The re-tooling of the Baltimore Ravens defense took another step forward this afternoon as it was announced through the Ravens twitter account that the team had reached a five-year deal in principal with DE/LB Elvis Dumervil.
Dumervil, 29, brings an immense amount of talent to the Ravens after a fax machine blunder started his release from the Denver Broncos last week.
It was reported as late as Saturday afternoon that Dumervil had narrowed his choices down to both Baltimore and a return to Denver before deciding on a contract worth reportedly as much as $35 million, including $8.5 million in 2013 ($7.5 million signing bonus, $1 million base salary) according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
After the embarrassment of the Broncos/Dumervil situation, Mike Klis of the Denver Post reported that Dumervil wasn’t “looking to break the bank” with a deal, but that the destination that he landed was going to be a place where he “felt wanted“.
The six-year veteran racked up 37.5 sacks the last three seasons and has played both OLB and DE for the Broncos. With the Ravens, he’ll most likely see time at outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Dean Pees’ 3-4 defensive scheme.
Losing Paul Kruger to free agency, the Ravens looked to replace him with talent through either FA or the draft. They did just that with one of the premier pass rushers on the market, essentially falling into the laps of Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens front office.
Dumervil will have to pass a physical before the signing is official, and the Ravens have reported that he will take his physical on Tuesday.
Matt Lund is a contributor for BaltimoreSportsReport.com and co-host of the BSR Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @MattCLund.
Love this move.
Unlike the other “Pink Hat” Ravens fans, I don’t see where they lost that much this offseason. Krueger? It took him 3 years to get on the field. Boldin? Old, slot receiver. Ellerbee? The latest Adalius Thomas. Reed? Malcontent nutcase.
Elvis is a hug pick up. Nice, nice move by the Ravens.
*huge
Say it with me, Baldermoor: “In Ozzie We Trust”!!!
LOVE this move, Ravens beat Denver again. With Elvis and Suggs pressuring the QB and Canty/Spears bolstering the run stoppage, the Ravens stellar D is back. This D despite the subtraction will be one for the record books. Way to build on the SB championship team.
big pickup for this team. as the weeks unfolded it became more clear ozzie was trying to build up the pass rush and doing it inexpensively. mr. kool fell into their lap and at the same time the ravens got to stick it to the broncos again with this steal. best part is they’re stuck with the 5m against their cap by cutting him.
There is one problem,,,,,,,who do the Ravens let go in order to pay for him , my guess is McKinney and Leach,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
the cap his is only 2.5 for this year, but either way, mckinnie is probably not coming back as I see them going after someone from the draft.
Umm, read the tea leaves, spy…if you go up against Harbaugh you lose! Pollard? Gone. Reed? Gone. Boldin? Gone. J. Johnson last year? Gone.
McKinnie aint coming back, fella.
I agree , but they need his cap space more than they need him , they think…………….he did step it up in the playoffs and while I don’t think he has 16 plus games in him he could share left tackle with a young draftee and be rested for the playoffs if tnhey make it this year,,,,,,,,,just my thoughts……………….
I agree with mystery man , he is so smart………..