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Early in the 2019 season the Ravens lost recently extended CB Tavon Young. It left the team without the depth many expected but the rest of the star-caliber crew remained. Between Earl Thomas, Tony Jefferson, Jimmy Smith, Marlon Humphrey and Anthony Averett, the confidence was still strong with the secondary. Things don’t always pan out though, which left Eric DeCosta needing to make a move. He did so by trading LB Kenny Young, who lost the starting role and was healthy scratched, plus a fifth-round pick, to scoop up Peters from the Los Angeles Rams. It took only nine games with the flock for DeCosta to confirm his confidence in Peters as a player for the future. He’s now a Raven for three more years and it’s been solidified with $32 million guaranteed.
I think this is a great deal for both sides and I’m content with the price tag. Surely, Peters would’ve made more on the open market but the Ravens are in a great position to compete for the AFC for the next three years, leaving the Ravens as a fine landing spot before his contract expires at only 29 years of age for the cornerback. In all, DeCosta turned a fifth-round pick and an unsuccessful linebacker into a star cornerback for the franchise and paid him handsomely for his production. Great work.
Kyle P. Barber
The brilliance of Eric DeCosta is on full display with this extension.
The reported $14 million average annual salary is quite reasonable for the premiere ballhawk in the game today. With a short-term deal that includes large guarantees, the Ravens locked up Peters before his price tag could be bid up in free agency. Major win-win for both sides.
Cornerback is arguably the second most valuable position on the roster. Now the Ravens will enter year three of Lamar Jackson’s ultra cheap rookie contract with a core of Pro Bowlers at most of the premium positions. And ample cap flexibility remaining to continue adding (or retaining in Matthew Judon’s case) bluechippers.
DeCosta’s savvy roster management has provided the playmakers to make a dynasty possible in Baltimore.
Vasilis Lericos
With Peters likely to demand a hefty sum on the free agent market, locking him up before the end of the season is a veteran-like move from a first-year GM, which is what Eric DeCosta has done all year long. Peters can be frustrating at times but unlike in Los Angeles and Kansas City, the Ravens have the coaching, scheme and personnel to maximize his All-Pro talents, which is exactly what they’ll do over the next three seasons. Peters is aggressive, confident and talented, much like Marlon Humphrey. Between these two, the Ravens have their cornerback duo for the foreseeable future.
Frank J. Platko
Acquiring Marcus Peters was a turning point for the Ravens this season. They allowed only 14.67 points per game since Peters has joined the team, and he has re-established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the game. This is another sharp deal by Eric DeCosta. Peters will cost a mere average of $14 million per season, which is less than the salary cap value of six other cornerbacks under contract in 2020 (Stephon Gilmore, Kyle Fuller, A.J. Bouye, Josh Norman, Desmond Trufant, Trumaine Johnson).
Jakob Ashlin
Eric DeCosta continues to value the secondary first and foremost, locking up a true playmaker for the foreseeable future. Peters has 27 interceptions since he was drafted. The next closest player is Darius Slay, who has only 17 in that time. Peters is the NFL’s current ballhawk.
Schematically, Peters will make passers think twice before firing off quick hitters underneath and outside, which has been a weakness of their defense over the past few seasons.
Peters would certainly make more money on the open market, but the a Ravens gave Peters an ample amount of guaranteed money and clearly Peters is happy in Baltimore. If Tavon Young is able to return to form in the slot with Peters and Humphrey manning the boundary, the Ravens reign of terror on opposing passers will continue for years to come.
Eric Decosta strikes again, turning a 5th round pick and back up linebacker into a long term answer at the cornerback position. This contract extension keeps Peters in Baltimore for the duration of Lamar Jackson’s rookie contract, the first of many big deals ahead to shore up the defense while the Super Bowl window is wide open. Peters is a natural fit in the Ravens aggressive defensive scheme and will pair perfectly with Marlon Humphrey for the foreseeable future. The “Homegirls” over in Cleveland will have plenty of time this offseason to contemplate their future in the AFC North with the no-fly zone fully established in Baltimore.
Spencer Shultz
Eric DeCosta continues to get it done as he locks up one of the league’s best corners. Peters has been phenomenal since arriving in Baltimore and has played a huge role in turning the defense into a top unit after spiraling down to one of the worst earlier this season. Peters, Marlon Humphrey, and Tavon Young will make for a masterful trio of cornerbacks for hopefully years to come.
Dustin Cox
Eric Decosta strikes again, turning a fifth-round pick and backup linebacker into a long-term answer at the cornerback position. This contract extension keeps Peters in Baltimore for the duration of Lamar Jackson’s rookie contract, the first of many big deals ahead to shore up the defense while the Super Bowl window is wide open. Peters is a natural fit in the Ravens aggressive defensive scheme and will pair perfectly with Marlon Humphrey for the foreseeable future. The “Homegirls” over in Cleveland will have plenty of time this offseason to contemplate their future in the AFC North with the no-fly zone fully established in Baltimore.
Eric Misotti
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