Baltimore Ravens Rumors: Team Reportedly Close To Landing Vince Wilfork, But Patriots Could Steal Him Back
The Baltimore Ravens are rumored to be strong in the hunt for Vince Wilfork, an acquisition that could catapult the team back to Super Bowl contention.
Though Wilfork is reportedly waiting a bit to make his decision, sources say that the Ravens are one of the three teams tight in contention to land the big defensive lineman.
As HNGN noted, Wilfork could be a very good fit for the Ravens.
“The Ravens could take a look at Wilfork if the price is right after failing to reach an agreement on a contract extension with Ngata. Even at 33-years-old, Wilfork would be able to contribute efficiently because Ravens’ defensive coordinator Dean Pees likes to rotate his line, as seen below with the team’s snap-count analysis from the 2014 season.
“NT Brandon Williams 524 snaps (50.6 percent); DT Haloti Ngata 504 snaps (48.7 percent); DE Chris Canty 327 snaps (31.6 percent); DT Timmy Jernigan 290 snaps (28 percent); DE DeAngelo Tyson 264 snaps (25.5 percent); DE Lawrence Guy 200 snaps (19.3 percent); DT Christo Bilukidi 45 snaps (4.3 percent); DT Casey Walker 9 snaps (1 percent); and NT Terrence Cody 8 snaps (1 percent).”
Whatever happens, whether he goes to the Baltimore Ravens or Indianapolis Colts or one of the other teams reportedly in the running, Vince Wilfork isn’t going to rush things.
“There are about five or six other teams, mostly AFC teams, couple in the NFC, that are looking to add a player of Vince’s magnitude,” Wilfork’s agent, Houston-based Kennard McGuire, told Mark Berman of Fox 26 in Houston. “Vince is going to take his time.”
McGuire added that Wilfork will be looking for a team that feels like the best fit.
“It’s no different than Andre [Johnson] when [he] made his decision,” McGuire said. “That decision was based off of familiarity and with Vince you have those same elements.”
But the Baltimore Ravens may have some tight competition in the hunt Vince Wilfork. There had been rumors that the big defensive lineman could actually end up back with the New England Patriots, though the team’s recent two-year, $6.6 million contract for Alan Branch may make that a bit more unlikely. And with the Patriots now cutting Wilfork — one year after restructuring his contract — it may take a lot to bring him back once more.
I wondered about Vince Wilfork and we’re he’ll land. He’s considering 4 teams (including #Pats & #Texans). Will take his time.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2015
If the rumors regarding the Baltimore Ravens landing Vince Wilfork turn out to be true, it could be a huge boost to the team’s defense. The Ravens, now two seasons removed from their Super Bowl victory, recently shipped off their Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and may have found a fellow future Hall of Famer to replace him.
[Photo courtesy of Elise Amendola/AP file photo via Boston.com]
