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The Baltimore Ravens have had "recent contract talks" with C.J. Mosley's agent, Jimmy Sexton, as the linebacker is set to hit free agency this offseason, per The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec.

A first-round pick in 2014, Mosley played out the fifth-year option of his rookie deal in 2018.

Mosley has been a tackling machine ever since he entered the league. The four-time Pro Bowler has piled up 579 total tackles in his first five years as a pro, topping the century mark four different times. He has never recorded fewer than 92 tackles in a season thus far.

Meanwhile, he has added 8.5 sacks, nine interceptions, six forced fumbles and one touchdown.

The 26-year-old linebacker is coming off yet another solid performance, recording 105 total tackles, five passes defended, one interception and 0.5 sacks for the NFL's top-ranked defense in 2018. It's important to note that he made arguably the biggest play of the season, a clutch Week 17 interception that clinched the AFC North:

Without that play by Mosley, it's possible Baltimore may have missed the playoffs.

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Mosley went on to record 12 tackles in a 23-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round.

As Zrebiec noted, Mosley has previously made it clear he has no desire to explore the market.

"I've never been a guy that's liked change or gone to a new place and start over," Mosley told ESPN's Michael DiRocco and Jenna Laine in January 2018. "I went all four years at Bama. I was at one high school. I was at one middle school. So I'll love to stay in Baltimore and continue my legacy and try to be the second-best linebacker to finish out there."

Rather than let his impending free agency become a possible distraction, he vowed to focus on football and let everything else take care of itself.

"I'm pretty sure something will get worked out, but I just focus on football. I just leave that to the head of the front office and my agent. I just let them work that out. All I can do is stay healthy and play football.

"I'm not really focused on that. I feel like I put in all the work I could and shed a lot of blood, sweat and tears, so I feel like my play will do all the talking when it comes time for that."

Meanwhile, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh shot down the notion that Mosley's situation would become a distraction, per 105.7 The Fan's Kyle J. Andrews: "Why would it be a distraction? He’s going to get a big contract. As a coach, you want to see your players get a big deal."

Well, the time has come for the Ravens to make a decision. The two sides can discuss a long-term extension, and if no agreement is reached, the team can place the franchise tag on him. Per Zrebiec, the linebacker's franchise tag would be worth more than $15 million.