ExtremeRavens Posted 12 hours ago Posted 12 hours ago INDIANAPOLIS — Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said that he is meeting with Ronnie Stanley’s agent at this week’s NFL scouting combine and that he is “optimistic” that Baltimore can re-sign the team’s top pending free agent to a contract extension. The league’s legal tampering period begins March 10, with free agency officially opening two days later. Stanley, who will turn 31 next month, is coming off a Pro Bowl season and would be the top left tackle and one of the top overall free agents should he hit the open market. That could price him out of Baltimore, with Pro Football Focus projecting a two-year deal worth $20 million per season and the Ravens projected by Over The Cap to have only about $12.7 million in salary cap space. But DeCosta is confident the sides can come to an agreement that would keep Stanley in Charm City. There’s reason for that to be the case, too, given a familiarity and comfort between the sides, what other teams are willing to offer an aging tackle who has a long injury history, and what is expected to be a significant increase in the league’s salary cap for 2025. “You never want to say 100%,” DeCosta said Tuesday. “But I feel good that we’ll have a good, healthy debate [and] a good process.” Being able to keep Stanley would at least provide stability and continuity for an offensive line that had three new starters last season. A former All-Pro and the sixth overall draft pick out of Notre Dame by the Ravens in 2016, Stanley also bounced back last season in a prove-it year in which he took a $7.5 million pay cut as part of a contract restructure. After a series of injuries throughout his career, he didn’t miss a game in 2024, logged a career-high 1,089 snaps and allowed just two sacks, per PFF. Stanley also ranked 12th among tackles in ESPN’s pass block win rate and 15th in PFF’s pass-blocking grade at the position. He is not the Ravens’ only priority this offseason, however. Other notable unrestricted free agents include versatile offensive lineman Patrick Mekari, who started at left guard last season, as well as fullback/tight end Pat Ricard and cornerback Brandon Stephens. Safety Ar’Darius Washington is also a restricted free agent, while Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton and Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum are entering the final years of their rookie contracts and eligible for extensions. Baltimore does have other options at left tackle should it fail to come to a deal with Stanley, though. Roger Rosengarten, who started 14 games at right tackle as a rookie last season and performed well, could move to the left side if need be, although he played sparingly at left tackle in college and that would leave a void on the right side. There is also free agency and the draft, though the former consists of limited and equally pricey options. “That would be one of the options we could go to,” coach John Harbaugh said of potentially moving Rosengarten to left tackle. “It would depend on the draft and different things like that and free agency. “I think we’ll probably keep Ronnie, hopeful that we will.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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