ExtremeRavens Posted March 10 Posted March 10 The Ravens’ most versatile lineman over the past six seasons will play elsewhere next season. Patrick Mekari, who started at right tackle and then left guard last season, has agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, a source with direct knowledge of the contract confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Monday, the start of the NFL’s legal tampering period. Mekari’s deal includes more than $20 million of guaranteed money. Players can’t sign contracts until the start of free agency on Wednesday at 4 p.m. It is also not surprising that the 27-year-old former undrafted free agent out of California who is now on his third contract is moving on. Mekari’s agreeing to sign with the Jaguars comes after the Ravens signed left tackle Ronnie Stanley to a three-year, $60 million contract extension that includes $44 million guaranteed over the first two years just days before Stanley was also due to hit the open market. That ostensibly made Mekari unaffordable for the Ravens, who before re-signing Stanley had just over $12 million in salary cap space and need to make a number of other moves to be cap compliant by the start of the new league year, also on Wednesday. Still, Mekari’s loss is a blow for Baltimore. After playing all over the Ravens’ offensive line as a sixth man and sometimes starter, he began last season as the starter at right tackle amid a revamped lineup. When left guard Andrew Vorhees suffered an ankle injury three games in, Mekari seamlessly took over and never relinquished the job, with rookie Roger Rosengarten settling in at right tackle. It marked the first time that Mekari started every game in a season and his 71.6 pass-blocking grade, per Pro Football Focus, ranked 17th among guards (minimum 500 pass-blocking snaps) and his pass block win rate of 95%, per ESPN analytics, ranked 18th among all interior lineman last season. He also allowed just one sack and his versatility allows him to play any position on the line. But with Vorhees entering his second full season and expected to be healthy, the third-year player out of USC will be the front-runner to start at left guard again. As for Mekari, he departs Baltimore having appeared in 88 regular-season games, including 53 starts. 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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