Ravens Expected to Re-Sign Star Offensive Lineman
The Baltimore Ravens, unsurprisingly, are expected to re-sign their start left tackle Ronnie Stanley soon. Ravens general manager mentioned at last week’s NFL Scouting Combine that he felt confident a deal would get done with their star tackle.
“The sense out of Indy is that the Ravens and left tackle Ronnie Stanley can agree to terms on an extension in the coming days,” Fowler wrote. “Some inside the league are projecting that deal to land somewhere between $21-23 million per year.” Stanley would be a huge keep for the Ravens, who need to keep their line intact to protect Lamar Jackson and open holes for Derrick Henry in the upcoming seasons. Other teams will be willing to throw a lot of money at Stanley. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported the Patriots – who have the most cap space available of any team – are interested. “At the NFL scouting combine, one rival NFL executive said some of the buzz going around was that the Patriots would aggressively pursue veteran Baltimore Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley should he make it to unrestricted free agency,” Reiss wrote.
It was hardly surprising, and also reflective of the type of conversations that take place at the combine, where front office executives, coaches, scouts, agents and reporters come together to set the stage for the start of free agency (legal negotiating period starting March 10) and the NFL draft (April 24-26).”
If the Baltimore Ravens can’t negotiate a deal to keep offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, they have a willing dance partner waiting in the wings.
As Ravens’ general manager Eric DeCosta talked with Stanley’s agent at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, reports surfaced that the New England Patriots are chomping at the bit to sign the two-time Pro Bowler if he hits free agency. DeCosta seems intent on keep Stanley, but he’d be better off to trade him for assets in return rather than letting him walk for nothing in free agency.
“Well Ronnie and I did a deal last time, so that’s great,” DeCosta told reporters last week. ”He and I have a good friendship; we’ve known each other for a long time. He’s got a great agent in Kim Miale. You never want to say 100 percent, but I feel good that we’ll have a good, healthy debate, a good process. We’re going to meet with Kim in Indy this week and I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to get a deal done.”