The Baltimore Ravens already knew they would be without second-round pass rusher David Ojabo for a while as he recovers from an Achilles injury he suffered this winter.
But now they face a different kind of absence from their rookie.
Ojabo is unsigned and awaiting the start of Ravens training camp, NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport reported on Good Morning Football on Wednesday. The Michigan product remains the only 2022 NFL Draft pick yet to sign his rookie contract.
“My understanding is the argument is about the third-year guarantee,” Rapoport said. “If you look at the distribution of where the players are and how much is guaranteed in the third year, the Houston Texans fully guaranteed the third year of their second-round pick (defensive end Jalen Pitre), which has caused everyone to get moving. a little.”
The third fully guaranteed year for Pitre was considered an unusual move, something that has put a wrench in what in recent years has been a fairly fluid set of rookie contract negotiations.
“It’s basically an argument of, how far do the sides go to 50 percent of the third-year guarantee? It’s not much; it’s a small argument,” Rapoport said. “Both sides are trying to split the difference. They haven’t come to an agreement yet.”
Typically, rookie struggles, especially these days, cause a bit of panic among coaches and fans. With Ojabo still recovering from a major injury, this resistance has a different feel. After all, he can’t train, so the level of concern isn’t as high as it would be with a healthy player.
“(The injury is) totally consequential,” Rapoport added. “They’re arguing over the warranty, and that’s what this is all about.”
But the Ravens can’t make any transactional moves on Ojabo until he’s signed. Once he does, Ojabo will likely be placed on the team’s non-football injury list because the Achilles tear he suffered occurred before he entered the league, at Michigan’s pro day .
Nigerian Ojabo was the 45th overall pick this spring. He had a breakout season for the playoff-bound Wolverines in 2021, picking up 11 sacks and five forced fumbles after barely seeing the field the previous season.