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Baltimore Ravens: Why They Must Not Overpay Rick Wagner

By Chris Schisler

Sep 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Baltimore Ravens right tackle Rick Wagner (71) defends against Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Ravens 37-33. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Baltimore Ravens right tackle Rick Wagner (71) defends against Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Ravens 37-33. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Everybody wants Rick Wagner to stay in town. However the Ravens have to do it at the right price, or not at all:

The Baltimore Ravens have some decisions to make. Rick Wagner is a quality right tackle, but a right tackle nonetheless. He isn’t a guy that you’d be comfortable moving to left tackle, and he isn’t irreplaceable. The Ravens cannot overpay Wagner for two reasons. First the Ravens have a long history of finding gems on the offensive line, via the NFL Draft. Secondly, Alex Lewis is a fantastic insurance plan at right tackle.

When Ronnie Stanley got hurt, Alex Lewis got some time in at left tackle. He did a good job too. Lewis has already become a more important cog in the Ravens offensive line than Wagner. While it would be nice to keep Lewis at the left guard position, moving him to right tackle is incredibly doable.

The Ravens have to find an offensive lineman or two in the draft. If they end up moving Lewis to right tackle, they need a left guard. That shouldn’t make the Ravens fearful though. The Ravens have a proven track record of finding quality offensive linemen in the draft. Lewis was a fourth round pick.

Related Story: Brandon Williams Vs. Rick Wagner: Who Stays, Who Goes

Wagner was a fifth round pick. Jeff Mitchell, the center of the Ravens Super Bowl XXXV team, was a fifth round pick. Edwin Mulitalo was a fourth round pick. Mike Flynn was a long time starter for the Ravens and he was an undrafted free agent. I could go on, but do you get the point?

The Ravens can replace Wagner. Wagner is going to get a nice payday. Starting quality offensive linemen are hard to find. Ozzie Newsome has a way of finding offensive linemen that other general managers have passed up. Everyone freaked out when Ben Grubbs got a huge payday from the New Orleans Saints, but Kelechi Osemele filled the void. How many fans even knew who Osemele was before the Ravens drafted him in the second round?

That’s the point. The Ravens have always managed to fill their needs on the offensive line. Yes Gino Gradkowski was a swing and a miss. They don’t always find a diamond while digging through the rough. They have however, consistently found good players up front in the draft. Wagner and Lewis are proof of that.

There are positions the Ravens don’t draft as well. For example receiver seems to be the position the Ravens struggle with the most. The offensive line is where we need to trust Newsome and Eric DeCosta. It’s what they do better than anybody in the NFL.

Next: Baltimore Ravens: Best 1st Round Picks In Team History

Wagner is a good football player. The Ravens took him out of Wisconsin in the fifth round, developed him and he will reap the financial rewards. If the Ravens can keep Wagner that is the ideal situation. I just want to stress how the Ravens cannot overpay a replaceable right tackle.

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