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NFL

Ravens put franchise tag on pass rusher Judon

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Baltimore Ravens officially placed the franchise tag on outside linebacker Matthew Judon on Friday, keeping the team’s top pass rusher from hitting free agency.

Judon, 27, reached the first Pro Bowl of his four-year career after leading the Ravens with a personal-best 9.5 sacks and recording the fourth-most quarterback hits in the NFL with 33.

This move had long been expected and it comes at a steep price. The tag on Judon will cost between $16 million and $18 million, which will use more than half of Baltimore’s projected $30 million salary cap space and limit what the team can do in free agency.

The Ravens have traditionally used the tag to buy time to get a long-term deal done. The last five players franchised by Baltimore — cornerback Chris McAlister (2003 and 2004), linebacker Terrell Suggs (2008 and 2009), defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (2011), running back Ray Rice (2012) and kicker Justin Tucker (2016) — eventually got contracts that made them among the highest paid at their positions.

Matthew Judon has 24.5 sacks since 2017 — the most by any Ravens player during that span. Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports

“I’d rather have a long-term deal for stability,” Judon said Friday in a text to ESPN’s Josina Anderson. “It is what it is. I feel like this is what many of us go through that are facing free agency. At the end of the day, I know I’m playing football next season.”

Baltimore, which finished with the NFL’s best regular season record last season at 14-2, couldn’t risk losing Judon. Addressing the pass rush has become an offseason priority for the Ravens after ranking 21st in the league with 37 sacks, their fewest since 2015.

Not retaining Judon would’ve been a tough sell a year after losing another pass-rusher in his prime.

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DeCosta said at the combine that a long-term deal is “something that we would love to get accomplished.”

Judon could also be a candidate to get tagged and traded, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported in January. Sources told Schefter that Ravens officials are likely to listen if another team expresses interest in acquiring him.

Asked about his future after the playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans, Judon said, “Honestly. I love it in Baltimore. I’m appreciative of DeCosta, of Ozzie [Newsome], of Coach ‘Harbs’ [John Harbaugh] giving me an opportunity. They trusted in me starting for the last three years. They gave me a bigger portion this year as my role on the team, and I’m forever grateful to them. But ultimately, that’s a decision that comes from them and me.”

There are questions whether Judon is a good or elite pass rusher. He has the most sacks by any Ravens player since 2017 with 24.5, but he didn’t make a sack in 2019 when part of a four-man rush (all came on blitzes).

A fifth-round pick in 2016, Judon was one of three NFL defenders in 2019 to record at least 50 tackles, nine sacks, 30 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles. The others were Shaquil Barrett and T.J. Watt.

Coaches and teammates have raved over the years about how hard Judon studies and practices, from playing on the punt return team in recent years to setting the edge on run plays to relentlessly chasing down quarterbacks. With Smith and Terrell Suggs gone this past season, Judon also stepped up as a leader on defense.

“He’s probably, as much as anybody, our anchor, or certainly one of the big anchors in our defense,” Harbaugh said toward the end of the regular season. “He’s proven who he is as a football player. He’s established himself as one of the top outside linebacker, pass-rusher, edge-setters in the National Football League right now.”

NFL

Complete 2020 NFL draft order: Every pick from 1 to 255

9:00 PM ET

  • Offensive efficiency ranking: 30th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 25th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 16th
    Overall ranking: 31st

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 32nd
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 27th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 4th
    Overall ranking: 32nd

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 19th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 29th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 1st
    Overall ranking: 25th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 25th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 28th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 17th
    Overall ranking: 29th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 24th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 30th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 22nd
    Overall ranking: 30th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 16th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 23rd
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 21st
    Overall ranking: 20th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 28th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 20th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 23rd
    Overall ranking: 27th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 13th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 31st
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 14th
    Overall ranking: 26th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 26th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 26th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 6th
    Overall ranking: 28th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 22nd
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 22nd
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 9th
    Overall ranking: 23rd

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 29th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 15th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 15th
    Overall ranking: 24th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 6th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 32nd
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 28th
    Overall ranking: 22nd

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 18th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 12th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 32nd
    Overall ranking: 19th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 20th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 8th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 31st
    Overall ranking: 15th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 23rd
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 16th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 5th
    Overall ranking: 18th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 12th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 24th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 29th
    Overall ranking: 21st

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 3rd
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 18th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 30th
    Overall ranking: 8th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 24th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 30th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 22nd
    Overall ranking: 30th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 6th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 32nd
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 28th
    Overall ranking: 22nd

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 26th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 26th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 6th
    Overall ranking: 28th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 11th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 19th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 26th
    Overall ranking: 14th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 21st
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 5th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 3rd
    Overall ranking: 10th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 17th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 1st
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 9th
    Overall ranking: 4th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 4th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 11th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 2nd
    Overall ranking: 5th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 5th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 10th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 25th
    Overall ranking: 7th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 24th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 30th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 22nd
    Overall ranking: 30th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 14th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 17th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 11th
    Overall ranking: 13th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 2nd
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 4th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 12th
    Overall ranking: 1st

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 10th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 14th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 27th
    Overall ranking: 12th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 9th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 6th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 24th
    Overall ranking: 6th

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 8th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 3rd
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 20th
    Overall ranking: 3rd

    Offensive efficiency ranking: 4th
    Defensive efficiency ranking: 13th
    Special-teams efficiency ranking: 9th
    Overall ranking: 4th

    Note: * denotes a compensatory pick.

