Riggo's Rag
FanSided

Trading Matt Jones to the Baltimore Ravens makes sense, but probably won’t happen

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 2: Running back Matt Jones
LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 2: Running back Matt Jones /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 2
Next
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 2: Running back Matt Jones
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 2: Running back Matt Jones /

The Washington Redskins have been trying to trade Matt Jones for months now. Though the Baltimore Ravens have a new need at the running back position, they don’t seem to be the proper home for him.

Things have been relatively quiet on the Matt Jones front in the past couple of weeks. After Jones changed agents earlier in the month to negotiate a release, not much has been heard of his status. While many assume that he will not be on the team’s final 53-man roster, there is a chance that he could be a depth player for another team.

One team that could use a new running back is the Baltimore Ravens. Both CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Rich Tandler and ESPN’s Jamison Hensley have written about the possibility of Jones joining the Ravens. They each make good cases for why Jones would work for the Ravens.

After second year man Kenneth Dixon was declared out for the rest of the season with a meniscus tear, the Ravens have very little upside at the position. Terrance West has proven to be a mediocre top back while Javorius “Buck” Allen has had fumbling issues. The team added Danny Woodhead this offseason, but he is coming off a major injury. Their final noteworthy back, Lorenzo Taliaferro, has done very little since being a fourth round pick in 2014.

More from Riggo's Rag

Jones would be a solid fit in the Baltimore system. The Ravens have a strong offensive line, much like the Redskins do. Jones could thrive and potentially develop into the starter that he was during the first half of the 2016 season. Jones was not a bad starter for the Redskins. The only thing that really cost him his job was his fumbling issues. Jay Gruden couldn’t stand the constant turnovers, and that led to Jones landing in the coach’s doghouse.

Of course, it also helps that John Harbaugh’s running backs have tended to be physical players who are able to carry the load for an offense. Ray Rice was a true three down back but was a bruiser despite his small frame. Jones could come in and be the best back Baltimore has had since Rice’s departure, amid scandal, and he has the upside that many coaches look for in young players.

Home/Commanders News