Pat Ricard’s new deal shows how integral he is to Ravens

According to reports, the Baltimore Ravens have inked a two year contract extension with Pat Ricard. This is a move that is perfect for the Ravens:

The Ravens now have locked up Ricard’s services through the 2021 season.The Baltimore Ravens have rewarded Pat Ricard for being an incredibly important component of the most exciting offense in the NFL.

Ricard is a player who brings a lot of value to the offense. He is a huge part of the running game. His blocks spring open big runs for Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram. Ricard’s physicality is a huge part of the team’s identity. The Ravens offense is the perfect combination of athleticism and power. Ricard’s the perfect fullback for this offense because his power isn’t subtle and his athleticism is sneaky good.

Ricard works with the tight ends to make the Ravens offense tick. Ricard is one of the hardest working Ravens. He gets a lot of playing time on the offense and he chips in on defense. When John Harbaugh wears his T-Shirt that says “Nobody cares. Work harder,” you can tell that Ricard has absorbed that message. Ricard is ferocious.

This is an offense where the players who do the dirty work get the glory the same way that the play-makers do. Ricard is a player who the Ravens have to keep around because what he does is so important to who they are as a football team.

Ricard is also a secret weapon of the offense. He has eight receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. That may not sound like a lot, but it’s something that the defense has to be ready for. Ricard is a reliable option in the flats and he’s always a threat by the goal line. If the Ravens didn’t have three tight ends who all contribute to the passing game, Ricard would get the rock more. When Ricard  does get the football it’s a jolt of energy for Baltimore. The entire stadium knows he’s not going down quietly.

Deals like this don’t break the bank and getting it done early helps Eric DeCosta plan everything out down the line. The Ravens don’t have to fight with other teams in free agency to keep Ricard around. That’s big. Remember, Kyle Juszczyk got a fairly big deal for a fullback to go the the San Francisco 49ers. Not every team uses the fullback, and the teams that do would understand the value of Ricard.

This is a common sense move by the Ravens. Just like Nick Boyle and Tavon Young this offseason, DeCosta is taking care of Ricard. It’s a smart contract extension that shows you how integral Ricard is to the number one offense in football.