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Ravens Rumors: Gus Edwards Gets 2nd-Round Tender Ahead of 2021 NFL Free Agency

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured ColumnistMarch 10, 2021

Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Terrance Williams/Associated Press

The Baltimore Ravens announced Wednesday that they tendered restricted free agent Gus Edwards

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Ravens placed a second-round tender on the veteran running back. 

Jamison Hensley @jamisonhensley

With the salary cap set at $182.5M, the Ravens have $20.773M of cap space, per ESPN Stats & Information. Baltimore is in the middle of the NFL in cap room, ranking 14th overall. Ravens' cap space will decrease to $17M when team puts the expected 2nd-round tender on Gus Edwards.

A long-term extension remains a possibility for Edwards and the Ravens.

"Gus is going to be on the team, one way or the other," general manager Eric DeCosta said Tuesday. "We're going to certainly tender him if we don't get a long-term deal done, but he is a Raven. He played his butt off this year, and he had a good season for us."

Edwards, 25, has rushed for over 700 yards in each of his first three seasons with the Ravens, totaling 2,152 yards, 18 receptions for 194 yards and 10 total touchdowns. He and J.K. Dobbins (805 rushing yards, nine scores) formed a solid one-two punch in the run game last season alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson. 

Not bad for a player who joined the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2018. 

Jonas Shaffer @jonas_shaffer

Only two players in NFL history have started their career with three straight seasons of 700-plus rushing yards and 5+ yards per carry (via @Stathead): Nick Chubb Gus Edwards https://t.co/KpeMyFhC0r

PFF Fantasy Football @PFF_Fantasy

Highest rushing 1st down or TD % since 2018 (min. 200 carries): 🔸 Gus Edwards (31%) 🔸 Jonathan Taylor (30%) https://t.co/qzWQfR4LTg

With Mark Ingram no longer on the team, Edwards has emerged as a key piece for Baltimore's run-heavy offense. That made bringing him back for the 2021 season a no-brainer. 

Now, all that remains to be seen is whether the team can come to terms on a long-term extension with him.