Baltimore Ravens add former top 100 draft pick late in free agency to bolster offensive line depth
Turnover along the offensive line continues to be a theme for the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, and it continues in the second week of free agency. Baltimore is signing free agent offensive tackle Josh Jones, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. Jones, a third-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, spent the first three years of […]
Turnover along the offensive line continues to be a theme for the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, and it continues in the second week of free agency.
Baltimore is signing free agent offensive tackle Josh Jones, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
Jones, a third-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, spent the first three years of his career with the Arizona Cardinals. He barely played as a rookie, only seeing the field for 12 snaps, before starting most of the 2021 season at right guard for Arizona. He also played a handful of games at right tackle that year as well.
2022 was Jones' best season to date, and that was spent exclusively at left tackle. Pro Football Focus graded him at 75.8 for the season at that spot.
Despite showing promise as a third-year player, the Cardinals traded Jones to the Houston Texans right before his fourth season began. Jones started the first three games of the Texans' 2023 season, which included Week 1's matchup against the Ravens. Jones was both a left guard and right tackle that day.
Where the Ravens should play Jones
Houston let Jones' contract expire, and Baltimore is giving him a new one. The 26-year old was a collegiate left tackle at Houston, and it's where he's found the most consistency in the NFL. He'd be an ideal backup for Ronnie Stanley at the position.
If Jones was signed on to start, then right tackle is where he'd find an opening. The Ravens traded Morgan Moses to the New York Jets last week, which leaves Patrick Mekari as the projected starter at that spot for now.
Backing up Stanley at his natural spot would be the wiser choice, and considering Jones lasted on the free agency market this long, that seems to be the plan.
Ravens conducting more turnover at offensive line after trading a starter back to his former team
Three new starters could be the reality up front for Baltimore.
