With the 2025 NFL season now officially concluded, the offseason picture will soon begin to take shape. The first and biggest upcoming period on the docket is free agency, which is only a few weeks away. For the Baltimore Ravens, this free agency cycle will be a significant one.
Coming off a disappointing non-playoff season, the Ravens cleaned house in their coaching staff and will need to retool the roster to quickly return to contender status. The Ravens have clear positional needs this offseason and other areas where they can improve upon current strengths. Free agency is a prime opportunity to do this.
Let’s take a look at some of the top available free agents at one position group, defensive tackle, who could be realistic targets for the Ravens to pursue. This will only include external free agents, not the team’s own players who will be hitting the open market.
DT John Franklin-Myers, Denver Broncos
A seven-year veteran and former fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams, Franklin-Myers has established himself as an impactful pass-rusher in the NFL. The 29-year-old has totaled 14.5 sacks over the past two seasons since joining the Broncos to go along with 33 quarterback hits, 44 pressures, and six tackles for loss — despite playing less than 50% of the team’s defensive snaps. After starting just two games in the first two years of his career, Franklin-Myers has since been a full-time starter over the past five years — the first three of which were on the New York Jets. He’s recorded five or more sacks in four total seasons of his career. He may come at a higher price tag but would give the Ravens a big lift up front in terms of getting to the quarterback.
DT DaQuan Jones, Buffalo Bills
Jones has 161 games of starting experience across 12 seasons. He’ll turn 34 years old this coming December, but his production and impact has remained stable over the past few years. Jones has been a full-time starter every season since his rookie year back in 2014 and has 2+ sacks and 5+ sacks in four consecutive years with the Bills. Last season, Jones also had two pass breakups, a forced fumble and almost tied a career-high in pressures with 13. Jones graded out as the 10th defensive lineman in the league per PFF with a mark of 75.5.
DT Sheldon Rankins, Houston Texans
Rankins is a 32-year-old veteran with 10 total seasons under his belt. He’s bounced around a little bit across three AFC teams over the past four years, two with the Houston Texans — where he’s played some of the best football of his career. After playing in only seven games in 2024 with the Cincinnati Bengals, Rankins played all 17 games for the Texans last year and had a solid overall campaign. He totaled over 600 defensive snaps and recorded three sacks, 14 pressures, 35 combined tackles, and nine quarterback hits as a full-time starter for one of the league’s elite defenses. Rankins is not a young long-term solution but can provide an immediate impact in both run defense and as a pass-rusher.
DT D.J. Reader, Detroit Lions
Reader is a well-known name and the Ravens are familiar with him, as he played four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2020-2023. Like Rankins, Reader is 32 years old and a ten-year veteran. He has only 12.5 career sacks and has averaged 5.6 quarterback hits per season. Despite his lack of premier pass-rushing production, Reader is still a sturdy force up front and has made his mark as a high-level run defender. He could pair well with Travis Jones on the defensive line as a complement and rotational piece.
DT Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals
It’s been three years since Campbell departed Baltimore after a memorable three-year stint with the Ravens from 2020-2022. Campbell has staved off what seemed like probable retirement each year and is still chugging along at 40 years old. Given his age, Campbell is obviously a short-term, one-year option. However, he’s still plenty productive. He’s had between 5.0-6.5 sacks in four straight seasons and been durable, playing all 17 games every year since 2022. In Arizona last season, Campbell recorded 16 quarterback hits and eight pressures — both of which are higher than any of his single-season totals with the Ravens previously. A reunion may not be realistic if either side is not truly interested, but it makes sense from a football perspective and would be a nice storyline.
What do you think about these free agent options for the Ravens at interior offensive line? Are there other available players not listed you think the team should pursue? Join in the discussion and share your thoughts below!