As free agency dies down, the remaining pieces are getting picked off the market. The Baltimore Ravens have an up-and-down month, but appear to be nearing at least one more free agency pickup. D.J. Reader visited Baltimore on Thursday.
There’s no guarantee that the Ravens will sign Reader. Money gets tight at this point in the offseason, and front offices look to save every penny. However, it’s pretty telling of how they feel about their current roster. For players like Broderick Washington, the end of the road may be near.
The interest in Reader could also show Baltimore’s hand in their draft strategy. Clemson’s Peter Woods met with the Ravens at the NFL Combine and has been mocked a ton to them, but if they opt to plug Reader into their defensive front, the scenario where Woods lands in Charm City could be pushed out of the realm of possibilities.
Baltimore Ravens may put themselves out of position to select Peter Woods
If the Ravens do ultimately sign Reader, that doesn’t entirely mean Woods can’t be selected 14th overall. Reader is 31 years old, and in most cases, you’re not going to let an aging veteran dictate what you do with a high first-round pick. However, that’d be a lot to invest in the defensive line.
Sure, Baltimore made it clear this offseason that they’re going to turn over every stone to upgrade the trenches. That’s a necessity, and they did that on defense by signing Trey Hendrickson. But they still have other undeniable needs. Adding Reader, or maybe another interior defensive lineman, and then throwing Woods into the equation, would be a tough call, especially given the attention the offense desperately needs.
The offense has pretty much gotten no attention this offseason. Outside of a much-needed signing at guard in the form of John Simpson, they’ve seen a ton of departures and haven’t countered much on that unit. If they were to put another egg into the defensive basket as they are trending toward in Reader, they simply wouldn’t be able to afford to look past the offensive side again with their first-round pick. At that point, it’d have to be a wide receiver, guard, or center with their 14th overall selection.
Woods is an excellent player. That goes without saying. There’s a reason he’s been mocked to the Ravens so much throughout the draft process, as his explosiveness and athleticism would look really strong in the middle next to Travis Jones. He’d certainly help a terrible pass rush unit from 2025 turn over a new leaf in 2026. Unfortunately, it just wouldn’t be a smart use of resources.
All of this could change if there’s a negative shift in Nnamdi Madubuike’s injury situation. That neck injury he suffered last year seems to have lingered, but he has posted workouts of himself that may signal a possible return to action.
Ultimately, it’s looking less likely by the day that Woods becomes a Raven. The interest in Reader could be the final nail in the coffin on that potential pairing.