Report: Crockett Gillmore is transitioning to the offensive line
By Joe Schiller
Tight end Crockett Gillmore is reportedly making the move from tight end to offensive line.
Tight end Crockett Gillmore is one of the 11 unrestricted free agents the Baltimore Ravens have hitting the open market on March 14th. However, this latest move might add some interesting value to his free agent stock.
According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun, Gillmore is reportedly making the transition from tight end to the offensive line.
Interesting news on one of the Ravens pending FAs: Crockett Gillmore is making the transition to a new position. Previously a tight end, Gillmore is moving to the offensive line. He's been training w/former NFL player LeCharles Bentley who runs a highly-respected OL Academy.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) February 21, 2018
Per Zrebiec, Gillmore is training LeCharles Bentley, a former NFL player who runs and owns the L. Bentley O-Line Academy.
This is the first we’ve heard from Gillmore in quite some time. He missed the entire 2017 season after suffering a season-ending MCL injury during training camp. Injuries have been a common theme Gillmore’s his four-year NFL career. He’s yet to play an entire 16-game season and now hits the free agent market.
While this isn’t a common move among tight ends, Gillmore isn’t alone. Lane Johnson, Jason Peters and Nate Solder all switched from tight end to offensive tackle. However, they all transitioned before entering the NFL. It’s also important to note that Steelers’ tackle Alejandro Villanueva made the switch very similar to what Gillmore is doing and worked his way to earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2017.
A better model for Gillmore is Alejandro Villanueva, who made the switch to OT at more similar age and after trying to make it in the NFL as a TE and DE.
— Jason B. Hirschhorn (@by_JBH) February 21, 2018
By no means is it an easy transition but the foundation has been laid for Gillmore. He’s also reportedly been sizing up and weighs upwards of 305 pounds. The position change certainly makes him a much more valued free agent than before.
In a league where offensive line depth is of the utmost importance, I’d have to think Ozzie Newsome is thinking much harder about re-signing Gillmore. With their limited cap space, it’s possible the Ravens could lose James Hurst and Ryan Jensen in free agency. Given the injuries the offensive line suffered last season, it’s a position where you can never possess too much depth.
There are still questions regarding Gillmore’s ability to stay healthy but this a project the Ravens could very well take on. He’s only 26-years old and likely won’t come with a high price tag. This a low-risk, high-reward situation.
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At this point, what do the Ravens really have to lose?