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Pernell McPhee Circles Back To Baltimore To Replenish OLB Depth Lost In Free Agency

The Baltimore Ravens drafted outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Kentucky the year that Pernell McPhee signed with the Chicago Bears in free agency. Now Smith has gone and joined the NFC North, signing with the Green Bay Packers, and the Ravens are bringing McPhee back after four years playing in the opposite conference.

Baltimore originally drafted McPhee in the fifth round in 2011. He was never a full-time starter—only started games officially in his second season—and didn’t even necessarily have one concrete position, but he was used situationally and produced as a pass rusher on relatively limited reps.