Ravens OT Ronnie Stanley hopes a new deal is imminent and is focused on larger leadership role
Last season Baltimore Ravens franchise left tackle Ronnie Stanley established himself as arguably the best blindside protector in the league by not allowing a single sack and just six pressures all year. After making earning his first Pro Bowl nod and being named to the All-Pro First Team, he could be poised to become possibly the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league heading into the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.
While he knows that he’s in store for a big payday and would prefer to get a new deal worked out sooner rather than later, Stanley is not letting it impede his preparation for the upcoming season.
“It’s not really at the forefront of my mind,” Stanley said. “We’re still in talks and hopefully we are trying to get something done soon, but I think my main focus right now … for me, it’s always been being the best player I can be [and] help my team win. The money usually takes care of itself after that.”
In addition to being tasked with the reasonability protecting reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson’s blindside and anchoring the left side of the offense that shattered league and franchise rushing and scoring records last year, he must assume more of a leadership role this year.
Following the retirement of eight-time Pro Bowl guard and future Hall of Famer Marshal Yanda earlier this offseason, Stanley is now the Ravens’ most tenured and accomplished offensive lineman. While replacing his friend and mentor in the starting lineup won’t fall on him, he is embracing a larger role in the team’s young locker room.
“I think with Marshal being gone, that leadership has to be filled,” Stanley said. “I’m all for helping my teammates and being there for them. I want to be that person that they can rely on, play-in, and play-out. I think that’s a role of a true leader.”
Although Yanda wasn’t the most vocal leader during his 13 years in Baltimore and was rarely the one hyping up the troops before games, one way of leading that he did excel at was leading by example and letting his tape do the talking for him. He earned his stripes as a young player and inspired others around him as a seasoned vet by practicing with the same discipline, focus, toughness, and intensity that played with during games.
He would not shy away from lineup across from the best defenders on the team in practice in one on one drills and in other situations. He actually sought out those matchups because he knew if he could thrive against the best his team had to offer, which was often the best in the league, then the opposing teams stood no chance. Stanley shares the same mindset and believes that his reps against the Ravens’ prized offseason acquisition will only help him become better.
The Ravens traded a fifth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell. He’s one of the most versatile defensive linemen and most complete defenders in the league with the way he excels at being an elite run stuffer and pass rusher. The two technicians are two of the best at their respective crafts and will be looked upon as two of the most prominent leaders on this year’s team on and off the field.
“Calais is a great addition,” Stanley said. “I’m super happy to have him on my side. Playing against him in practice is only going to make me better [and] only going to him better. He’s a force out there, and he’s going to really set the tone for our defense.”
Stanley is already arguably the second-best player on the Ravens roster and the player, after Jackson, that they can the least afford to lose. He desires to be paid his worth but the fact that money isn’t on the forefront of his mind and embracing great competition and more leadership responsibilities are, says more about the kind of competitor he is and the strength of character he possesses.
