The Baltimore Ravens fixed their offensive line this offseason. Well, kind of. They made tireless efforts to improve the offensive guard spot, signing John Simpson and drafting Vega Ioane to build what appears to be a strong duo. The issues lie elsewhere.
The center hole is an overwhelming question. The Ravens lost Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, and at this point, have made cheaper investments to replace him. That’s probably their biggest flaw right now, but this year could also reveal a future flaw.
Baltimore’s left tackle spot has been occupied by Ronnie Stanley. He’s been a mainstay there across his 10-year career, and he’s been terrific. However, at 32 years old and with a long history of injuries, Stanley’s tenure with the Ravens is nearing a crossroads.
His performance throughout the 2026 campaign could determine what the future looks like for Lamar Jackson’s blindside.
Baltimore Ravens’ critical offensive line spot could reveal urgent question in 2026
Ronnie Stanley has certainly bounced back a bit over the past couple of years. After lower-body injuries appeared to derail his career, he returned to Pro Bowl form in 2024 and had another solid showing in 2025. Injuries have continued to pop up across that two-year stretch, though.
Can Stanley turn in a fully healthy campaign in 2026? That’ll be the main question that Baltimore will be looking for as they assess the future of their left tackle spot. Obviously, all eyes are on the center battle, but a Stanley regression could be something to keep an eye on. If he gets banged up once more, and age starts to play a factor, some urgency could grow surrounding the future at that position.
With two years left on his contract, the Ravens have time to find Stanley’s replacement should they need to. And that could play perfectly into the hands of second-year tackle Carson Vinson.
Vinson was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s a raw, developmental prospect out of Alabama A&M, but has already flashed in preseason and also got the job done in the seven offensive snaps he saw in the regular season last year (I know it’s a very small sample size, but it’s still encouraging).
New head coach Jesse Minter has also been impressed by what he’s seen from Vinson thus far. From the weight room to on-the-field work, it sounds like the 24-year-old is taking strides in every way possible this offseason. He's gotten a good amount of reps with Stanley missing time throughout the offseason program, too.
Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley is not on the field for the start of minicamp.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) June 9, 2026
Next man up at that spot is Carson Vinson. pic.twitter.com/N7UXNM4N5t
But at such an important position, it might be best to use a high draft pick to replace Stanley if they need to. This is the guy who’s going to protect Lamar Jackson’s blindside after all. Left tackle is a premium position that would simply need to be addressed in the first round. Baltimore may not have time to wait around for Vinson if Stanley regresses and eventually departs.
Of course, I’m not saying it’s guaranteed that Stanley will regress. He’s bounced back pretty well and could be back on the right track. There are also ageless wonders in the NFL like Trent Williams and Lane Johnson still playing at a very high level, so the age question could be invalidated. Still, it’s fair to question his future, and if things head down the wrong path in 2026, the Ravens could have another offensive line issue unravel.
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