OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ronnie Stanley, who was thought-about the highest obtainable offensive sort out this offseason, selected to re-sign with the Baltimore Ravens for a team-friendly three-year, $60 million deal on March 8 as an alternative of testing free company.
Stanley’s resolution, as he defined Monday, got here right down to loyalty.
“I knew I used to be going to offer Baltimore the very best discount that I might supply to every other crew,” Stanley stated. “However that being stated, I nonetheless wished to be pleased with what I am making and ensure I am getting the worth that I really feel like I deserve. I believe it was stability that might assist the crew and one thing I am nonetheless pleased with.”
If Stanley reached free company, he was anticipated to be pursued by the New England Patriots and Washington Commanders. He opted to stay with Baltimore on a deal that averages $20 million per season, which ranks tenth amongst left tackles. It was surpassed by Dan Moore Jr., who signed a four-year, $82 million deal on the primary day of free company.
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Now, Stanley enters his tenth season with a Ravens crew that made him the primary offensive lineman chosen within the 2016 draft. Baltimore took Stanley with the No. 6 total decide when many had Laremy Tunsil because the top-rated sort out.
In 2020, the Ravens signed Stanley to a five-year, $98.75 million extension, which made him the second-highest-paid offensive sort out on the time. However this previous season, Stanley needed to take a 50% pay minimize to stay with the crew, decreasing his wage by $7.5 million.
After a Professional Bowl season in 2024, Stanley may have examined the open market to see his worth. However he labored with the cap-limited Ravens and reached an settlement two days earlier than the negotiating interval started.
“I believe it simply goes again to the truth that they drafted me straight out of school [and] took an opportunity on me,” Stanley stated. “So, I am at all times going to offer them first dibs on the subject of issues like that, out of respect.”
Stanley, 30, is a two-time Professional Bowler and Baltimore’s first All-Professional left sort out since Corridor of Famer Jonathan Ogden.
He’s coming off his greatest season since a career-altering left ankle damage in 2020. When defending quarterback Lamar Jackson’s blind facet this previous season, Stanley ranked twelfth in cross block win price amongst tackles (92.5%), performed in each recreation for the primary time in his profession and continued to be a revered chief.
On Monday, Stanley described the 27-25 AFC divisional spherical playoff loss to the Buffalo Payments as a kind of recreation “that simply sticks with you for some time, perhaps even a lifetime.”
“We have damaged so many information within the final nevertheless a few years — I do not assume we actually care about it, to be trustworthy,” Stanley stated. “The one factor we actually care about is profitable a Tremendous Bowl. So sure, all that different stuff for certain is sweet and all. However [we] undoubtedly [have] unfinished enterprise.”