The 2024 offseason for the Baltimore Ravens and their general manager Eric DeCosta will be filled with difficult choices. The cap situation they face leaves them in a position where they may need to cut players from the roster to create more space for free agents.
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Writer Glenn Erby of USA Today’s Ravens Wire discussed ways in which the Ravens might be able to free up cap money in the 2024 offseason. He suggested a few actions, including “Post June 1 Cut, Trade — Tyus Bowser.”
Erby estimates that the Ravens could save $5.5 million in cap space and only face a $2 million dead cap impact by cutting or selling Bowser. Erby cites “Bowser’s one-year remaining on his extension and a team-friendly cap hit” as contributing factors in this.
Bowser is coming into the final season his 4-year, $22 million contract extension he signed during the 2021 offseason.
Tyus Bowser’s Career with the Ravens Has Ended
In the second round of the 2017 draft, the Ravens selected Houston native Bowser. Erby states that although they had great expectations for the linebacker, “Bowser has been up and down since being drafted.”
Erby says, “He never started more than two games in his first four seasons.” In his first four seasons, Bowser was only able to record a career-high 34 combined tackles.
The linebacker found himself on special teams to begin his career most of the time and by 2020 he reached a 51% snap percentage on defense.
The Ravens clearly still believed in the young linebacker following the 2020 season as they gave him a contract extension with a significant raise.
Bowser showed gratitude by having his finest season to date. Bowser recorded 56 total tackles, 7.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and fifteen quarterback hits while playing inside linebacker next to Patrick Queen.
He was playing 77% of the defensive snaps, and it was by far his greatest career of the year. But against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season finale, he tore his Achilles.
“Bowser has played nine games since,” according to Erby, following that injury. Due to his rehabilitation, Bowser missed the beginning of the 2021 season and struggled to regain his form after his return.
In the nine games that he participated in, he was only able to contribute 13 total tackles. The amount of playing time he would have was further restricted by the signing of Roquan Smith.
Erby notes that the linebacker’s situation did not improve: “Bowser missed every game this past season [2023] due to offseason knee surgery following the 2022 season.”
Ravens Cap Predicament Limits Them
This offseason, general manager DeCosta has his job cut out for him. OverTheCap reports that the Ravens’ current cap space available to the general manager is only roughly $7.3 million.
Erby’s suggestion of trading or cutting Bowser is only one of the potential moves that DeCosta could make to clear up around $51 million in cap space.
