OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens decided not to pick up the fifth-year option on Matt Elam, which means the safety will be a free agent after the 2016 season.
Elam, the No. 32 overall pick of the 2013 draft, has been one of the most disappointing first-round picks in Ravens history. He struggled mightily covering deep passes and tackling, which is why he lost his starting job in the middle of the 2014 season and never regained it.
To pick up the 2017 option, the Ravens would have had to pay Elam between $5.5 million and $6 million next season.
Elam was rated the ninth-worst safety in 2014 by Pro Football Focus and missed the entire 2015 season with a torn biceps. He is expected to compete for the top backup spot at safety this season behind starters Eric Weddle and Lardarius Webb, but there are no guarantees that Elam will make the team this season.
Elam is scheduled to make $1.327 million in 2016, the final season he's under contract with Baltimore.