Jordan Cameron: Surveying Potential Baltimore Ravens Free Agent Targets

Dec 28, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron (84) runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-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 first player we are going to take a look at has spent his young career in the very same division as the Ravens, and is a guy they are quite familiar with. Tight end Jordan Cameron was a 4th round selection of the Cleveland Browns in 2011, but didn’t make much of an impact until 2013, when he broke out with 80 receptions for 917 yards and 7 touchdowns. Coming into this season, Cameron looked like a future star at the tight end position.

Tight end is an important position in Gary Kubiak’s offense, and the Ravens had all intentions of running a two TE set as their base set coming into 2014 before Dennis Pitta got hurt.

2014 was instead a big disappointment for the athletic big man as he battled concussions and missed six games. He made a minimal impact across the ten games he did appear in, racking up only 24 receptions for 424 yards and 2 touchdowns. Cameron only cleared 50 yards receiving in two of those games and was not a major factor in Kyle Shanahan’s offense despite possessing all the physical gifts offensive coordinators drool over.

The Ravens have been unsettled at the tight end position for the last two years after watching their own promising youngster, Dennis Pitta, suffer back to back season ending hip injuries. This year, they (thankfully) had Owen Daniels as an insurance policy, but his contract is up and his future is unknown at this point. While Daniels filled in admirably for Pitta down the stretch, he isn’t a special player at this point in his career.

The Ravens also drafted Crockett Gillmore in the 3rd round of the 2014 draft, but he played sparingly despite Pitta’s absence this season. Gillmore struggled as a pass catcher when he did get opportunities, but he did improve his blocking as the season wore on. Ultimately, however, the jury is still very much out on him at this point.

Tight end is an important position in Gary Kubiak’s offense, and the Ravens had all intentions of running a two TE set as their base set coming into 2014 before Dennis Pitta was hurt. Pitta’s injury and Gillmore’s slow development trashed those plans, of course. Signing another athletic, pass catching tight end like Cameron could be a huge boon to this offense.

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Cameron’s injury history is the sticking point here. Much like Pitta, he has spent a good amount of time on the shelf the last two seasons (though not as much). On the bright side, that is also what will keep his price range at a reasonable level, one that might make the Ravens players in the market. He might be forced to settle for a one year, “prove it” kind of deal and try to bounce back in 2015 to earn a multi year deal next year.

The Browns, so far, don’t seem to be overly interested in retaining Cameron. He wasn’t a big part of their run based offense last season, though that could change now that Kyle Shanahan is gone. Much will hinge on who they bring in to run their offense next season and their offensive philosophy. One thing’s for sure, however. Tight end is a big part of Kubiak’s offense, and Jordan Cameron would make a nice pickup for the Ravens. For the right price, of course.

Can you imagine having a healthy Dennis Pitta and Jordan Cameron lining up across the formation? Talk about a defensive coordinator’s worst nightmare.

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