Ronnie Stanley surely knew what was out there for him, both in terms of money and opportunity, if he decided to hit the open market. He also knew what he’d be leaving behind.
For the second straight offseason, Stanley had a chance to move on from the Baltimore Ravens. This time, there was a lot of money — more than what the Ravens were offering — that awaited him. For the second straight offseason, Stanley showed no interest in being anywhere else.
“I think it just goes back to the fact that they drafted me straight out of college, took a chance on me,” Stanley said Monday. “I’m always going to give them first dibs when it comes to things like that, out of respect.”
Stanley spoke to reporters Monday on a video call, making his first public comments since agreeing to a three-year, $60 million deal with the Ravens about 48 hours before free agency began. Stanley, who turns 31 Tuesday, was widely considered the top free-agent left tackle headed to the market. Some outlets had him as the top overall pending free agent.
It’s been well documented teams like the New England Patriots, Washington Commanders and Kansas City Chiefs were ready to pounce if Stanley became available. The Patriots, in particular, were reportedly weighing an offer for as much as $25 million per year.
To hear Stanley tell it Monday, he barely even stopped to imagine the possibilities. He was focused on remaining with the Ravens, who drafted him sixth in 2016 and stuck with him through his injury battles that started when he suffered a dislocated ankle in 2020.
“I don’t think we ever got that far to really feel that about it,” Stanley said when asked whether there was a point during the negotiations when he felt he could sign elsewhere. “I didn’t really feel that yet. They showed interest. We were talking, so I think just through the whole time I knew that they were interested, and we were possibly going to get something done.”
Even though he knew the perennially cash-strapped Ravens probably weren’t going to be the highest bidder.
“I just think I knew I was going to give Baltimore the best bargain that I would offer to any other team,” Stanley said. “But that being said, I still wanted to be happy with what I’m making and make sure I’m getting the value that I feel like I deserve from just the job description and the things that go into what my job has to do. I think it was a good balance that could help the team and something I’m still happy with.”
.@megatronnie on his 2024 season and his focus going into 2025: pic.twitter.com/IwvV8htSmE
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) March 17, 2025
Stanley took a $7.5 million pay cut last offseason to stay with the Ravens. He might have been able to get more money elsewhere last offseason, too. However, he didn’t feel right about leaving Baltimore after a 2023 season in which he missed four games and struggled to find his top form on the field. He essentially bet on himself in agreeing to the pay cut, believing he could stay healthy and discover his pre-injury form.
His bet paid off handsomely. He played in all 17 games for the first time in his career. He graded out as one of the better left tackles in football. He was selected to his second career Pro Bowl. He was a key part of arguably the top offense in football. Yet, Stanley feels like there is another level he can get to.
“I was happy with the way I played,” he said. “Just my mindset that I had throughout the whole year, that’s what was probably the thing that made me the happiest. I thought I played well. I still think I can play better, and that’s just how I am. But I do think there’s a lot to improve on, just getting stronger, smarter, understand the game more, better footwork, all the little things.”
A year after the Ravens had to replace three starting offensive linemen, Stanley’s return offers some stability. Starting left guard Patrick Mekari departed in free agency, but Baltimore has a potential internal replacement in Andrew Vorhees, who was the Week 1 starter next to Stanley last season. Stanley expressed confidence in Vorhees’ ability to replace Mekari. He also raved about Baltimore’s offseason acquisition of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
General manager Eric DeCosta still has more moves to make, specifically on the defensive end, where the Ravens have some questions at every level. Still, getting Stanley back was one of the keys of the offseason and should give the offense its best chance of picking up where it left off.
“We’ve broken so many records in the last however many years — I don’t think we really care about it to be honest, especially the guys that have been here,” he said. “I think the only thing we really care about is winning a Super Bowl. So yes, all that other stuff for sure is nice and all. But yes, definitely unfinished business. I don’t think anyone’s really happy.”
(Photo: Denny Medley / Imagn Images)