    Round 2

    33. Cincinnati
    34. Indianapolis (from Washington)
    35. Detroit
    36. N.Y. Giants
    37. L.A. Chargers
    38. Carolina
    39. Miami
    40. Arizona
    41. Cleveland
    42. Jacksonville
    43. Chicago (from Las Vegas)
    44. Indianapolis
    45. Tampa Bay
    46. Denver
    47. Atlanta
    48. N.Y. Jets
    49. Pittsburgh
    50. Chicago
    51. Dallas
    52. L.A. Rams
    53. Philadelphia
    54. Buffalo
    55. Atlanta (from New England)
    56. Miami (from New Orleans)
    57. Houston
    58. Minnesota
    59. Seattle
    60. Baltimore
    61. Tennessee
    62. Green Bay
    63. Kansas City (from San Francisco)
    64. Seattle (from Kansas City)

    Round 3

    65. Cincinnati
    66. Washington
    67. Detroit
    68. N.Y. Jets (from N.Y. Giants)
    69. Carolina
    70. Miami
    71. L.A. Chargers
    72. Arizona
    73. Jacksonville
    74. Cleveland
    75. Indianapolis
    76. Tampa Bay
    77. Denver
    78. Atlanta
    79. N.Y. Jets
    80. Las Vegas
    81. Las Vegas (from Chicago)
    82. Dallas
    83. Denver (from Pittsburgh)
    84. L.A. Rams
    85. Philadelphia
    86. Buffalo
    87. New England
    88. New Orleans
    89. Minnesota
    90. Houston
    91. Las Vegas (from Seattle)
    92. Baltimore
    93. Tennessee
    94. Green Bay
    95. Denver (from San Francisco)
    96. Kansas City
    97. Cleveland (from Houston)*
    98. New England*
    99. N.Y. Giants*
    100. New England*
    101. Seattle*
    102. Pittsburgh*
    103. Philadelphia*
    104. L.A. Rams*
    105. Minnesota*
    106. Baltimore*

    Round 4

    107. Cincinnati
    108. Washington
    109. Detroit
    110. N.Y. Giants
    111. Houston (from Miami)
    112. L.A. Chargers
    113. Carolina
    114. Arizona
    115. Cleveland
    116. Jacksonville
    117. Tampa Bay
    118. Denver
    119. Atlanta
    120. N.Y. Jets
    121. Las Vegas
    122. Indianapolis
    123. Dallas
    124. Pittsburgh
    125. New England (from Chicago)
    126. L.A. Rams
    127. Philadelphia
    128. Buffalo
    129. Baltimore (from New England)
    130. New Orleans
    131. Houston
    132. Minnesota
    133. Seattle
    134. Baltimore
    135. Pittsburgh (from Tennessee through Miami)
    136. Green Bay
    137. Denver (from San Francisco)
    138. Kansas City
    139. Tampa Bay*
    140. Chicago*
    141. Miami*
    142. Washington*
    143. Baltimore*
    144. Seattle*
    145. Philadelphia*
    146. Philadelphia*

    Round 5

    147. Cincinnati
    148. Washington
    149. Detroit
    150. N.Y. Giants
    151. L.A. Chargers
    152. Carolina
    153. Miami
    154. Miami (from Jacksonville through Pittsburgh)
    155. Buffalo (from Cleveland)
    156. San Francisco (from Denver)
    157. Atlanta
    158. N.Y. Jets
    159. Las Vegas
    160. Indianapolis
    161. Tampa Bay
    162. Seattle (from Pittsburgh)
    163. Chicago
    164. Dallas
    165. Jacksonville (from L.A. Rams)
    166. Philadelphia
    167. Buffalo
    168. Philadelphia (from New England)
    169. New Orleans
    170. Baltimore (from Minnesota)
    171. Houston
    172. Detroit (from Seattle)
    173. Miami (from Baltimore through L.A. Rams)
    174. Tennessee
    175. Green Bay
    176. San Francisco
    177. Kansas City
    178. Denver*
    179. Dallas*

    Round 6

    180. Cincinnati
    181. Denver (from Washington)
    182. Detroit
    183. N.Y. Giants
    184. Carolina
    185. Miami
    186. L.A Chargers
    187. Cleveland (from Arizona)
    188. Buffalo (from Cleveland)
    189. Jacksonville
    190. Philadelphia (from Atlanta)
    191. N.Y. Jets
    192. Green Bay (from Las Vegas)
    193. Indianapolis
    194. Tampa Bay
    195. New England (from Denver)
    196. Chicago
    197. Indianapolis (from Dallas through Miami)
    198. Pittsburgh
    199. L.A. Rams
    200. Chicago (from Philadelphia)
    201. Buffalo
    202. Arizona (from New England)
    203. New Orleans
    204. New England (from Houston)
    205. Minnesota
    206. Jacksonville (from Seattle)
    207. Buffalo (from Baltimore through New England)
    208. Green Bay (from Tennessee)
    209. Green Bay
    210. San Francisco
    211. N.Y. Jets (from Kansas City)
    212. New England*
    213. New England*
    214. Seattle*

