Joel Bitonio
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The Ravens have been urged to sign offensive lineman Joel Bitonio in free agency
The Baltimore Ravens have had a hectic start to the offseason, and that may be putting it lightly. The Ravens have swapped out John Harbaugh for Jesse Minter at head coach, lost several key players in free agency, and embarked on a confusing trade fiasco involving a pair of superstar pass rushers, Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson.
Beyond the splash signing of Hendrickson, Baltimore has brought a handful of new faces to town this offseason in an effort to replace some of its outgoing players. As it turns out, the front office may not be done spending yet, as the team was recently pushed to go out and sign a former All-Pro offensive lineman who has spent his entire career with its division rival, the Cleveland Browns.
Ravens Urged to Sign Joel Bitonio
Perhaps the most impactful departure for the Ravens was star center Tyler Linderbaum, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year, $81 million contract. Even before he left, though, Baltimore needed help along its interior offensive line, which is precisely where Joel Bitonio could come into play.
A second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Bitonio has held down the fort at left guard for the Browns for over a decade now. During his prime, he rattled off seven straight Pro Bowl selections, while also earning a spot on the All-Pro First Team in 2021 and 2022. However, as he’s entered his mid-30s, his play has begun to fall off a cliff.
With the team potentially looking for an upgrade over Andrew Vorhees at left guard, Bitonio could be the perfect option. And even if he doesn’t start over Vorhees, he could provide depth at a key spot along Baltimore’s o-line. With that in mind, Garrett Poddell of CBS Sports recently urged the Ravens to go out and find a way to bring Bitonio to town.
“Bitonio could remain in the AFC North and pursue postseason football with the Baltimore Ravens,” Poddell wrote. “The interior of their offensive line needs an upgrade at left guard over 2023 seventh-round pick Andrew Vorhees, and Bitonio would certainly represent that. Blocking for two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and five-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry would be a lot for Bitonio after years of blocking sagging offenses in Cleveland.”
Should the Ravens Sign Joel Bitonio?
Joel Bitonio
GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 21: Guard Joel Bitonio #75 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates the Browns win over the Denver Broncos at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 21, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
What the future holds for Bitonio is unknown. He could retire, he could return to the Browns, or he could sign with a new team. Whether or not Baltimore is actually looking for an upgrade at left guard is a question mark, too. Vorhees isn’t necessarily the best player on the planet, but he made strides throughout the season as he got more comfortable on the field.
It doesn’t seem like Bitonio is in a rush to determine what his future will look like, so whether or not he lands with the Ravens could depend on what the team does in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. At one point or another, Baltimore is going to have to add some help along its interior offensive line, and who knows, Bitonio may just end up being the perfect fit for the team.