Former Baltimore Ravens active in NFL Free Agency
By Joe Serpico
Oct 26, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker
Pernell McPhee(90) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Bengals defeated the Ravens 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The 26-year-old from Mississippi State has reportedly signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Chicago Bears. The deal is worth nearly $16 million in guaranteed money, quite a hefty price tag for a situational pass-rusher.
The Bears are switching to a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and are asking for a lot from a player who struggles in run defense. This has the potential of being another case where Ozzie Newsome makes the right decision not to overpay an average player as several linebackers have failed in their moves outside of Baltimore (Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe to name a few).
McPhee was a fifth-round pick in 2011 and only has six starts in his career with zero starts over the past two seasons. The versatile McPhee registered a career-high 7.5 sacks while only playing in 47.2 percent of the Ravens defensive snaps during the 2014 season. McPhee was acquired as a compensatory pick and his departure should land the Ravens another compensatory pick in next year’s draft.
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