LeGarrette Blount could be good fit for Baltimore Ravens

May 8 (UPI) -- Free agent running back LeGarrette Blount has been linked to the Detroit Lions and New York Giants this offseason, but the Baltimore Ravens could make the most sense.

ESPN reported Monday that Blount would be a good signing for the Ravens due to his brutal running style and ability to handle a big workload.

Fourth-year tailback Terrance West is expected to return as the starter for the Ravens in 2017, after managing 774 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games last season.

Blount still sits in free agency despite leading the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns last season and plodding for a career-high 1,161 rushing yards for the New England Patriots. The 30-year-old had an offer on the table earlier this offseason from the Patriots, but chose to test the open market. New England went on to sign Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead in free agency. The Super Bowl champions also signed James White to a three-year extension and still have dynamic Dion Lewis on its depth chart.

The Ravens added free agent Danny Woodhead in free agency this offseason, but he is primed for a third-down role. Kenneth Dixon will start the season on a four-game suspension after violating the NFL's performance enhancing drug policy. In March, Ravens coach John Harbaugh told the Baltimore Sun that West was at the top of the team's depth chart at the running back position.

The Ravens did not address offensive skill positions during the draft, taking five defensive players and two offensive linemen.

If the Ravens make a deal for Blount, expect it to come after Tuesday. The unrestricted free agent currently counts against any interested team's compensatory picks if he is signed before Tuesday.

League sources told Yahoo Sports last week that the Lions and Giants were "squarely in play for Blount." But Lions general manager and vice president Bob Quinn named Ameer Abdullah the team's starter after it didn't take a running back in the 2017 NFL Draft.

"It's a tough balance, but I think Ameer's injury last year was sort of a fluke thing and he's back 100 percent," Quinn told reporters on April 29. "Theo's [Riddick] dealing with a few things, but we think he's going to be ready to go, too. You can't carry 10 running backs. That's just the nature of what the NFL league rules are. You've got 90 guys on the roster and you've got to split them up as best as you see fit. We feel good about Zach [Zenner]. We feel good about Dwayne [Washington], feel good about Mike James, so that's just the way we went."

The draft could have also settled the Giants' interest after the franchise used a fourth-round pick on Clemson running back Wayne Gallman. Giants coach Ben McAdoo has also already named his starter in Paul Perkins.

"Paul Perkins is a guy, he's going to be our starter out there on first and second down," McAdoo said. "We have added some competition in the room in a variety of ways. With Shaun Draughn, Shane Vereen is coming back. We drafted Wayne Gallman. So it's going to be interesting to see how the running back room shakes out."

Ravens rookie minicamp ended Sunday. Voluntary OTAs begin on May 23 and mandatory minicamp is set for June 13.

West is due $1.7 million this season and is a free agent in 2018.