The Baltimore Ravens overhauled their offensive line in the offseason. The new-look Ravens offensive front will likely feature three new starters and just one returning player starting at the same position he did a year ago.
But for as much turnover as there was this offseason, four of the five positions already have established starters. All but the left guard position.
Ronnie Stanley will return from injury and start at left tackle. Bradley Bozeman will be shifting inside from guard to center. And the team’s offseason signings, Kevin Zeitler and Alejandro Villanueva will man the right side of the line.
As for left guard, however, that position may very well be a three-way battle.
John Harbaugh implied the Ravens will have a three-way battle at left guard.
When speaking to the media following Wednesday’s practice, head coach John Harbaugh was asked about the left guard job and he said that it was “wide open.”
He then went on to praise the likes of Ben Cleveland, Ben Powers, and Tyre Phillips — seemingly implying that those three are the main competitors for the job.
That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise either.
Perhaps the only other player who some expected to be in the competition was 2020 fourth-round pick Ben Bredeson. Bredeson played in 10 games as a rookie, but it’s highly unlikely he wins a starting job this summer.
There’s also the versatile Patrick Mekari and the newly-signed Michael Schofield, but neither is likely a serious threat for the left guard job.
Cleveland, on the other hand, could be considered the early favorite. The third-round rookie has impressed coaches with offensive coordinator Greg Roman even calling him the “best run blocker in the draft.”
The Ravens love Cleveland and are going to give him every opportunity to win the starting job in camp.
Powers and Phillips each started around half the season last year and could be in the mix as well. Phillips was thrust into a starting role at right tackle last season after Orlando Brown Jr. switched sides following Ronnie Stanley’s injury.
His performance was so-so, but he held his own. The same could be said for Powers who started seven games last season after suiting up for just one contest in his rookie year.
The Ravens have options at left guard, and although Cleveland may seem like the early favorite, expect all three to be given a chance to start.