The Baltimore Ravens have signed multiple big-time free agents over the course of the 2022 free agency period including safety Marcus Williams, who inked a five-year, $70 million deal with the team. However, they could decide that they want to make even more moves and add more veterans to their roster.
When looking at potential free agent deals that he think should happen before the 2022 NFL draft, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report named Baltimore as a destination for two of the top players still remaining, the first being running back Melvin Gordon III. Knox explains that Gordon would be great veteran insurance for J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill, all of which are coming off of serious injuries.
“Baltimore should go ahead and get a deal done with Gordon before the draft. Running backs J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill are all coming off season-ending injuries, and the Ravens need depth at the absolute best. At worst, their backfield won’t be ready for Week 1…Yes, the Ravens could take a back in the draft, but signing Gordon now would allow them to use their capital on other areas of need.”
After Gordon, Knox names center JC Tretter as another player he’d like to see in a Ravens uniform before the draft. Knox talks about how Tretter would make more sense for Baltimore than a player in the draft such as former University of Iowa star Tyler Linderbaum.
“Signing the 31-year-old Tretter would give Baltimore a reliable starter at center and take the position out of the early-draft equation. Why reach for Linderbaum at No. 14 or hope he falls to Round 2 when the Ravens can sign Tretter and address other positions instead? It wouldn’t make sense. Signing Tretter as soon as possible would.”
Gordon would fit in well behind Dobbins and Edwards, but the Ravens can’t afford to commit too much money to him if they were to sign the veteran. They need to create cap space, and spending too much of it on a running back could prevent them from looking at other needs. In the case of Tretter, he would be a phenomenal fit, but Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh already all but shut down any free agent center being brought in by the team during the 2022 owners meetings.