Ravens Had 'Mutual Interest' in Linebacker Before Retirement

The Baltimore Ravens have earned a reputation as a hub for linebacker development, having hosted Hall of Famer Ray Lewis before ushering in a continuous string of stars.

Currently, linebacker Roquan Smith holds the title, commandeering the Ravens’ defense from its center and ensuring the spine of the unit remains solid. Before his reign was C.J. Mosley, a 2014 first-round pick who quickly emerged as one of the best middle linebackers in the sport.

Mosley departed for the New York Jets after the 2018 season. There were some bumps in the road, but he eventually returned to All-Pro status in 2022 and played just as well a year later.

His health limited him to four games in 2024, and he needed to fully recover from a neck injury before signing a deal in free agency this spring. That good news didn’t come, and in early June, Mosley retired.

Rick Ritter reported that the Ravens had “mutual interest” in signing the star linebacker before he hung up his cleats.

“I’m told C.J. Mosley was hoping for a reunion in Baltimore to chase a championship,” Ritter posted. “There was mutual interest there but unfortunately, he couldn’t get cleared with his neck injury.”

Mosley may not have been the cleanest fit for the Ravens, given that Smith plays the same position as the Mike linebacker, and the elder’s athleticism doesn’t make him a fit as a traditional Will linebacker.

With that said, the opportunity for those minds to meld could have lent itself to synergy, and on a true-talent level, Baltimore likely would have benefited.

"Mosley likely could have come to Baltimore and competed for real playing time," Ebony Bird’s Connor Burke wrote. "The team has an open competition for the second starting linebacker next to Roquan Smith, and the pairing would have been electric to watch. Before injuries, the Alabama product was still playing at an elite level and is one of the smartest linebackers to touch the field in recent memory.

"While the team looks to the younger linebackers in Trenton Simpson and Teddye Buchanan to contribute in 2025, Mosley would have been a great leader to have around for a championship run."

The Ravens will miss out on the final days of Mosley’s career, but he remains one of the most well-respected players in recent Ravens history. He ended his career with five Pro Bowls, five second-team All-Pro selections and over 1,000 tackles, the bulk of which came in Baltimore.