The Baltimore Ravens stole one of the most valuable potential free agents away when they re-signed two-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley to a 3-year, $60 million deal.
The contract came at the best time possible for the Ravens. After saying re-signing Stanley was an offseason priority for general manager Eric DeCosta, there were crickets. Then, the uncertainty and anxiety hit as day after day, no news on a contract extension came through.
There was a real feeling that "no news is good news" might be for the birds and that no news in this instance would mean a potential deal would fall through and Stanley would become a free agent.
Fortunately, that didn't happen, and he's back with the Ravens, much to the annoyance of several fanbases who were hoping to sign the star lineman. One of those fanbases and teams that were in the running was the New England Patriots, who wanted to shore up their offensive line for quarterback Drake Maye. The swing and miss on Stanley apparently had them seeing purple because it didn't even take them one day in free agency to implement their contingency plan.
The Patriots signed former Ravens OT Morgan Moses in free agency
Moses played two seasons for the Ravens from 2022 to 2023. He started 31 games before leaving Baltimore in free agency last year to sign a 1-year deal with the New York Jets.
Now, the Patriots have signed the 34-year-old veteran to a 3-year, $24 million contract to stabilize the right side of their line. For a team desperate for offensive line help, it’s a solid move. Moses is a steady, reliable tackle who, even at his age, is better than just about any other option New England had.
In a thin tackle market, the Patriots actually got good value here. Unlike some teams that threw around ridiculous money out of pure desperation, they locked in a dependable veteran at a reasonable price. The Tennessee Titans handed Dan Moore a 4-year, $82 million deal. The Kansas City Chiefs gave Jaylon Moore a 2-year, $30 million contract. New England, at least, avoided setting their money on fire.
That being said, Moses is a short-term fix, not a franchise tackle. He’s here to keep things from completely falling apart while the Patriots figure out their long-term plan. He’ll also serve as a mentor to Caedan Wallace, who New England reportedly views as a future starter at the position.
Would they have preferred Stanley? Of course. But considering how bleak their options were after missing out on him, the Patriots could’ve done worse than signing a battle-tested vet to help keep their young quarterback upright. At the very least, they won’t have to watch Drake Maye get flattened on a weekly basis—so, that’s a win in their book.