The Baltimore Sun reported this morning that Jared Gaither is not on the practice-field for the Ravens.
While he is in the training-room, this leads one to believe he is possibly being held out jue to a trade in the final stages. I continue to think a trade of Gaither would be a mistake for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
There are exactly zero internal options to replace Gaither in 2010. Who would you feel comfortable with? Yanda? Cousins, with the hope he is tremendously improved in Year 3 vs Year 2? That Harewood is somehow going to be ready? (Harewood has apparently been carted off the field today, hopefully it is not serious).
What Free Agent tackles do you feel good about?
Flozell Adams?
Shawn Andrews?
Jamaal Brown?
Kirk Chambers?
Mike Gandy?
Levi Jones?
Damion McIntosh?
Would you feel good about going up against Mathis and Freeney with those guys?Or Woodley and Harrison? Or Geathers, Odom, Johnson? Or Castillo, Phillips, Merriman? Or the Jets 11 pass rushers? I know that I would not.
If you had any inclination as an organization of trading Gaither – a trade needed to be completed prior to the draft. That way the Ravens could have further addressed the overall tackle depth prior to selecting Harewood in the 6th. You could have used 4th or 5th round picks on players like Jason Fox, Ed Wang, or Bruce Campbell that each would have been more likely to help you in 2010 vs. Harewood. I’m not stating that any of Fox, or Wang, or Campbell would have been ready to start either. I am saying they would have been more able to provide some help this year as depth.
So again, why would you trade Gaither? You would trade him because you were overwhelmed with the value coming-back, and because you did not believe you could afford to resign him. The real hope from Ravens fans is that the Bills would be poor as expected, and that you could wind-up with a Top 10 selection overall from Buffalo. The irony is that a Top 10 selection would be extremely expensive. Most likely you could lock Gaither up long-term cheaper than it would cost to sign a player drafted 10th overall. Even if you believe that 10th overall player would have a greater ceiling than Gaither, would that player have more value than Gaither signed long-term, and the money comparably saved (and used elsewhere)?
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.