Baltimore Ravens: Who should team sign at right tackle?
By Ben Palmer
With the Rick Wagner heading to the Detroit Lions, the Baltimore Ravens are in need of someone to play right tackle, but whom should they sign?
The Baltimore Ravens have plenty of needs to address this offseason, and they’ve addressed a few, but one they need to look at is filling in the right tackle position.
Their former right tackle, Rick Wagner, was one of the best tackles available on the market, and it became pretty clear pretty quickly that the Ravens weren’t going to spend the money to sign him.
Ultimately, Wagner signed with the Detroit Lions, which leaves a vacancy at the right tackle position, something the Ravens need to address, and I think they could address it through free agency.
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Probably the best tackle on the free agent market right now is Ryan Clady. Clady is 30-years-old and is entering his ninth season in the NFL. At one point, Clady was considered one of the best tackles in football, though that’s changed as he’s gotten older.
Clady spent last season with the New York Jets and had a solid year, especially as a pass blocker, ending the year giving up two sacks, eight quarterback hits, and 24 hurries in a total of 316 pass block snaps.
The downside to Clady is that he’ll likely cost a bit more than the Ravens might be willing to spend. There is, however, another option who might be more affordable, and that’s King Dunlap.
Dunlap is 31-years-old and will also be entering his ninth season in the NFL. He spent the past four years with the San Diego Chargers, so he has some familiarity with Ravens players Eric Weddle and Danny Woodhead, as they both played with him in San Diego in the past.
Dunlap’s strength is run blocking, and he’s struggled a bit as a pass blocker, allowing five sacks last season with six quarterback hits, and 34 hurries in a total of 435 pass block snaps.
Those numbers are certainly worse than Clady’s, but they’re not drastically worse, and considering Dunlap has a familiarity with a couple players on the team, especially Woodhead, and the fact that he’d likely not be overly expensive, he might be a good fit for the team.
Ultimately, the Ravens might choose to address the right tackle position with a different free agent, or even in the draft. They could also stick with De’Ondre Wesley, who seems like he would be the heir apparent to the right tackle position.
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Personally, I think there are some free agents out there worth signing, and I think it’s something they could address relatively cheaply without wasting a high pick in the draft.