Baltimore Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley will enter free agency as one of the most coveted players in this year’s class. Coming off back-to-back productive seasons, especially in 2024 when he played all 17 games, Stanley is set to cash in this offseason. That’s a big win for Stanley, considering how rough 2020-2022 was for him as he battled numerous injuries. He’s bounced back in a big way. The question now is whether Baltimore can afford to keep him, which won’t be easy.
Stanley will have plenty of suitors and is ranked among the top players available. He’s about to turn 31, and even with his injury history, teams will be lining up for a top-tier left tackle to protect their quarterback. When healthy, Stanley is one of the best left tackles in the game, and Baltimore would love to keep him. However, one draft analyst thinks Stanley is as good as gone.
Speaking on The Glenn Clark Radio Show, Tony Pauline got the sense at the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl that Stanley will be on a different team next season.
"That's what the word is. One of the great about the Combine is you get a lot more talk and chatter. But this was the belief at the Shrine/Senior Bowls."
Josh Simmons could be ideal replacement for Ronnie Stanley
If Stanley does leave in free agency, Baltimore will need a suitable replacement to protect Lamar Jackson. Pauline has an answer. He suggests that the Ravens should draft Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons with the 27th overall pick.
"Is he plus and play LT? Well, remember, he's coming off a season-ending knee injury from October. I think Rosengarten is a natural RT, Simmons is a natural LT. If Simmons hadn't injured his knee, there's a good chance he goes top 12. Now, the injury itself is a red flag, and he lost a few months of development. But you are potentially getting incredible value."
Simmons stands at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, and transferred from San Diego State to Ohio State in 2023, where he played very well at left tackle. Before his injury, he had started 26 consecutive games between San Diego State and Ohio State and hadn’t allowed a sack during the 2024 season. His pre-draft medical reports will be something teams like Baltimore closely monitor.
If there are rumblings around the league that Stanley is expected to sign elsewhere, and that does happen, Baltimore will be left with a massive hole at left tackle heading into a 2025 season with Super Bowl expectations. General manager Eric DeCosta already went through an offensive line rebuild last offseason. If he can’t re-sign Stanley, he’ll have to continue that rebuild at the most important position on the offensive line.