The Ravens could soon have a pair of Fighting Irish tackles to bookend their offensive line.
After selecting left tackle Ronnie Stanley with the No. 6 overall pick two years ago, the Ravens have been linked to Notre Dame's tackle Mike McGlinchey in several mock drafts this year. If the Ravens end up taking McGlinchey with the No. 16 overall pick, Stanley is one person who would be fired up about the addition.
"I'd be super excited," Stanley said. "Mike is a great player. He's a great kid. Super upbeat."
Stanley and McGlinchey spent three years together at Notre Dame. McGlinchey arrived in 2013 when Stanley was the starting right tackle, and he essentially followed in Stanley's footsteps.
McGlinchey became the starting right tackle in 2015 and took over at left tackle the next season when Stanley made the jump to the NFL. In the one season with Stanley and McGlinchey both in the starting lineup, Notre Dame had one of the best offenses in school history. They averaged 466.4 yards per game and 5.63 yards per rushing attempt.
"He definitely made me better as a player," Stanley said. "Even though he was younger than me, he was still out there giving it his all, and it just made me want to do that even more. I just gave that extra effort because that's the way he was. He's a high-effort guy and he's always going to give 100 percent."
McGlinchey was a two-time captain at Notre Dame and excelled on both sides of the line. In his three years as a starter, he only allowed five sacks and six quarterback hits. Pro Football Focus has McGlinchey graded as the top tackle in this year's draft class.
The 6-foot-8, 309-pounder has the prototypical size of an NFL lineman, but Stanley says he's much more than big body.
"He's athletic," Stanley said. "A lot of guys with size don't really know how to move well or really use their athletic ability, and he does know how to use his athletic ability. He's an athlete."
McGlinchey could play either tackle position in the NFL, but some analysts believe his best fit is on the right side. Stanley is entrenched on the left side, so McGlinchey could be a plug-and-play starter at right tackle if his he came to Baltimore.
James Hurst is currently the favorite to start at right tackle, but adding McGlinchey would give the Ravens a big-time prospect who could anchor the line with Stanley for several years to come.
"For someone that I know personally, I know what type of technique he uses, I know what type of player, it just makes it even more exciting," Stanley said.
