Former Ravens Pick Sparks Fresh Concern With Another Ugly Headline

As Ben Cleveland's legal troubles mount up, the Los Angeles Chargers must weigh their options against the backdrop of a tumultuous year for the embattled offensive lineman.

Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Ben Cleveland was booked again in Oconee County, Georgia, after a traffic stop last week led to multiple misdemeanor charges.

Authorities said deputies saw his vehicle going well over the local speed limit. Sheriff records show the 27-year-old was arrested on several separate misdemeanor traffic counts, including a serious violation tied to the terms of his active limited driving permit.

Jail staff processed the 360-pound guard around 10:00 AM before he was released on bond.

The arrest adds another ugly entry to a stretch of off-field trouble that has followed Cleveland for years. The Chargers signed the former third-round pick in January to add depth, after the Baltimore Ravens waived him following a league substance-abuse suspension.

His personal life has also been in the spotlight. Cleveland’s divorce proceedings included intense allegations of marital misconduct from both sides, and those domestic disputes came around the same time as an earlier driving under the influence charge in Georgia.

Now Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers have another decision to make as preseason practices begin. The team has to weigh Cleveland’s value on the field against the legal baggage piling up around him, and the league office is expected to review the latest arrest under standard personal conduct guidelines.

Cleveland was drafted by the Ravens in the third round, 94th overall, in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has played in 64 total games over five NFL seasons and earned Second-Team All-American honors in college.

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