The Baltimore Ravens entered free agency knowing they had some key decisions to make along the offensive line. They locked up Ronnie Stanley to a three-year, $60 million deal, ensuring Lamar Jackson’s blindside would remain protected.
But with Patrick Mekari heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a new problem has emerged—who fills the vacancy at left guard?
For now, the top in-house candidate is Andrew Vorhees. The former seventh-round pick out of USC missed his entire rookie season recovering from a torn ACL and had a limited role in 2024. But if you ask Stanley, he believes Vorhees is built for the job. And that might mean the Ravens don’t need to use an early draft pick or impromptu free-agent signing to address the position.
Still, it’s a gamble. The Ravens have long valued versatility and depth on the offensive line, and right now, Vorhees is penciled in as the starter by default. Is he ready to take that leap? Or will Baltimore look to bring in competition before training camp?
Ravens have a major question mark at left guard
The Ravens’ offensive line was one of the more stable units in the NFL last season. But losing Mekari—a player who could play all five positions—was a big hit. As Pro Football Focus' Max Chadwick put it:
“Another need on the offensive line opened up at guard once Patrick Mekari signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Daniel Faalele is now the team’s only guard with significant experience, and even he earned just a 61.8 PFF overall grade last season. Andrew Vorhees is currently the only starting option at left guard, and he recorded a 57.2 PFF overall grade on 268 snaps in 2024.”
Not exactly a glowing endorsement. Vorhees showed flashes when he played, particularly in the regular season finale against the Cleveland Browns when Baltimore racked up 220 rushing yards. But it’s fair to wonder if that small sample size is enough for the Ravens to just hand him the job.
Stanley, however, sees something in him. The veteran left tackle believes Vorhees has what it takes to fill the void left by Mekari:
“I think he’s going to have a great career,” Stanley said. “I think he’s a prototypical NFL guard, and I think he’s going to battle with those big D-tackles second to none, so he’ll be great. And he’s a smart guy as well, very intelligent, athletic, [and I’m] very excited to work with him.”
For a guy who has battled in the trenches for years, and who's overcome his fair share of injuries, Stanley’s endorsement holds weight. He’s seen Vorhees put in the work, and maybe 2024 was just a necessary reset year for him after a gruesome injury.
At 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, Vorhees certainly has the frame to be a mauler inside. Before his ACL tear, he was projected to be a mid-round pick. The Ravens took a chance on him in the seventh round, knowing they’d have to be patient with his recovery. Now, it’s time to see if that patience will pay off.
The Ravens still have options. The draft presents some intriguing names like Tyler Booker (Alabama) and Tate Ratledge (Georgia). A veteran signing is also on the table (Brandon Scherff). But if Stanley is right, Baltimore might already have its guy.
One thing is for sure—this will be one of the most interesting developments to keep an eye on.