The Ravens have decided against picking up the option on Brandon Carr’s contract, meaning the veteran defensive back is a free agent as the new league year begins.
Carr, who turns 34 in May, had a team option worth $7 million that had to be exercised by the first day of the new league year, which is March 18. By releasing Carr, the Ravens save $6 million against the cap, although they also bid farewell to one of their locker-room mentors and one of the league’s most durable players.
Carr has started all 192 games of his 12-year NFL career, which began as a fifth-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent four seasons in Kansas City, then five with the Dallas Cowboys before joining the Ravens in 2017.
A cornerback throughout his career, Carr shifted to safety at times this year given the Ravens depth at cornerback this year led by Pro Bowl picks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters as well as Jimmy Smith. Carr finished the season with 49 tackles and two sacks.
