Baltimore Ravens release linebacker Elvis Dumervil

Sep 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil (58) assists Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) off the turf in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Ravens 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil (58) assists Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) off the turf in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Ravens 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Ravens have released outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil. The 33-year-old started only three games for the team last season.

The Baltimore Ravens have released outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil, according to former Ravens wide receiver, and apparently now-NFL insider, Steve Smith on Twitter.  Dumervil, who is 33-years-old, only started three games for the Baltimore Ravens last season due to a foot injury.

Dumervil has put together an excellent career as a pass-rusher through his ten years in the NFL, racking up 253 career tackles, 99 career sacks, and 23 career forced fumbles. The Ravens, however, are looking to save some money in cap space and get together a younger team, and releasing Dumervil accomplishes both of those objectives.

Even though Dumervil is in the twilight of his career at age 33, he’s still a good pass rusher. While perhaps not the Pro Bowl-level talent that he used to be, it would be surprising if Dumervil is unable to find a team for next season.

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This is somewhat of a risky move for the Baltimore Ravens, as they were already in need of an outer linebacker and are now minus one more outer linebacker, but the move does free up $6M in cap space for a team that could really use it.

This move just makes the priorities for the Ravens even clearer than they were before this offseason. The linebacker position, both inner and outer, need to be addressed as soon as possible. With the release of Dumervil and the surprise retirement of Zach Orr, linebacker is a position the Ravens will need to address either in free agency, the NFL Draft, or both.

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Fortunately, there are a lot of solid linebackers available in this year’s draft, we’ve written on ten that the team could, and should, target, and there’s reason to be hopeful that the team will be able to replace the production, and likely improve upon the production, that Dumervil provided.