After not being able to come to agreement on a new contract by the 4pm start of the new NFL league year, the Ravens have traded Haloti Ngata and 7th Round Draft Pick to the Detroit Lions for 4th and 5th round picks in the upcoming 2015 Draft. This move creates $8.5 million in cap space for the Ravens, giving them much needed room under the salary cap to make improvements to the team.
Originally drafted by the Ravens in the 1st round (12th overall) in 2006, Ngata went on to star for the team for nine seasons, including five Pro Bowl appearances from 2008-2013. He was a force in the middle of the defensive line, clogging up running lanes and collapsing the pocket to open up opportunities for fellow pass rushers and helping to continue the tradition of stout Baltimore defenses.
Ngata ended his final season in Baltimore with some controversy after testing positivity for Adderall and missing the final four games via the subsequent suspension. While the Ravens will certainly miss Ngata’s presence in the middle, the performance of Timmy Jernigan and Brandon Williams during Ngata’s absence surely provides some comfort that the defensive line remains in good hands.
