Ronnie Stanley, the two-time Pro Bowl left tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, is poised to enter the free agent market for the first time in his illustrious career. Stanley has been a cornerstone for the Ravens since being drafted with the No. 6 pick in 2016. As he turns 31 next month, the question looms: will the Ravens retain their veteran lineman, or will they opt for a younger roster?
Stanley’s performance on the field has been noteworthy. In the 2022 season, he ranked 12th in pass block win rate among tackles, boasting an impressive 92.5%. He also played every game in a single season for the first time, marking his best performance since a significant left ankle injury in 2020. Despite these achievements, Stanley has accumulated 24 penalties since 2022, the highest on the Ravens roster.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has acknowledged Stanley's maturity and contribution to the team. DeCosta emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong offensive line, stating:
"I think our goal is to always have the best offensive line that we can have." – Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta
Stanley's projected earnings of $20.7 million per season reflect his value as one of the top five free agents in the league, and the leading left tackle available. His departure could significantly impact the Ravens, but DeCosta remains optimistic about potential replacements, including right tackle Roger Rosengarten.
The Ravens have shown a willingness to rejuvenate their offensive line by incorporating younger talent. This strategy was evident last year when they made the tough decision to transition from older players. DeCosta commented on this approach:
"We made a tough call last year to go younger and have some younger guys play, and we knew we'd have a few growing pains," – Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta
Despite these challenges, the decision paid off, as DeCosta noted:
"I think it was absolutely the right thing to do. We saw our guys improve and get better and really mesh as a unit and jell." – Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta
Stanley's future with the Ravens remains uncertain as they weigh their options. DeCosta has indicated that all possibilities are being considered:
"We are aware that we have some guys whose contracts are up, and we'll look at that and certainly have some discussions with players. We'll look at potentially bringing back our guys; we'll look at the draft; we'll look at free agency; we'll overturn every rock to find as many good offensive linemen as we can." – Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta
For Stanley, the prospect of leaving Baltimore after nine years evokes mixed emotions. Reflecting on a recent challenging loss, he expressed:
"This one is going to hurt for a while. This is probably the toughest loss of my career so far. I'm going to just take it day by day and whatever happens, happens." – Ronnie Stanley
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