Jermaine Gresham: Potential Baltimore Ravens Free Agent Target
By Brett Foote
Dec 22, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) makes a catch while being tackled by Denver Broncos free safety Rahim Moore (26) during the third quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
As we head into the offseason and prepare for the craziness that is NFL free agency, we thought it would be fun to take a look ahead at some players that the Ravens might be interested in pursuing. While we can all dream about seeing our favorite team signing guys like Dez Bryant or Justin Houston (both free agents this year), we’re going to be a little more realistic and only look at players that might actually hit the market and draw interest from the Ravens.
The most intriguing part of Gresham’s game is his work in pass protection. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ top blocking tight end in the entire NFL in 2014, though only 37th overall (out of 67 qualifying players).
We’ve already covered a pass catching tight end in Charles Clay as a possible target for the Ravens, and today we are going to look at a guy who is more grinder than seam stretcher. Jermaine Gresham may not have the raw athletic ability of a guy like Clay, but he is still a big red zone threat at 6’5″ and 260 pounds. And as of right now, Gresham is also likely to hit the free agent market as the Bengals have a couple of ready made replacements already on the roster.
The most intriguing part of Gresham’s game is his work in pass protection. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ top pass blocking tight end in the entire NFL in 2014, though he ranked only 37th overall (out of 67 qualifying players). Statistically speaking, Gresham had 62 receptions for 460 yards (7.4 avg) and 5 touchdowns. He is most certainly not a YAC kind of guy, but he has a reliable set of hands and can move the chains.
More from Ebony Bird
- Will Baltimore Ravens be rewarded for risky Lamar Jackson decision?
- The Baltimore Ravens Big Gamble
- Ravens Super Bowl odds present fascinating insight on Lamar Jackson’s future
- Should Baltimore Ravens be interested in this recently released WR
- Do the Baltimore Ravens have serious interest in this free agent wide out?
Gresham is also extremely reliable. He has appeared in 74 games over five seasons, proving to be very durable in a league where not many players are. This is a sharp contrast to guys like Dennis Pitta, who have struggled to stay on the field over the course of their career. And now that Gary Kubiak is gone, the return of Owen Daniels is by no means guaranteed either.
Jermaine Gresham would be a solid get for the Ravens, albeit an unexciting one. The departure of Gary Kubiak makes the future offensive philosophy a big question mark, however. Will they continue to feature the tight end position heavily in the passing game, or will their new offense utilize them more as blockers? The answer will determine what direction they go in regards to their roster moving forward.