Michael Pierce has pegged the guy directly behind him on the depth chart, Travis Jones, to have a very big season.
When you play nose tackle, you have to be utterly huge (Pierce is 6’0″, 355, while Jones is 6’4″, 338), and when you’re that big, you’re probably going to have to rotate quite a bit to avoid fatigue.
Every team needs two solid NTs, and the 31-year-old Pierce believes that Jones, 24, is developing into his complement.
“There’s been a lot of growth in Trav,” Pierce said after practice this weekend.
“He’s been making a lot of plays. I don’t mind splitting reps with him as I get older. To see that growth, to see him make those strides. I believe he’s going to have an amazing year for sure.”
Pierce, entering his seventh season in the league, is on his second stint with the Ravens. Other than 2021, when he was with Minnesota, he’s played his entire career with Baltimore.
His time with the Ravens has seen him rack up 199 combined tackles, 4.5 sacks, and six fumble recoveries.
While he started all 17 games last season, Jones started three contests as a rookie in 2022.
In 32 career games, “Big Trav” has accrued 60 tackles (34 solo, 26 assisted) and three passes defended. Taken in the 3rd round, 76th overall out of UConn two years ago, he has yet to hit his stride and reach his full potential.
However, the expectations were very high for him for a reason. There is no time like the present to live up to them.