Ravens: 4 free agents the team could sign before Week 1
By Justin Fried
4. Ravens target: David Sharpe, OT
Perhaps the most troublesome development of the summer was the struggles faced by the Ravens’ offensive line. Injuries took their toll on the unit, but even when healthy, the line struggled at times.
There’s nothing the Ravens could do about their starting five right now, but they could address their lackluster depth. Particularly their worrying depth at offensive tackle.
Who is the Ravens’ swing tackle at the moment? Is it Tyre Phillips? Is it Patrick Mekari? Heck, even projected starting left guard Ben Powers took some snaps at left tackle in training camp.
It’s hard to say who the Ravens plan to throw out at tackle if either Ronnie Stanley or Alejandro Villanueva were to miss time with an injury. That’s why one player they should consider adding is veteran David Sharpe.
Sharpe is going into his fifth year in the NFL and is a former fourth-round pick of the Raiders. He’s had a couple of stints in Oakland/Las Vegas and spent last year as a top reserve for the Washington Football Team.
The 25-year-old has started four games over the last two years and performed admirably in each opportunity. While he’s hardly an appealing starting option, he could provide quality tackle depth to a team that desperately needs it.
The Ravens don’t have a solidified plan for the swing tackle position. Sharpe has more experience playing tackle than both Phillips or Mekari and could be a cheap, reasonable addition before Week 1.