Media Reactions to Ravens Re-Signing Ronnie Stanley
On Saturday, the Ravens agreed to terms with Ronnie Stanley on a reported three-year, $60 million deal with $44 million guaranteed. Reactions from media members considered the re-signing of Stanley a rousing success.
The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec: "This move sets the Ravens up nicely to fill their other needs this offseason without worrying about the left tackle position. … Stanley surely would have beaten $20 million per year on the open market, but he wanted to remain in Baltimore. He's cognizant of his legacy with the only NFL team he's ever played for, and he also has a strong rapport with the team's decision-makers. That helped get the deal done."
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley: "He is coming off his best season since a career-altering left ankle injury in 2020. When protecting Jackson's blind side last season, Stanley ranked 12th in pass block win rate among tackles (92.5%), played in every game for the first time in his career and continued to be a respected leader. … Stanley, the No. 6 overall pick in 2016, produced his best season in 2019 when he became the Ravens' first All-Pro left tackle since Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden. In 104 starts, Stanley has allowed 28 sacks, including five last season."
CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan: "Stanley was looked at as the top offensive tackle slated to hit free agency next week, and his market was expected to be robust. Instead of letting various teams across the NFL get one-on-one time with Stanley, the Ravens have eliminated the risk of losing him on the open market with this extension."
NFL.com’s Bobby Kownack: "Stanley posted an 80.9 PFF pass-blocking grade last season, which marked the sixth time he's eclipsed a grade of 80 during his career. … Keeping Stanley in the fold is exactly the type of move to help Monken and Jackson prove such a claim. It also doesn't hurt that opponents will now be scrambling for plan B with the league's top free-agent tackle off the board."
The Baltimore Sun’s Brian Wacker: "After a down year in 2023 in which he rotated in and out down the stretch, he rebounded in a big way this past season. He allowed just two sacks, per Pro Football Focus, and ranked 12th among tackles in ESPN's pass block win rate. … Last season, he didn't miss a game for the first time in his career. He was also on the field for 98% of the offense's plays and logged a career-high 1,089 snaps."
Baltimore Positive’s Luke Jones: "Days before the start of free agency, the Ravens have ensured their longtime left tackle won't be hitting the open market and will continue protecting star quarterback Lamar Jackson's blind side."
Russell Street Report’s Chris Schisler: "The Ronnie Stanley deal rewards a team leader and reasonably locks in the franchise left tackle for the foreseeable future. While injury concerns never will be completely in the rear view mirror, there was no world in which losing Stanley would make the Ravens a better football team. You don't want a rookie left tackle when you can have Stanley. You don't want a plug and play veteran as a stopgap measure. It's a deal that makes sense for both sides, that shows that the Ravens are serious about remaining contenders in the AFC."
Bills' Josh Allen Signs New Contract, Sets Potential Benchmark for Lamar Jackson's Future Deal
In closing out a busy Sunday night of NFL news, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen signed a new, record-setting deal with a six-year, $330 million contract, including $250 million guaranteed.
Many media members recognized this deal as the new benchmark for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens when they return to the negotiating table.
Jackson is currently signed through 2027, leaving the Ravens three years before a new deal will need to be struck, but with contracts only growing, signing and re-signing deals earlier has proven valuable in the NFL.
Some local media members have speculated about a possible new deal between the Ravens and Jackson due to his $43.6 million cap hit in 2025, and his cap hits in 2026-2027 both being $74.65 million. At the end-of-season press conference, General Manager Eric DeCosta said it's something he's seen other teams do.
"Yes, we've seen teams do that. And Lamar and I, we've had a lot of discussions about contracts over the years, and at some point, I'll probably talk to Lamar," DeCosta said on Jan. 22. "I'm just really happy [and] blessed to have watched him play football this year. We just finished the season; I want Lamar to relax a little bit and think back to what we accomplished as a team and what he accomplished individually. We'll have those conversations probably at some point."
Ravens Named Best Landing Spot for Von Miller
Von Miller, a future Hall of Fame pass rusher looking to contend in the twilight years of his career, is a free agent after being released by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Miller, who will turn 36 in March, hasn't in recent years matched his production from 2011-2019, when he earned eight Pro Bowls in the first nine seasons of his career. However, he had six sacks for the Bills last season, proving he could still contribute on the field and as a veteran leader for a team looking to break through in the postseason. For that, CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell sees the Ravens as a landing spot for Miller.
"The Ravens, like the Bills, are on the cusp of reaching a Super Bowl," Podell wrote. "Their 78 regular season wins in the last seven seasons are the most without a Super Bowl trip all-time, per CBS Sports Research. Offensively, their duo of two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and 2020 NFL Offensive Player of the Year running back Derrick Henry combined for the most total yards (7,201) and rushing yards (2,836) in a single season in NFL history in 2024, per CBS Sports Research.
"Defensively, Baltimore finished as a top 10 scoring defense (21.2 points per game allowed, ninth in the NFL) after leading the league in nearly every key defensive metric from Weeks 11-18. Miller would make sense for a Ravens squad looking to win now."
