CINCINNATI, OH – NOVEMBER 11: Denver Broncos linebacker Shane Ray (56) warms up before the game against the Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals on December 2nd 2018, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
As the second stage of free agency rolls around, a former first-round pick has found a new home in Baltimore.
After four seasons with the Denver Broncos, former first-round pick, Shane Ray will begin the second stage of his career with the Baltimore Ravens. Some might forget that Ray was drafted 23rd overall back in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Ray’s career never took off, and it ended with him barely getting any playing time on a team that was loaded with pass rushers. In his first two seasons with the Broncos, Ray played pretty well. He racked up 12 sacks in 30 games. Unfortunately for him, Ray injured his wrist twice, which led to him missing time on the field. In his last two seasons, he had only two sacks.
The Baltimore Ravens will now attempt to revive Ray’s career. This move to sign Ray is good for both the Ravens and Ray himself. On a team that lost a couple key pass rushers in Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith to free agency, Ray could find himself in a featured role on the defense.
Ray chose the Ravens after also visiting the Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, and Oakland Raiders. All of those teams needed pass rushing help, but with the Ravens, Ray already joins a defense known for its physicality and toughness.
Once a first-round draft pick, Ray has turned into a player on a one-year tryout. If he is able to live up to the potential that he had coming out of college, the Ravens will have gotten a steal. If he continues to struggle and deal with injuries, there will really be no major consequences for the Ravens. Hopefully for Ray, he will be able to turn around his career.