A C.J. Mosley reunion seems far-fetched on the surface, but don’t rule it out just yet. If the Baltimore Ravens are looking to round out their linebacker room with a veteran presence and mentor for their young core, the five-time Pro Bowler might make more sense than fans realize.
There aren’t many glaring holes on this Ravens roster, but there is one on the defensive side of the ball that could use a little insurance. Trenton Simpson is expected to take over the full-time starting role next to Roquan Smith after an up-and-down second season that saw him benched in December. Rookie Teddye Buchanan brings some promise, but he’s still a developmental piece. With Malik Harrison and Chris Board gone, Baltimore doesn’t have a sure thing behind Simpson.
That’s where a familiar name could come into play: C.J. Mosley. The longtime Raven and former first-round pick was just released by the Jets after five seasons in New York. And while he may not be the same player he once was, a return to Baltimore — even on a short-term, low-risk deal — could be worth exploring.
Ravens could be desperate enough to reunite with C.J. Mosley with linebacker depth in question
Mosley isn’t the splashiest option on the market, but he checks a lot of boxes. He’s been a captain, a communicator, and a proven tone-setter in the middle of a defense. The Ravens know that better than anyone — he racked up 579 tackles, nine picks, six forced fumbles, and four Pro Bowl nods in five years with Baltimore. That kind of resume doesn’t fade overnight.
With Simpson still needing to prove he can handle coverage duties and Buchanan projected as a special teamer early on, Mosley could step in and provide the kind of veteran leadership the position group lacks. And even if he doesn’t make it to Week 1, the Ravens love to bring guys in during camp just to push the room and raise the floor. That’s exactly what this would be.
There’s no guarantee Mosley would even crack the 53-man roster. That’s the benefit of a flier. But if he shows he still has something left in the tank, Baltimore could find themselves with a reliable fallback option — one who already knows the system and the standard.
And while we’re at it, don’t sleep on the possibility of another reunion, either. Matt Judon is floating out there too, and defenses can never have enough pass rushers. The Ravens pride themselves on having depth and flexibility on defense — both at linebacker and on the edge. If the money lines up, they should be making the call.
Worst-case scenario, it’s a quick camp look that doesn’t stick. Best-case? The Ravens get a trusted vet back in the building to mentor Simpson, challenge Buchanan, and make one more playoff push wearing the jersey he never should’ve left behind.