap.com places the Ravens’ “effective cap space” around $14 million.

There are currently five edge rushers and three interior defensive linemen earning $20 million or more per season.

Edge rushers above $20 million

  1. Joey Bosa ($27 million)
  2. Myles Garrett ($25 million)
  3. Khalil Mack ($23.5 million)
  4. Demarcus Lawrence ($21 million)
  5. Frank Clark ($20.8 million)

Also, Broncos OLB Von Miller makes $19 million per season.

Interior defensive lineman above $20 million

  1. Aaron Donald ($22.5 million)
  2. DeForest Buckner ($21 million)
  3. Chris Jones ($20 million)

This price range sounds a bit far for Judon when looking at the stat sheet.

Outside linebacker comparison

Player Contract Sacks TFL QB Hits Force Fumbles
Player Contract Sacks TFL QB Hits Force Fumbles
Joey Bosa $27 million 47.5 68 109 5
Myles Garrett $25 million 42.5 42 83 10
Khalil Mack $23.5 million 70.5 97 129 23
Demarcus Lawrence $21 million 45.5 69 93 15
Frank Clark $20.8 million 49 55 101 11
Matt Judon Free Agent 34.5 54 103 7

Now, these stats aren’t all aligned as some players have played more seasons than Judon (Mack, Lawrence) and some have not. But when it comes to looking at these names and knowing their sack production and pressure production, it’s tough to argue if Judon is comparable to the names above.

Double-digit sack seasons

  • Joey Bosa: 3 of 5
  • Myles Garrett: 3 of 4
  • Khalil Mack: 4 of 7
  • Demarcus Lawrence: 2 of 7
  • Frank Clark: 2 of 6
  • Matt Judon: 0 of 5

There is an argument to be made about the Ravens’ defensive scheme not utilizing their edge rushers in the same way as other teams. It’s noticeable when the Ravens landed Yannick Ngakoue and he went from producing five sacks in six games with the Minnesota Vikings to only producing three sacks in nine games for the Ravens.

That all being said, $20 million for Judon is a steep pricetag. I’m not saying he shouldn’t pursue it as I’m all for the players getting their due, but if that’s the number he wants, he likely won’t be returning in a Ravens’ uniform in 2021.

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