Eric Weddle to the Baltimore Ravens

Former San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle has finally made a decision on where he’ll play next. The veteran has agreed to terms on a 4-year, $26 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens.  There is $13 million guaranteed in the deal and he will make $9 million in the first year.

NFL.com’s No. 8-ranked free agent was the highest rated player still available after five days on the open market. The Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, and Dallas Cowboys were also interested in his services. In Weddle’s nine years in San Diego, he earned three Pro Bowl berths and two 1st-team All-Pro selections.

And his team value was high as the Chargers’ defensive player of the year three of the last five seasons. Despite that, the his relationship with the Chargers took a turn for the worst last offseason. He expressed his disdain for how he felt the team treated him to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune.

He said, “I feel highly, highly disrespected. It is what it is, but there is no reason for me to put out any more effort. We’ve come to them numerous times and said we want to be part of the team, we want to retire as a Charger. We’ve completely gotten pushed aside.”

The situation reached a boiling point in late December when the Chargers fined him for conduct detrimental to the team for staying on the field to watch his daughter dance at halftime of the season finale. From there, his relationship with the team was severed leading to his exodus in free agency.

We’ll see if he can become an All-Pro again but he still is a good football player and will help the Ravens.