Ravens Unlikely To Pick Up S Matt Elam’s Fifth-Year Option

Jamison Hensley of ESPN writes that the Ravens are unlikely to pick up S Matt Elam‘s fifth-year option in the coming weeks.

This probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given how disappointing Elam has been since entering the NFL back in 2013. In fact, Hensley refers to Elam as the “biggest first-round bust in the Ravens’ 20-year draft history.”

The fifth-year option will run the Ravens over $5.6 million in 2017, but is guaranteed only for injury and won’t prevent them from working on a long-term extension over the next year.

Elam’s 2015 season ended after he suffered a torn biceps back August. However, Elam wound up being suspended one game without pay for violating the NFL substance abuse policy.

Elam, 24, was taken with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2013 draft. He’s in the final year of his four-year, $6.767 million rookie contract that included $5.439 guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $1,327,773 in 2016.

In 2014, Elam appeared in all 16 games for the Ravens and recorded 50 tackles, a half sack, a forced fumble and five pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 78 cornerback out of 87 qualifying players.