The Ravens are making a move to upgrade their struggling offensive line.
The team has dealt for Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Eugene Monroe in exchange for draft picks, Head Coach John Harbaugh confirmed Wednesday. The deal is pending Monroe passing a physical.
Monroe, 26, is a former first-round pick who has been a starter for Jacksonville at left tackle for the last five seasons. The offensive lineman out of Virginia was the No. 8 overall pick by the Jaguars in 2009.
Monroe, 6-foot-5, 306 pounds, comes to Baltimore to aid an offensive line that hasn't met expectations through the first quarter of the season.Monroe is expected to compete with veteran Bryant McKinnie for a starting job.
McKinnie was instrumental during last year's run to the Super Bowl, as the Ravens inserted him into the starting lineup at left tackle at the start of the playoffs. The team then re-signed McKinnie to a two-year contract reportedly worth $7 million this offseason.
Monroe is in the final year of his contract that has a base salary of $3.8 million this year, according to The Baltimore Sun.
The offensive line has had problems in both run blocking and protecting quarterback Joe Flacco. The Ravens could not move the ball on the ground at all in Sunday's loss to Bills, running it a franchise-low nine times. Flacco has also been sacked 12 times on the season.
"The whole O-line is disappointing right now," Head Coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "No one is more disappointed than they are right now. We've got to run block better, and we've got to pass block better."
Coming to Baltimore provides a fresh start for Monroe, and also provides immediate competition for a unit in need of improving.
