At some degree or one other, each group within the AFC North is engaged on reconstructing their offensive line. Even the Cleveland Browns determined to launch J.C. Tretter—who may look good in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform, on an unrelated observe—however all people else has been extra lively, with each Pittsburgh and the Cincinnati Bengals signing two doubtless starters in free company.
The Baltimore Ravens have added one, as nicely, presumed proper deal with Morgan Moses, however additionally they had Alejandro Villanueva retire. Of better concern is the truth that they misplaced Bradley Bozeman, their greatest inside offensive lineman since Marshal Yanda retired, who signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers.
I haven’t seen numbers on the market but, however there have been expectations he may command an eight-figure wage, which might be troublesome for the Ravens to swing with out restructuring offers. And that’s even with the understanding that they misplaced out on bringing again Za’Darius Smith after reportedly agreeing to a four-year, $35 million deal that he modified his thoughts on. Nonetheless, the truth that he signed a one-year deal suggests he didn’t hit his goal quantity.
So what’s subsequent for the Ravens at heart? One chance, as Ryan Mink instructed for the group’s web site, is to maneuver Patrick Mekari again to heart. The veteran performed greater than 750 snaps at proper deal with final season after Ronnie Stanley’s harm at left deal with pushed Villanueva again to his outdated place.
Mekari shouldn’t be unfamiliar with the middle place. He began seven video games there in 2020, although he was benched at one level whereas struggling along with his snaps. He additionally began seven video games at heart in 2019, his first season, so he has loads of expertise there.
The opposite inner possibility is Trystan Colon, who was a rookie in 2020, and was the middle to begin whereas Mekari was benched, although he himself ended up getting benched for efficiency causes as nicely. Colon solely performed 121 snaps final season, making one begin at heart.
After all, there are alternatives in free company. One avenue they could pursue is Trey Hopkins, the Bengals’ recently-released starter who’s being changed by free-agent addition Ted Karras. They may additionally think about one other former Bengal, Billy Value.
And there’s a very good likelihood that their high goal within the draft may very well be Tyler Linderbaum, who’s the consensus high heart on this draft class. Baltimore holds the 14th-overall choose within the first spherical, which needs to be early sufficient for them to land Linderbaum—they could even have the ability to commerce again and nonetheless get him, one thing they very nicely might do.
