I take a look at Ronnie Stanley and how he performed in his rookie season with the Baltimore Ravens
We are officially one week before the NFL Draft, so why not take a look at the Baltimore Raven’s previous draft class.
Every day from now to the draft, I will take a look at each one of the Raven’s draft picks from 2016. We will review them based on the expectations coming in, how they performed, and what their future looks like. First up is the first pick, offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley.
After an abysmal 2015 season for the Baltimore Ravens, they were looking to turn it around in the draft. Joe Flacco suffered a major knee injury and first priority was protecting him. It seemed like offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil was a top target for the Ravens, but his draft day fiasco scared them away. Instead, they took offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley out of Notre Dame. Missing out on players like Jalen Ramsey and Ezekiel Elliot, the Ravens played it safe and it paid out in dividends.
Drafted: 6th overall pick.
What was said about Stanley coming into the draft:
"Strengths: Races out of the starting blocks and into pass sets as well as anyone in the country. Has long arms and knows how to use them. Plays with quick hands and a well-timed punch. Never panics when he loses hand placement, simply resets them.Weaknesses: In need of more functional, core power. Has to hang on for a ride when engaging against a physical defender who plays with leverage. Will need to win with feet and technique."
A Tackle For The Future
Stanley’s rookie campaign started off slow when he dealt with a nagging foot injury that caused him to miss four games. Along with the injuries came some frustrating penalties and rookie errors. For a top ten pick, it was a bit worrisome to see at the beginning of the season. But as most rookies, there is a transition period from college to NFL. It can be a much bigger jump than some seem. Stanley was able to settle down and transition very well the rest of the season. Going up against some of the best defensive players in the NFL, he was able to hold his own and play well.
Next: Baltimore Ravens: Top 5 Draft Classes of all Time
There is no doubt that Stanley has the potential to be a franchise left tackle for the Ravens. In the 2nd half of the season, he played his best football. Finally healthy, Stanley was able to be the anchor for the left side of the offensive line. Pro Football Focus graded him as one of the top three offensive tackles in 2016. For Stanley, he is just starting to show the kind of player that he can be. With Rick Wagner gone, he is the center piece for the Ravens offensive line going forward. If he is able to stay healthy and avoid more injuries, we could see a mini Jonathan Ogden transforming before our eyes.