The Ravens made their first transfer to clear wage cap house, agreeing to commerce sturdy security Chuck Clark to the New York Jets for an undisclosed draft decide, the workforce introduced Wednesday.
The transfer, which ESPN and NFL Network reported is for a 2024 seventh-round choice, saves the Ravens about $4.1 million on their 2023 wage cap. Baltimore wanted to clear about $9 million by Wednesday to adjust to the cap, and Clark, 27, was coming into the final yr of his deal.
The 2017 sixth-round pick of Virginia Tech grew to become a starter in 2019 and performed virtually each defensive snap every of the previous three seasons. He made 101 tackles, defended 4 passes and compelled a fumble for a cross protection that ranked eleventh in Football Outsiders’ DVOA in 2022.
Clark was sad when the Ravens signed Marcus Williams in free company final offseason then used a first-round draft decide on Kyle Hamilton. But coaches praised his professionalism within the wake of these strikes, and he finally began beside Williams, with Hamilton thriving because the Ravens’ nickel again.
“It was tough in the beginning, honestly,” Clark stated after the season. “The people around here, they could tell you, I was frustrated. It was mentally challenging. I overcame it, and once I started balling, I got in my comfort zone — getting out there on the field and getting back to it.”
But with Williams signed long-term, Hamilton headed for an even bigger position and monetary constraints created by the nonexclusive franchise tag the Ravens utilized to quarterback Lamar Jackson, Clark grew to become an apparent candidate to be reduce or traded.
He knew as a lot when he spoke to reporters the day after the Ravens’ season ended with a playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
“Oh, yes, definitely,” he stated when requested if he’d wish to be again in Baltimore. “This is the team that drafted me; I’ve been here [for] all my career; I’m comfortable here; I know the other guys, the locker room, the environment. I don’t know. Sometimes, you’ve got to step out of your comfort zone. You never know what’s going to happen.”
With Clark headed to New York, Hamilton can be anticipated to begin at security after he blossomed enjoying in the course of the protection final season.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh stated final week that Hamilton had undergone minor wrist surgical procedure after the season, however he praised the rising star’s versatility: “He’s capable of doing pretty much everything. He covers tight ends really well, he even covered slot receivers pretty well this year, man coverage. That’s pretty unique for a safety.”
The Ravens additionally cleared cap house by releasing defensive finish Calais Campbell and reportedly restructuring offers for operating again Gus Edwards, proper guard Kevin Zeitler and nostril deal with Michael Pierce. Campbell, 36, stated he plans to play a sixteenth NFL season in 2023, and he was the Ravens’ most constant defensive lineman in 2022. But the Ravens saved $7 million by chopping him.
Edwards, 27, averaged 5 yards per carry over 9 video games final yr after he returned from a torn ACL that value him all the 2021 season. The Ravens counted on him as a strong backfield complement to J.Okay. Dobbins.
Other potential cuts embody huge receivers Devin Duvernay ($4.3 million) and James Proche II ($1 million), linebacker Malik Harrison ($1.1 million) and offensive lineman John Simpson ($1 million). The Ravens may additionally clear room by restructuring the offers of left deal with Ronnie Stanley, cornerback Marlon Humphrey or tight finish Mark Andrews, however they’d threat cap difficulties in future years by going that route.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com
