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Signing NaVorro Bowman isn’t ideal for Ravens stop-gap ILB

By Richard Bradshaw

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 19: NaVorro Bowman #53 of the Oakland Raiders warms up prior to their game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 19: NaVorro Bowman #53 of the Oakland Raiders warms up prior to their game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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C.J. Mosley’s injury has Ravens Flock thinking the sky is falling and are calling for the team to sign NaVorro Bowman. But let’s slow down for a second…

C.J. Mosley is a pristine inside linebacker and is undoubtedly top five at his position. Everything he brings from both an action and leadership standpoint has been vital to the Ravens defense over the past few years. Unfortunately, Mosley was injured very early in Thursday night’s clash against the Cincinnati Bengals and could be out a little while.

Mosley was the unfortunate recipient of a bone bruise on his knee, which will keep him out a couple games at least. This comes as a devastating blow to the Ravens defense. Replacing Mosley will be nearly impossible because of everything he brings to the table, but the Ravens are equipped with young men to step up for them. Between Patrick Onwuasor, Kenny Young, and even Tyus Bowser the team has options.

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But even with these guys available to be stop-gap solutions while Mosley is on the mend, many Ravens fans have been clamoring for the team to sign free agent linebacker NaVorro Bowman. Well, I’m here to tell you that it would be in the Ravens best interest to stay away from Bowman and instead trust their own guys. Let me explain…

Brand > Name value:

One of the biggest reasons why the Ravens fan-base is so intrigued by NaVorro Bowman is because of his name. Bowman had a nice stretch of seasons in which he was arguably the best linebacker in the entire league. Bowman absolutely has the stat sheet to back up his claim, as he’s accumulated nearly 800 tackles since 2010 (Bowman missed all of the 2014 season recovering from a knee injury).

NaVorro Bowman also brings that Ravens mentality to the table. His passion and work-ethic are entirely what Baltimore looks for in their players. It seems like an easy match to make, but it isn’t the right one. This is true if not for one main reason: youth.

As previously stated, the Ravens still have Patrick Onwuasor (who was already starting next to Mosley regardless) and Kenny Young slotted at inside linebacker for the team. Neither are overly flashy players, but they’re both fine athletes who can fill the void. We also can’t forget about the jack-of-all-trades, Tyus Bowser, who could find some snaps inside and bring pressure up the middle with his pass rushing prowess.

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