When the Baltimore Ravens saw left tackle Ronnie Stanley make an All-Pro team in 2019, they didn't hesitate to give him a five-year contract worth just short of $100 million. Since then, Stanley hasn't been the immovable rock next to Lamar Jackson that executives and fans alike were expecting.
Stanley has been a solid starting tackle when healthy, but it's hard to look at someone who has missed 36 games in four years and think of them as anything except a massive question mark. There is a very legitimate chance that Stanley has played his final game as a member of the Ravens.
Baltimore can save an eight-figure sum against the cap if they release Stanley as a post-June 1 cut. This move would be one of the more controversial in recent memory for Baltimore, as they would be looking for a replacement at their most important non-Jackson position during a championship-or-bust season for this coaching staff.
Baltimore needs to consider all the pros and cons that could come with cutting Stanley. In a league that doesn't exactly have a steady parade of Pro Bowl-level left tackles ready to step in, the Ravens need to realize that getting rid of Stanley is going to have massive ripple effects.
Pros and Cons of Baltimore Ravens possibly cutting LT Ronnie Stanley
Pros
The Ravens need to figure out a way to make sure free agents like Justin Madubuike, Jadeveon Clowney, and fellow offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler are taken care of while also making meaningful improvements elsewhere on the roster. Stanley being cut loose could give them more money to throw around.
Stanley is going to turn 30 this offseason, and it's very unlikely that a player who has never suited up for all 16 or 17 games in a season will suddenly become an ironman in his later years. Would Baltimore accept one of their most important players being such an injury risk?
The Baltimore Ravens might need to cut Ronnie Stanley
Stanley made his lone Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selection in 2019, and he's been sliding downhill ever since. While still a passable starting LT, he's nowhere near the All-Pro player that Baltimore thought they were getting when they inked him to such a gigantic contract.
If the Ravens want to find their next Stanley in the 2024 NFL Draft, they certainly picked a good year to need a tackle. Not only could they find someone who could keep Jackson upright for the next half-decade if they hit on the selection, but they would also be on a much cheaper deal than the former Notre Dame star.