Ravens helmet

OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND – AUGUST 18: A general view of a Baltimore Ravens football helmet is seen during the Baltimore Ravens Training Camp at Under Armour Performance Center Baltimore Ravens on on August 18, 2020 in Owings Mills, Maryland. 
The Baltimore Ravens have released one of their longest-tenured players and fan favoritees as the shake-up on the defensive side of the ball continues.

On Wednesday, the first official day of the new league year, the Ravens announced that they have released veteran linebacker Tyus Bowser. The soon-to-be 29-year-old spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Ravens.

Bowser was drafted in the second round (47th overall) by the Ravens back in 2017. The Houston product suited up for 89 total games (23 starts), tallying 19.5 sacks, four interceptions, 16 pass defenses and four forced fumbles.

Bowser’s best season came in 2021, when he notched seven sacks, four pass defenses and two forced fumbles. Unfortunately, Bowser was limited to nine games in 2022 and missed the entire 2023 season recovering from a knee injury.

In cutting Bowser, the Ravens have saved themselves $5.5 million in cap space, as noted by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.

The Ravens lost another stalwart linebacker in Patrick Queen, who left to sign a three-year deal with the archrival Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. With Queen and Bowser both gone, it’ll be interesting to see how GM Eric DeCosta goes about reshaping the rest of the linebacker room around Roquan Smith.

Baltimore is coming off a 13-win season and their first trip to the AFC Championship Game in 11 years. Their season ended with a heartbreaking 17-10 loss to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, who went on to win the Super Bowl.