ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 24: Derek Wolfe #95 of the Denver Broncos runs onto the field ... [+]
The Baltimore Ravens did not wait long after the Michael Brockers deal fell apart late last week to sign veteran defensive end Derek Wolfe to a one-year deal, the team confirmed Monday.
Wolfe gives the Ravens what Brockers would have — a big body on the defensive line. Brockers had been strong at stopping the run, but Wolfe turned in a career-high seven sacks this season with Denver.
Baltimore desperately wanted to improve its pass rush, which wound up being a bit of a weakness at times in 2019 and forced the Ravens to blitz a lot. The team’s defensive front three now will have Wolfe, Brandon Williams and Calais Campbell. Outside linebacker Matthew Judon should give the team even more punch in the pass rush but getting Wolfe was the right move after losing Brockers.
“Derek is the type of veteran player who fits our defense perfectly,” executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement announcing the deal Monday night on the team’s site. “He’s been on great teams. He’s versatile, smart, talented and a tough guy. We are so happy that he’s joining our organization.”
The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Wolfe has been in the NFL eight years — all with the Broncos — and played in 108 games, each of which has been starts. He’s got 299 tackles plus 33 sacks, and both of those stats are numbers that surely interested the Ravens.
The signing of Wolfe is even better because he’s a veteran and should make the defensive line more experienced with three players who can rush the passer and stop the run. Baltimore already has a very good secondary, and the team now is going to either try and make a few more moves at linebacker or grab some talent there through the draft.
Wolfe told a Denver station that he was really happy about coming to the Ravens and having a chance to grab a second Super Bowl ring. He started on the 2015 Broncos’ team which upset Carolina in Super Bowl 50 to win it all.
“It's a chance to compete for a Super Bowl. [The Ravens] have a great defense," Wolfe told Denver7 through the Ravens’ web site. “It is a make-good deal, but I feel like I have plenty of good football left. I am coming off one of my best seasons. I was on pace for 10-plus sacks. That's my goal to get that every year. But I am super stoked."
The combination of Wolfe, Campbell and Judon already makes the team’s pass rush that much better heading into 2020. Baltimore had vowed to an improve an already-good defense after going 14-2 and winning the AFC North, but now the aforementioned linebacking crew is the only area that need some help.
DeCosta seems to move fast to make his deals, and that’s something that people in the organization should like. The Ravens could have waited until next month’s draft to look for help, but they’ve now got a more stable and powerful line on defense, and that’s going to make the team better and support an already-strong offense.
