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Alejandro Villanueva to visit Baltimore Ravens: 3 big questions

By Chris Schisler

Dec 10, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva (78) blocks against Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 39-38. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva (78) blocks against Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 39-38. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ravens
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 10: Tackle Orlando Brown Jr. #79 of the Baltimore Ravens blocks at the line of scrimmage during their AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on January 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee. The Ravens defeated the Titans 20-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

2. Would the Ravens lose a step with Villanueva as the starting right tackle?

Let’s allow ourselves to imagine that Brown Jr. is traded. Let’s allow ourselves to project a Villanueva signing and his potential impact at the right tackle.

If you go by the Pro Football Focus scores for Orlando Brown Jr. and Andre Villanueva, for one year it’s about a lateral move. Brown Jr. scored a 76.5 PFF grade, while Villanueva had a 74.6 from PFF. Neither player is doing too shabby. The big difference wouldn’t come in pass blocking but run blocking. Brown Jr. scored a 73.0 in run blocking from PFF. Villanueva scored a 60.5.

That makes sense to the eye test. Brown Jr. is a more massive presence and is about as strong as any offensive lineman in the NFL. Brown Jr. has 25 pounds on Villanueva and is more of the human plow than Villanueva. That’s something that makes a big difference in an offense that is notoriously focused on the ground game.

Villanueva is a 6-9 offensive tackle with incredible measurables. Brown Jr. has more power, heck he has more brute strength than Ronnie Stanley, one of the top left tackles in football. Villanueva is more of a Stanley type than a Brown Jr. type. Lamar Jackson would still essentially have two left tackle caliber players blocking for him at the tackle position.

If the Ravens ended up trading Brown Jr. Villanueva would be good for a year or two of quality play at right tackle. A starting offensive line with Stanley and Villanueva wouldn’t be a bad thing. Kevin Zeitler and Bradley Bozeman certainly help things upfront as well. As long as the Ravens have good performance at right tackle, they will have four of five starters figured out.

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