    Round 7

    215. Cincinnati
    216. Washington
    217. San Francisco (from Detroit)
    218. N.Y. Giants
    219. Minnesota (from Miami)
    220. L.A. Chargers
    221. Carolina
    222. Arizona
    223. Jacksonville
    224. Tennessee (from Cleveland)
    225. Baltimore (from N.Y. Jets)
    226. Chicago (from Las Vegas)
    227. Miami (from Indianapolis)
    228. Atlanta (from Tampa Bay through Philadelphia)
    229. Washington (from Denver)
    230. New England (from Atlanta)
    231. Dallas
    232. Pittsburgh
    233. Chicago
    234. L.A. Rams
    235. New England (from Philadelphia)
    236. Green Bay (from Buffalo through Cleveland)
    237. Denver (from New England)
    238. N.Y. Giants (from New Orleans)
    239. Minnesota
    240. Houston
    241. New England (from Seattle)
    242. Green Bay from Baltimore
    243. Tennessee
    244. Cleveland (from Green Bay)
    245. San Francisco
    246. Miami (from Kansas City)
    247. N.Y. Giants*
    248. Houston*
    249. Minnesota*
    250. Houston*
    251. Miami*
    252. Denver*
    253. Minnesota*
    254. Denver*
    255. N.Y. Giants*

    The number of draft picks by team:

    MIA, 14
    DEN, 12
    NE, 12
    GB, 10
    MIN, 10
    NYG, 10
    PHI, 10
    BAL, 9
    BUF, 9
    JAX, 9
    CHI, 8
    HOU, 8
    IND, 8
    NYJ, 8
    SEA, 8
    ATL, 7
    CAR, 7
    CIN, 7
    CLE, 7
    DAL, 7
    DET, 7
    LV, 7
    LAC, 7
    TB, 7
    WAS, 7
    ARI, 6
    LAR, 6
    PIT, 6
    SF, 6
    TEN, 6
    KC, 5
    NO, 5

NFL

Dolphins to cut 2-time Pro Bowl safety Jones

The Miami Dolphins are releasing two-time Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones.

The move, which will become official March 18, frees up $5.3 million against the Dolphins’ salary cap. With Jones’ salary off the books, Miami has around $90 million in cap space, tops in the league.

?”We want to thank Reshad for everything he has done for the Miami Dolphins,” general manager Chris Grier said in a statement. “I have known Reshad since spending time with him at Georgia and have been impressed with everything he’s been able to accomplish. We wish him the best moving forward.”

Jones, who turned 32 in February, established himself as one of the Dolphins’ core players for the past decade. He was the team’s longest-tenured player after being selected in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft.

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The end in Miami was clear for Jones, who has had surgery on both shoulders over the past few years. His large salary-cap number, age and injury history didn’t fit with the rebuilding Dolphins.

Jones, who signed a five-year, $60 million deal in March 2017, was set to make $11.5 million in 2020, with $2 million already guaranteed.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection has 21 interceptions, 10.5 sacks and 4 defensive touchdowns in his career. He played just four games in 2019, notching 27 tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass deflection before ending the season on injured reserve.

ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe contributed to this report.

NFL

Panthers re-sign QB Kyle Allen to 1-year deal

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers on Tuesday signed quarterback Kyle Allen, set to become an exclusive-rights free agent, to a one-year deal.

Carolina now has three quarterbacks — Cam Newton, Will Grier and Allen — under contract for the 2020 season.

Allen started 12 games last season after Newton reaggravated a Lisfranc injury in a Week 2 loss to Tampa Bay. He won his first four starts and, coupled with a victory in the 2018 season finale, became the first quarterback in NFL history to win his first five starts with no interceptions.

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Allen then lost seven of his next eight starts to finish 5-7 in 2019. He had four touchdown passes in his first start and seven touchdowns to no interceptions in his first four starts but then had nine touchdown passes and 12 interceptions over his next seven starts. He was undrafted out of Houston in 2018.

Grier, a third-round pick out of West Virginia, started the final two games and went 0-2.

New Carolina coach Matt Rhule recently said at the NFL combine in Indianapolis that he expects Newton to be on his roster in September. He didn’t guarantee the first pick of the 2011 draft or any other player on the roster a starting spot and reiterated that everything surrounding Newton hinges on his health.

Newton continues to rehab from Lisfranc surgery he had in December. He has shown steady progress and has posted numerous videos and pictures on social media showing him throwing and moving on his left foot without limitation.

Newton is expected to be ready to begin offseason workouts on April 6 at least on a limited basis

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