Ravens not use franchise tag on LB Mosley

Baltimore linebacker C.J. Mosley is inching closer to seeing what his value is on the open market. The Ravens will not use their franchise tag on the four-time Pro Bowl player, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday.

If the Ravens don't tag Mosley by Tuesday, he can become an unrestricted agent on March 13. The franchise tag for a linebacker comes with a $15.443 million salary for 2019, which figures to be beyond what Baltimore wants to spend for an inside linebacker, the position at which Mosley spends most of his time. The inside position isn't as valued in NFL salary structures as an edge spot.

Baltimore is expected to keep negotiating with the 26-year-old, even if he hits free agency. "Yeah, you'd rather have C.J. back," coach John Harbaugh said at a team news conference in late January.

"There's always the give and take of course. There are limitations with the money. But C.J. wants to be back and we want him back, so I think that's a really good formula for a player coming back. I'm not even going to entertain the possibility that won't happen." The Ravens selected Mosley, an Alabama product, with the No. 17 overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. In five seasons, he has 597 tackles, nine interceptions, 8.5 sacks and five fumble recoveries.

Mosley earned $8.7 million in the 2018 season when he helped the Ravens lead the NFL in total defence.