Justin Houston gives Ravens stability, peace of mind in pass rush

The Baltimore Ravens quietly were in a precarious situation with their pass rush entering the 2021 season but Justin Houston fixes a few problems. 

Probably because fans are so accustomed to seeing the Baltimore Ravens dominate on defense, it has somewhat slipped under the radar heading into the 2021 NFL season that the franchise has some pretty substantial questions on that side of the ball. Namely, after losing Matthew Judon, they appeared to be dangerously thin at edge rusher.

It seemed as if the Ravens would be relying on rookie first-round pick Odafe Oweh to provide the defense with immediate production. While not incapable, that’s a big ask for a player who is surreally gifted physically but still a bit raw in terms of his skill and technique as a rusher. But, with Pernell McPhee and Tyus Bowser as the two other primary options, it seemed necessary.

Now, it’s veteran Justin Houston to the rescue. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that Baltimore signed the 32-year-old edge rusher to a one-year deal worth up to $4 million. Schefter also noted that Houston took less money to sign with John Harbaugh’s club in order to pursue winning a Super Bowl.

After eight years with the Chiefs, Houston has spent the last two seasons with the Colts and, though he’s no spring chicken, he’s remained highly productive. He’s totaled 19.0 sacks and 21 tackles for loss (along with three forced safeties) over the past two seasons. And that type of talent along with his veteran presence is perfect for Baltimore.

Justin Houston is a crucial veteran asset for the Ravens to have on defense.

Rather than having to rely heavily on Oweh and potentially putting the rookie in a bad spot, Justin Houston affords the Ravens to not have to bank on a volatile young player. Instead, they get to insert a steady, effective veteran to come rush off the edge and make plays.

More than than, Houston is a perfect mentor for Oweh as he can coach up the Penn State product in the art of the pass rush and how he can harness his immense athletic gifts into most effectively and consistently getting after the quarterback. That’s hugely important for Oweh’s role this season but also for his long-term outlook in Baltimore.

The Ravens are a team that is clearly focused on winning a Super Bowl but, bluntly, having to rely heavily on uninspiring veterans or an unproven rookie to rush the passer gave me a ton of pause about their defensive ceiling. Signing Houston alleviates that wholly, however. He’s the perfect fit for this situation and team and Baltimore now has one less thing to worry about in the 2021 campaign.