Matt Skura provides potential replacement for Ryan Jensen
By Joe Schiller
If center Ryan Jensen does walk in free agency, Matt Skura could be a replacement at center.
The Baltimore Ravens’ biggest free agency decision will come down to center Ryan Jensen. After starting all 16 games during the 2017 season, Jensen shined during a contract year. That was good news for the Ravens on the field but bad news for their pockets. Now an unrestricted free agent, Jensen is looking to get paid.
Keeping Jensen is certainly possible but it’s not that simple. The Ravens get to sit at the negotiating table first but limited cap space doesn’t give them much leverage. They also have other pressing needs to address at offensive skill positions, particularly wide receiver. And once March 14th rolls around, any team can approach Jensen. The majority of teams that will approach him have more cap room than the Ravens. We’ve seen Kelechi Osemele and Rick Wagner depart because of this exact same reason the past two seasons.
If it’s going to be the third year in a row, the Ravens will need a backup plan to replace one of their best offensive linemen last season. I’d have to think Matt Skura would be that replacement.
Skura went from an undrafted free agent in 2016 to one of the Ravens’ most crucial starters on the offensive line. Luke Bowanko was the in-game replacement after Marshal Yanda’s broken ankle in Week 2 but it was Skura that eventually won the job. He beat out Bowanko and rookie Jermaine Eluemunor and started 12 games the rest of the season.
Following James Hurst
Skura’s best comparison would be to his current teammate James Hurst. Both were key starters in college but went undrafted for various reasons. Now they’ve found their way as key starters for the Ravens on the offensive line. Versatility is key in the trenches and Skura has proved his ability to play multiple positions. Skura was a center coming out of college but hasn’t taken a starting snap in the NFL at that position. If that changes, I’d have to assume that transition would be easier for Skura than others.
While he had his struggles, Skura held his own for a player thrown in into the fire from the practice squad. The AFC North itself has some of the most talented pass rushers in football. Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap alone make life difficult for opposing teams. Add in young studs like T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett, which is never ideal. Yet, Skura was part of an offensive line that allowed just 27 sacks in 2017, tied for seven best in the NFL. Not too shabby for a unit that was shuffled around because of injuries.
Losing Jensen isn’t an ideal situation but is the offensive line really the biggest need for the Ravens this offseason? I can’t think so at this point. Marshal Yanda, Alex Lewis, and Nico Siragusa are expected to return next season and that’s a boost within itself. The “next man up” mentality at the center position isn’t something new for the Ravens. They were in the same predicament heading into the 2017 season and found Jensen. Jeremy Zuttah and Matt Birk were free agent center replacements before him.
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If the Ravens can strike a free agent deal with Jensen, then great. If not, I can feel confident Skura or another replacement can step up like we’ve seen many times before.