Ravens sign mainstay Suggs to cap
Suggs has become the face of the franchise after the departures of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. (USATSI)The Ravens have agreed to terms with OLB Terrell Suggs on a long-term extension, according to a team source.
Baltimore, with fairly limited cap room and a host of free agents to try to re-sign, will substantially lower Suggs' $12.4M cap hit, the source said, and add at least three years to the one year remaining on his deal.
Suggs, the 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is now poised to retire a Raven, having spent his previous 11 NFL seasons in Baltimore. The Ravens also aim to retain left tackle Eugene Monroe, tight end Dennis Pitta, linebacker Daryl Smith and defensive tackle Art Jones (he may prove too costly), and Baltimore could restructure the deal for defensive tackle Haloti Ngata as well because he has a $16M cap hit.
Suggs is Baltimore's all-time leader in sacks and forced fumbles, but general manager Ozzie Newsom had alluded to possibly making a difficult decision on his status given his slump last season, increasing age and high cap number. But retaining Suggs, in many ways the face of the franchise with Ed Reed and Ray Lewis no longer there, was a top priority, and the Ravens can use his cap savings to address other issues.
The team has announced a press conference with Suggs for Monday and Suggs is presently on his way from his home in Arizona to Baltimore for the announcement tomorrow.
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