There are not many options left, at least if a team is looking for a proven starting-caliber player.
Only nine of ESPN’s top 62 free agents have not been either signed, franchise tagged or transition tagged.
That said, there are still some players available that may be able to help the Baltimore Ravens.
Here are eight (in alphabetical order):
Running back LeGarrette Blount
The Ravens are looking for a big, power back to go along with Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce. The 6-foot, 250-pound Blount is exactly that. There are character concerns with Blount, but he ran for 772 yards and seven touchdowns for the New England Patriots last season while averaging five yards per carry.
Baltimore is also very much familiar with Blount. He had 76 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries during the Patriots’ December win over the Ravens.
Nevertheless, the Ravens met with several running backs at the NFL Scouting Combine in February and are probably more likely to add a running back through the NFL draft.
Center Kyle Cook
Cook was the Cincinnati Bengals’ starting center from 2009 through this past season. The Ravens have said that Gino Gradkowski will have to compete for their starting center job. And while Gradkowski could simply face competition from players already on the roster, Baltimore could also look to add even more competition with a veteran like Cook.
Tight end Owen Daniels
Daniels spent the first eight seasons of his career playing for the Houston Texans under new Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak and may end up reuniting with Kubiak in Baltimore. The Ravens need another tight end to go along with Dennis Pitta, and Daniels is arguably the best option left among free agents.
Daniels is 31 and played in just five games last season due to injury, but he was a Pro Bowler as recently as 2012. The problem with Daniels is that he is similar to Pitta in terms of what he brings to the table, and Baltimore may be looking to complement Pitta with a better blocker than Daniels.
Free safety Thomas Decoud
At the Ravens’ season-review news conference in January, general manager Ozzie Newsome said adding an athletic, playmaking free safety would be one of Baltimore’s top priorities this offseason. The team is yet to add one, and Decoud is probably the only viable option as far as free safeties left on the free agent market.
Decoud reportedly struggled in 2013 and was cut by the Atlanta Falcons earlier this month, but he is still relatively young (28) and had 76 tackles and six interceptions in 2012 on his way to being selected to the Pro Bowl. He had 86 tackles and four interceptions in 2011.
He was the Falcons’ starting free safety from 2009 through this past season.
Defensive tackle Letroy Guion
The Ravens have to replace Arthur Jones at defensive tackle. They have some young players they like that can play that spot — Brandon Williams, DeAngelo Tyson and Kapron Lewis-Moore — but they could look to add a veteran to the competition for playing time. The Minnesota Vikings released Guion earlier this month, but he was a full-time starter at defensive tackle for the Vikings the last two seasons. He is also still young (26).
Guard Davin Joseph
Joseph didn’t play in 2012 because of a knee injury, and he graded out as one of the worst guards in the NFL in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus. However, he is still just 30 and was a two-time Pro Bowler before hurting his knee. The Ravens already have Kelechi Osemele at left guard, but they may consider moving Osemele to right tackle after starting right tackle Michael Oher signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent. Whether they do that could be dependent on which of the two positions they can better fill during either free agency or the draft.
For a look at right tackle and cornerback click here
