Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome confirmed Saturday that Baltimore has picked up inside linebacker C.J. Mosley's fifth-year option.
It was a formality after Mosley has gone to two Pro Bowls in his first three seasons, but the news had not yet been made official. It means Mosley will be under contract with the Ravens through the 2018 season.
"You mean I can do something and you guys don't know?" Newsome joked at the conclusion of the draft. "It was done Wednesday."
Mosley has started all but two games over his first three seasons. He's registered 222 tackles, seven sacks, 23 passes defensed, six interceptions and three forced fumbles over that time.
Mosley improved in his pass coverage last season, tying safety Eric Weddle for the team lead in interceptions with four. He was still the dominant sideline-to-sideline tackler and anchor in the middle of Baltimore's defense.
Two of the Ravens' 2017 draft picks – first-round cornerback Marlon Humphrey and third-round pass rusher Tim Williams – said they looked up to Mosley during their time in Alabama.
Mosley is becoming more of a leader on what should be a dominant Baltimore defense, and will help shepherd the Ravens' defensive rookies.
"One guy that I used to run sprints with when I was a freshman and he was a junior was C.J. Mosley," Williams said. "I always wanted to model my work ethic after C.J. Mosley."
"A lot of Alabama players that I have asked, older guys that I ask, 'Who is the best player you have seen?' A lot of them say C.J. Mosley," Humphrey said. "They would just say the way he practiced and the way he carried himself … I think having 'Bama guys around and having guys that were former great players and players now is definitely some comfort."
