No die-hard Baltimore Ravens fan enjoys seeing their favorite players wind up with rebuilding teams. Sometimes, however, the moves make sense as we've long adjusted to the uncomfortable reality of NFL business.
Sentiment rarely survives the salary cap. Projections, roster math, and a numbers game played every spring bring at least one pairing that feels a little off to the people who care most. Sure enough, two of The Flock's most beloved overachievers just got linked to a couple of franchises still trying to climb out of the NFL's basement.
ESPN's Matt Bowen recently released a free-agency projection. It's his theory on the best team fits for the top 50 players. Tyler Linderbaum (ranked third) landed with the New York Giants. That one sort of makes sense. It's a theory we've heard before. Tight end Isaiah Likely packs his bags and joins the Washington Commanders.
K'Lavon Chaisson made our list of potential replacements for Kyle Van Noy if Van Noy leaves, so we can certainly give Bowen's theory the thumbs-up. In terms of the optics, here's what he said was the reason for connecting the dots.
"The Ravens had only 30 sacks in 2025, the third fewest in the league, and defenders Kyle Van Noy and Dre'Mont Jones are free agents. Chaisson, who had a career-high 7.5 sacks with the Patriots last season, would fill a void off the edge as an explosive rusher, and he can drop as a coverage defender in coach Jesse Minter's scheme."
Former Raven Odafe Oweh stays with the Los Angeles Chargers if you're interested. The logic with all of these ideas is hard to argue with. In terms of where Baltimore stands, they need juice on the edge, as they're also in danger of losing David Ojabo and Dre'Mont Jones.
Chaisson flashed the kind of late-bloom production that makes front offices believe there's more to unlock. Whether or not he joins the Ravens won't be learned until free agency begins, but as part of a defense shaped by Jesse Minter's versatility, the tools make sense, even if it won't make familiar faces hang around for a cheap and extended stay.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens should covet this versatile pass rusher