OTL: A Look at Three Potential Free Agent Additions on Defense

Welcome back, Ravens Flock. Today, I wanted to share my opinions on some veterans on the free-agent market who could be Ravens.

In this crowded market, I see only a couple of names that could really help the team, so I will break down three of them from the best option to the worst.

To me, the best option right now is Jadeveon Clowney:

https://twitter.com/jeffzrebiec/status/2052388088710590562?s=20

Even though this is the best free agent available for the Ravens, he still comes with some questions. Is Clowney a full-time starter or more of a role player? In Dallas last year, he was basically a full-time edge rusher, but would that be his role in purple?

Many see another issue: this move to bring in another edge rusher could basically mean the end for someone like Adisa Isaac. Of course, I would be fine cutting Isaac for Clowney immediately because I’m not sure Isaac actually exists, but how does The Castle feel about that? Do they want to give up on a third-round pick this early?

A bigger issue for me is how signing Clowney impacts the role of Zion Young this year? Young is a rookie, so they may be comfortable with it, but does singing Clowney make Young obsolete in year one?

It’s not as cut-and-dry when it comes to singing these players this late, because we have to consider role, playing time, and how it affects the rest of the roster now that the Draft is over.

With all that said, I do believe Clowney makes the biggest impact out of the three I will discuss here. He had a great year in Dallas and showed, after a disappointing year with the Panthers, that he still does have something in the tank.

I am fifty-fifty on this next one:

Veteran safety Kenny Moore asked for and was granted his release from the Indianapolis Colts today, per source. pic.twitter.com/BwNbEaBTGn

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 7, 2026

I think if we asked the Ravens, this would be the least popular option. Moore is an intriguing name, and he has good play in him, but he is a nickel-only player, and that role is really crowded in Baltimore. With Marlon Humphrey still here and Kyle Hamilton taking snaps at Nickel as well, I am not sure signing a pure nickel would be a good use of cap space. If they sign a corner, I’d prefer a pure boundary player.

So why do I have Moore as my second-best option? Well, I think they could view him as a backup Safety in Jesse Minter’s scheme. With Minter, it’s very common to see three safeties on the field, and that backup spot might be more important to them than most other teams.

And finally, coming in last is a player that has Ravens connections, but I think that ship has sailed…

I really enjoyed Kyle’s time here man but I just think it’s best both sides move in a different direction.

I’d understand if they brought him back though. https://t.co/01aEiWOGbN

— RAMEY (@HoodieRamey) May 5, 2026

I don’t want KVN at this point. Take everything I said negatively about Clowney (role, plying time, roster crunch) and now imagine if that player wasn’t any good anymore. Van Noy looked awful last year, and yeah I get it, Clowney was in a better situation in Dallas. Still, I just think that Clowney is better, and if we are going to sign an edge, I want the better player. No offense to Van Noy, but I just don’t want this.

Of course, the one thing that could change this whole conversation is injuries suffered in camp. Guys are going to fall, and if they fall at one of these positions and any of these guys are still out there, then stuff like roster crunch isn’t a problem any more because we have roles to fill.

To recap, I would go Clowney, then Moore, then Van Noy.

How would you rank them?

The post OTL: A Look at Three Potential Free Agent Additions on Defense appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/05/08/out-to-lunch/free-agents-defense/