John Harbaugh Boosts Special Teams Potency With 2nd Signing After Ravens Tendered Breakout DB

It was week 14 of the 2023 season. Ravens and Rams were tied at 31 each. But the Ravens WR Tylan Wallace got the ball in overtime. He returned the punt for 76 yards to score a TD, winning the game 37-31. It was crazy. He had never done it before. But broke all those odds. Just when he caught the ball, LB Jake Hummel tried to block him, but the Ravens TE Charlie Kolar tackled him. Ravens HC John Harbaugh defended his player, claiming it was totally legal. No one had anticipated back then that both these special teams stars would get united 2 years later.

As we officially begin the new league year, the Ravens have given a massive boost to the special teams’ strength. The first one was bringing in Jake Hummel on a one-year deal. But the more important one was keeping their player in the locker room. Wallace has also signed a 1-year $2.25 million deal with the Ravens.

John Harbaugh signed Wallace in the 4th round (121st overall) in the 2021 draft. His best performance came last year. Wallace has shown he is a dependable teammate, scoring an 84-yard touchdown on a Lamar Jackson pass in the 4th quarter of week 11 game against the Bengals in 2024. They won the game 35-34. So, there’s trust in his abilities.

Sources: Tylan Wallace gets a 1-year, $2.25M deal from the #Ravens. https://t.co/50fTCHnF5n

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 13, 2025

It’s a similar case with Jake Hummel. In 3 seasons with the Rams, he recorded 117 defensive snaps and 827 on special teams. Moreover, he has also shown solidity by playing all 17 games in the last 2 seasons. That’s a pretty impressive show.

There’s an age advantage too. Wallace is 25 years old while Hummel is 26 years old. So, John Harbaugh sees an excellent possibility of continuing the long run with both of them in his system. The Ravens want to win the Super Bowl. However, with 2 signings in the free agency, they are also forced to show the way out to some current players current ones. They chose their breakout star from 2024.

John Harbaugh tenders Ar’Darius Washington

In the first 3 years of his career since 2021, the safety Ar’Darius Washington played only 8 games. But the poor defense in the first 8 games forced the Ravens to go with the safety. In 2024 alone, he played 16 games (9 as a starter) and recorded his best numbers. The safety had 2 interceptions, 8 defended passes, 1 sack, and 64 tackles (45 solo). But it didn’t stop John Harbaugh from tendering him.

As we entered the free agency on Wednesday, March 12, the Ravens threw a surprise. They have given the player a $3.263 million Right of First Refusal Tender. What does it mean?

Basically, it opens the doors for other teams to make an offer to the 29-year-old athlete. The Ravens can match that offer. But if they don’t, they will not get any compensation. That’s interesting. The current tender is for a 1-year contract for $3.263 million. Over the Cap claimed that a 2nd round tender would have cost them $5.346 million.

John Harbaugh understands they have all the weapons to go all-in for the ultimate prize. The offense is reigning supreme with QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry. It’s time to strengthen their defense. The vision is right. Fans are excited to see how they pay off.

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