Derek Wolfe is glad to get away from Patrick Mahomes twice each year
By Matt Conner
Derek Wolfe, the newest member of the Baltimore Ravens, says he’s glad to escape the AFC West and a schedule that brings Patrick Mahomes twice a year.
Former Denver Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolfe recently spoke to Broncos beat writer Mike Klis about leaving the only city and franchise he’s played for since 2012. It’s a reflective piece on a player who won a Super Bowl with the Broncos and is now trying to move on and win another with the Baltimore Ravens.
What’s interesting is that Patrick Mahomes was still front and center on his mind in the interview.
Wolfe started in 108 games for the Broncos since he was selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati (where he was teammates with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce). During that time, he played with and against plenty of great players and he said he’s thrilled to be able to play with Lamar Jackson. Per Mike Klis, Wolfe stated he would take that scenario “every day” compared to having to face that level of talent at quarterback.
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“I mean I’m glad I don’t have to play against (Mahomes) twice a year now,” Wolfe said. “Because he was such a huge pain in the ass. You’d get a lead on him and they’d still find a way to come back.
“They have such a good team all around. I’m excited to be part of another team that’s looking just like that.”
Unfortunately for Wolfe, the Ravens are on the Chiefs schedule in 2020, an as-yet-unscheduled game on the road at Baltimore that features both teams playing each other for the third consecutive year. The Chiefs have won the last two contests against the Ravens.
Against Wolfe, Mahomes is 5-0 with 8 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Last season, the Chiefs steamrolled the Broncos in the season series by a total score of 53-9. In the first game, Mahomes completed 10 of 11 passes before going down with a dislocated kneecap. Mahomes later came back to start the second game against Denver and completed 27 of 34 passes for 340 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mahomes’ career passer rating against Wolfe and company is 103.4.
Wolfe has been a solid defensive lineman for quite some time in Denver, a reliable rotational rusher who has 33 career sacks. Just last season he even put up a career high seven sacks playing along the defensive front with Bradley Chubb out for so much of the season.
The Ravens signed Wolfe to bolster their defensive line and brings immediate experience and impact along with Calais Campbell, who was acquired via trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars.