Ravens should sign Cedric Ogbuehi in wake of Patrick Mekari injury

The Baltimore Ravens are in desperate need of offensive tackle help following the injury suffered by Patrick Merkari. And veteran Cedric Ogbuehi could be a worthwhile addition to the roster.

Mekari had been the team’s starting right tackle since Week 2 filling in after Alejandro Villanueva was shifted over to left tackle with Ronnie Stanley out.

The former undrafted free agent has been one of the team’s most welcome surprises from the 2021 season performing better than anyone could have expected. Unfortunately, he’s now set to miss some time.

Mekari suffered a high-ankle sprain in the team’s 41-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. No timetable has been given for his return, but a high-ankle sprain usually keeps players sidelined anywhere from 1-2 months.

The Ravens are preparing to be without Mekari. And that leaves their offensive tackle depth incredibly thin.

Tyre Phillips stepped in to replace Mekari on Sunday, but behind him, the Ravens have the likes of Andre Smith, David Sharpe, and other practice squad players.

They need to make an addition with Mekari sidelined for the foreseeable future. And Ogbuehi could be someone worth considering.

Cedric Ogbuehi would be a solid addition to the Ravens offensive line

A first-round pick of the Bengals in the 2015 NFL Draft, Ogbuehi never worked out in Cincinnati and was gone after making just 25 starts in four years.

He spent a year in Jacksonville before joining the Seattle Seahawks ahead of the 2020 season. Ogbuehi went on to play eight games, making four starts, in 2020 performing admirably while filling in for injuries.

The former Texas A&M standout finished with a very respectable Pro Football Focus grade of 65.5 playing over 270 snaps at right tackle.

Ogbuehi was re-signed in the offseason and went into the summer competing for the top backup tackle job before landing on the injured reserve with a biceps injury.

He returned in Week 4 and started in place of the injured Brandon Shell allowing just one pressure before Shell stepped back into the starting lineup.

However, the Seahawks had an abundance of young tackle depth on the roster and mutually agreed to part ways with Ogbuehi this week allowing him to seek opportunities elsewhere.

The Ravens are desperate for offensive tackle help and a capable one just became available on the open market.

Now, Ogbuehi wouldn’t be asked to step into a starting role immediately. If the Ravens are comfortable with Phillips at right tackle, he could and likely should start when they return from their bye week.

But Ogbuehi would be significantly better depth than they have now.

The team’s lack of available cap space is an obstacle to overcome, but if the Ravens could make the financials work, Cedric Ogbuehi is a no-brainer addition.