Often times, General Manager Ozzie Newsome likes to get ahead of contract negotiations a year before a key young player’s deal expires.
See cornerback Jimmy Smith as an example. An early deal gave long-term stability to Smith and potentially saved the Ravens millions. Had the team waited until Smith hit the free-agent market, other cap-rich teams could have driven up the price like the Oakland Raiders did with Kelechi Osemele.
Enter defensive tackle Brandon Williams.
Williams is entering the final season of his four-year rookie deal and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March 2017.