Over the weekend, the New York Jets released their 11 year player, and perennial Pro Bowl center, Nick Mangold. The move was unexpected for many, as Mangold has been one of, if not the best center, for years. Last season, Mangold suffered an ankle injury that prevented him from playing for half of the 2016 season. With uncertainty surrounding the 33 year old center on how he would preform next season, the Jets decided not to take a risk on him with his roughly $9 million cap hit next season.
The Ravens have been known to take veterans released by their former teams near the end of their career, most recently players like Steve Smith Sr. and Ben Watson. This would be a prototypical move for the Ravens. The Ravens have had inconsistent play at Center recently last season, and Mangold would be an instant upgrade. Mangold’s price tag would also be lower than it was on the Jets, with the factors of his age and prior injury. If the Ravens do sign Mangold, it would likely be to a 2-3 year deal. If Mangold still has some juice left in him, he can be an instant fix for a position the Ravens need upgrade at. Signing Nick Mangold would be a very smart move for the Ravens.
