The Buccaneers fortified their front five on Friday, signing former Ravens center Ryan Jensen, Mike McCartney, the player’s agent, tweets.
NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports the contract is a four-year deal for $42MM with $22M in guaranteed money (Twitter link). The deal made Jensen the highest-paid center in the league and suggests that Ali Marpet will move back to guard in 2018.
That’s quite the haul for Jensen, who played his first three seasons in the league as a guard before switching to center in 2017. He proved up to the task in his first season at the position, ranking as Pro Football Focus’ No. 9 center in the league. With Weston Richburg off the board, Jensen was the best pure center remaining on the open market.
Jensen was inactive for all 16 games as a rookie and was waived in his season before returning to the Ravens practice squad. He played just 19 games in his first four seasons before enjoying his breakout campaign in the middle of Baltimore’s front five in 2017.
The addition of Jensen should help open up some running lanes in Tampa Bay. In 2017, Peyton Barber led the team in rushing yards with a measly 423 yards. Kickstarting the rushing attack will help open up things through the air for Jameis Winston and Mike Evans.
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Payed wayyyy to much. A backup talent who over produced for one season. Have fun having a new guy to dislike in Tampa
Wuuut
First Kelechi Osemele, then Ricky Wagner, and now Ryan Jenson. Alex Lewis might be the next one, but he’s not a UFA until ‘20
If he can stay healthy I think Lewis is the one they keep (and Stanley). Lewis can eventually replace Yanda as the best interior guy.
At least the Ravens’ front office knows how to pick O-linemen. As much as it hurts the team to constantly have to find new guys, its a huge compliment to the front office that their guys are being plucked out of free agency with big contracts in a time where there doesn’t seem to be as much high-end talent on the O-line.
atleast they finally signed someone…. they missed out on everyone they have been linked to.