Ravens: 3 position battles to watch in Week 2 of the preseason
By Justin Fried
3. Ravens position battle: No. 3 tight end
- Contenders: Josh Oliver, Eric Tomlinson, Tony Poljan
The Ravens have long loved the tight end position, and it’s a position that should be a point of interest this Saturday.
That’s because the team will be without their two top players at the position with Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle both expected to be sidelined for this game.
As such, the battle for the No. 3 tight end job behind Andrews and Boyle should be one of the highlights of Saturday’s matchup.
The odds-on favorite for the job remains Josh Oliver who was acquired in a trade this past March. Oliver has been one of the stars of training camp and has emerged as the favorite for the role.
But it’s not a given that he wins it in the end.
The Ravens still like veteran Eric Tomlinson who filled in well as a blocking tight end down the stretch last season. In Tomlinson, the Ravens know what they are getting.
Oliver is the more intriguing player who offers more upside as a pass-catcher, but if Baltimore is looking for additional blocking depth — especially with Boyle still out — they could go with Tomlinson.
Tony Poljan likely doesn’t stand a chance of beating out Oliver and Tomlinson, but he’s certainly in the mix for a spot on the practice squad.
Ultimately, the job is Oliver’s to lose. If he shows that he can be an effective blocker as well as a dynamic pass-catcher, he should have the position locked up.