Gaither talks heating up?

March 30, 2010 7:26 AM by Dan Kolko View Comments

In a sense, the Ravens put Jared Gaither on the trading block a few weeks ago when they gave him the first-round restricted free agent tender.

Now, the market for the offensive tackle might be heating up.

According to NFL.com's Jason La Canfora, Gaither is drawing interest around the league and could be a potential trade target. Per La Canfora, a team offering a second-round pick "could get the trade conversation started".

The report singles out the Redskins as a team that might be interested, but really, there are a handful of squads around the league that are in need of help at offensive tackle. A team that has a high second-round pick (and yes, the Skins are such a team) might be able to convince the Ravens to part with the 24-year-old tackle.

Just to clarify, because Gaither is a restricted free agent, any NFL team can sign him to an offer sheet. The Ravens would then have the opportunity to match the offer, and if they choose not to, they would receive that team's first-round pick as compensation.

Teams can still try and acquire Gaither's rights via a trade for less than a first-rounder, however.

Gaither confirmed yesterday on his Twitter account that he showed up to the team's voluntary offseason workout program. He was not present for the first week of the training session, which did not sit well with head coach John Harbaugh.

While he has the potential to turn into a Pro Bowl-caliber tackle, many feel Gaither's questionable work ethic has held him back.

As La Canfora suggests, if the Ravens are offered a high second-round pick for the Maryland product, they might seriously consider pulling the trigger on the deal.