Ravens Discussing Possibility Of Making DL Timmy Jernigan Available For Trade?

Michael Lombardi of The Ringer mentioned on “The NFL Show” that he’s heard the Ravens are discussing the possibility of trading DL Timmy Jernigan now that they’ve signed Brandon Williams to a big-money extension.

“I think you’ve got to look at this like the Malcolm Butler situation in New England. They give [Stephon] Gilmore all that money. Okay is Butler is available? I think Timmy Jernigan is the next guy,” Lombardi said. “Jernigan’s going to command a huge salary and is really one of their better defensive linemen. Does Ozzie Newsome want to trade him or does Ozzie Newsome feel like he can sign him? If he can’t get him signed, does he trade him for say a third- or fourth-round pick as opposed to waiting for the compensatory or does he just hold on to him and play him for one year.”

“I hear they’re talking about moving Jernigan. I think Jernigan is a fabulous player but they can’t afford to sign him. If you’re a team like Jacksonville, and you know you can afford him, why not give up a third- or fourth-round pick for Jernigan and get another defensive lineman and do it before free agency and keep the kid.”

This is surprising to hear, considering that Jernigan has quickly developed into one of the better young defensive linemen in the NFL. However, Lombardi’s point that the Ravens could have a tough time paying him too after they gave Brandon Williams a massive five-year, $52.5 million contract that includes $24.5 million guaranteed just a few weeks ago.

If Baltimore really gets the sense that they won’t be able to retain Jernigan after this season and feels they would be okay without him in 2017, it could make sense to see if they can recoup a mid-round pick for him now, as opposed to waiting for a compensatory pick in 2018.

Jernigan, 24, is a former second-round pick of the Ravens back in 2014. He’s currently entering the final year of his four-year, $4.382 million contract that included $2.126 million guaranteed and is set to make a base salary of $1,017,669 for the 2017 season.

According to OverTheCap.com, trading Jernigan would free up $1,017,669 of available cap space while creating $376,891 in dead money for the Ravens.

In 2016, Jernigan appeared in all 16 games for the Ravens and recorded 31 tackles, five sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and three pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 42 interior defender out of 127 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding a potential trade involving Jernigan as the news is available.