COMMENTARY | When the Houston Texans let go of Ed Reed, most every team started to think long and hard about possibly bringing him in, and the Baltimore Ravens were no exception.

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Most teams will find that Reed has lost a step and is probably not an upgrade over their current starters. The Ravens would be in that same boat, but that doesn't mean the Ravens shouldn't sign Reed. On the contrary, Reed's leadership and intelligence could help current free safety Matt Elam significantly, setting Elam up for long term success.

Elam has been fair to middling this year for the Ravens and not much else. His name doesn't come up too often, as he hasn't made many plays, nor has he given too many up.

But the Ravens did not draft Elam in the first round to see him tread water. On a defense that has struggled to produce turnovers, the Ravens need Elam to step up and become a turnover machine, something he showed flashes of being in college.

That's where Reed comes in. Reed no longer has the athleticism to make the plays he once was able to, but he has the smarts and the savvy that could make him a key mentor for Elam. With Reed acting as a guide, hopefully Elam would grow in his knowledge of the game.

A few dominoes have to fall for this to work. First of all, the Ravens will not be signing Reed off waivers, as he is just too expensive.

Secondly, the Ravens would need to be convinced that Reed's leadership represents an upgrade over the special teams contributions of a guy like Omar Brown or Brandon Trawick. Since Reed's main contribution would be off the field, they would need to be convinced that he won't be a distraction and will be a major source of support for the team.

Anyone who has seen Reed play in the past two years can see he is no longer a competent starter. But if brought to Baltimore on a minimum contract, he wouldn't need to be. Elam and James Ihedigbo have been good enough to hold down the fort, and both would benefit from Reed's knowledge on the sideline.

Think back to 2010 for a moment. The Ravens brought in Marc Bulger to back up Joe Flacco. Bulger didn't play a single snap that year, but he was an invaluable sounding board for Flacco, who grew tremendously as a passer that year.

Reed could offer a similar role, while even in a best case scenario providing some reps as a third safety.

The Ravens are rebuilding anyway. Why not bring back a guy from the last generation of defense to help the new generation grow? Both Elam and the Ravens will be better for it, even if Reed doesn't play a single down.

Shawn Brubaker is a staff writer for The Cordell Beacon and the host of Ravens Central Radio. He was a Bleacher Report featured columnist for two years and a member of their Breaking News Team. He is a graduate of the Catholic University of America.

Baltimore RavensEd ReedThe RavensMatt Elam
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