ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills might have avoided drafting an offensive tackle within the first four rounds because they're holding out hope of landing Jared Gaither from the Baltimore Ravens.
Trade rumors have been swirling around Gaither for months, and they intensified Friday when the Ravens moved emerging star Michael Oher from the right side to the left, formerly Gaither's position.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports multiple league sources insist the Ravens will trade Gaither, and the Bills are the leading candidate to get him.
The Bills have been aggressively pursuing Gaither behind the scenes to shore up one of the NFL's worst offensive lines. The Bills were forced to trade two-time Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters last year and declined to bring in anybody to replace him, choosing instead to give 2008 seventh-round pick Demetrius Bell a try.
The gamble failed miserably. Bell was among the league leaders in penalties before a knee injury ended his season at eight games. If the Bills don't bring in any help, Bell likely would return to the role with competition from fifth-round draft choice Ed Wang.