Ravens Expected To Allow Pernell McPhee To Sign Elsewhere In Free Agency

Jason Cole of the Bleacher Report expects Ravens OLB Pernell McPhee to test the open market and be allowed to sign with a new team this March.

According to Cole, Baltimore views McPhee in the same way they thought of Paul Kruger a few years, which is that he’s a “complimentary player and not a mainstay player” in their defense.

On top of that, the Ravens do have some salary cap issues that are likely to prevent them from paying McPhee a market-value contract this offseason.

This should come as no surprise given that many have said there is a good chance McPhee will be playing elsewhere at the start of the 2015 season.

McPhee, 26, has played out his rookie contract and will now be an unrestricted free agent in the coming months.

In 2014, he recorded 27 tackles, 7.5 sacks, a forced fumble and four pass defenses over the course of 16 games.

Pro Football Focus has McPhee rated as the No. 2 outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense last year out of 46 qualifying players. Although, McPhee’s impressive rating is due in large part to his ability to play the run, rather than as a pass rusher.

We have McPhee rated as the No. 13 player in our Top 75 Free Agents list.