Ex Alabama prep star signs $7.5 million contract

Michael Pierce, the nose tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, could have become an unrestricted free agency in March.

Instead, the Ravens will retain the former Daphne High School and Samford standout.

According to ESPN, Baltimore and Pierce have agreed to a two-year, $7.5 million contract extension. The ESPN report was put on the Ravens’ official website without confirmation.

Pierce has played a career-high 605 defensive snaps in 2023, with Baltimore poised to conclude its regular season at 3:30 p.m. CST Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers before advancing to the AFC playoffs as the No. 1 seed. This season, Pierce has 36 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.

Pierce was an all-state pick for Daphne’s AHSAA Class 6A championship team in 2010, winning the Most Valuable Player Award in the state championship game as the Trojans finished 15-0 with a 7-6 win over Hoover.

Pierce joined Baltimore as an undrafted rookie in 2016 after graduating from Samford. However, he made the squad, appeared in every game, and eventually moved into the starting lineup in his second season.

Pierce left the Ravens in free agency after four seasons to join the Minnesota Vikings. He opted out of the NFL’s plan to play during the coronavirus epidemic in 2020, and an injury limited him to eight games in 2021.

Pierce signed a three-year contract with Baltimore after being released by Minnesota at the end of the 2021 season. However, a torn biceps ended his season after three games.

Pierce accepted a pay cut in a renegotiated contract in March that permitted him to become a free agency a year earlier, with the Ravens wanting salary-cap room and Pierce having 11 games to show for the previous three seasons.

Pierce, on the other hand, has agreed to stay with Baltimore until the 2025 season.