OWINGS MILLS — One day after agreeing to terms with four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry on a multi-year contract, the Ravens made a number of other significant moves on the official opening of free agency on Wednesday.
The team released outside linebacker Tyus Bowser, which will create $5.5 million in salary cap space, according to the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec.
In addition, the Ravens traded right tackle Morgan Moses to the New York Jets and a fourth-round draft pick. In return, the Ravens will receive the Jets’ fourth-round pick (No. 112) and a sixth-round pick (No. 218).
Those moves added $11 million to the Ravens’ 2024 salary cap.
Later on Wednesday, left tackle Ronnie Stanley agreed to rework his contract to reduce his cap hit of $26.2 million, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. And, Ravens defensive end Brent Urban agreed to a one-year deal.
The decision to release Bowser wasn’t a surprise. The Ravens needed the salary-cap relief and Bowser is coming off a major injury. Bowser, who was a second-round pick (47th overall) in the 2017 NFL draft, missed the year after offseason knee surgery. Bowser missed only one game in his first five seasons.
In 2021, he set career highs with seven sacks and 59 tackles. However, he tore his Achilles in the final game of the 2021 season and began 2022 on the physically unable to perform list. He still had 13 tackles and two sacks in the final nine games.
The Ravens also have Tavius Robinson, who played 29 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie fourth-round pick, and is poised to play a bigger role in 2024. Undrafted rookie Malik Hamm made the team out of training camp but spent the year on injured reserve with an ankle injury and will push for more playing time.
The decision to trade to Moses was surprising because the Ravens are already thin on the offensive line. Starting left guard John Simpson agreed to a deal with the Jets at the start of free agency. Starting left guard Kevin Zeitler is a free agent.
That leaves Stanley and center Tyler Lunderbaum as the only starters from last season. The Ravens have the versatile Pat Mekari and second-year player Daniel Faalele, who could step into the starting role as a stopgap. The Ravens are expected to add a tackle in the draft.
By trading Moses, the Ravens gained an additional $5.5 million in cap space.
Urban was a Ravens fourth-round pick in 2014, remained with the team until 2018, and then returned in 2022. Last season, Urban played in 17 regular-season games, finishing with 22 tackles and three sacks. It also means the Ravens are bringing back their entire defensive line from 2023 with Urban, Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Broderick Washington, and Travis Jones.
— This story has been updated