State of the 2020 Offensive Line Corps

After a brief hiatus in the series, we are back with another State of the Ravens article! Today, we are taking a look at the twelve offensive linemen on the roster, and deciding what the Ravens should do in the offseason with them.

Here are all twelve offensive linemen currently on the roster, along with important information about them:

Ronnie Stanley
- 2020 Age: 26
- Experience: 5th year
- 2020 Free Agent Status: Under contract (5th-year option)
- Contract Remaining: $12,866,000/1 year
- 2020 Cap Hit: $12,866,000
- 2020 Dead Cap Penalty: $0
- 2020 Cut Savings: $12,866,000
- Probability of Being Cut/Traded: None
Orlando Brown Jr.
- 2020 Age: 24
- Experience: 3rd year
- 2020 Free Agent Status: Under contract
- Contract Remaining: $1,951,860/2 years
- 2020 Cap Hit: $935,430
- 2020 Dead Cap Penalty: $432,860
- 2020 Cut Savings: $502,570
- Probability of Being Cut/Traded: None
Marshal Yanda
- 2020 Age: 36
- Experience: 14th year
- 2020 Free Agent Status: Under contract
- Contract Remaining: $11,000,000/1 year
- 2020 Cap Hit: $11,000,000
- 2020 Dead Cap Penalty: $4,000,000
- 2020 Cut Savings: $7,000,000
- Probability of Retiring: Medium
Matt Skura
- 2020 Age: 27
- Experience: 5th year
- 2020 Free Agent Status: RFA
- Contract Remaining: None
- 2020 Cap Hit: N/A
- 2020 Dead Cap Penalty: N/A
- 2020 Cut Savings: N/A
- Probability of Being Re-signed: High
Bradley Bozeman
- 2020 Age: 25
- Experience: 3rd year
- 2020 Free Agent Status: Under contract
- Contract Remaining: $1,469,204/2 years
- 2020 Cap Hit: $689,602
- 2020 Dead Cap Penalty: $59,204
- 2020 Cut Savings: $630,398
- Probability of Being Cut/Traded: Medium
Patrick Mekari
- 2020 Age: 23
- Experience: 2nd year
- 2020 Free Agent Status: Under Contract
- Contract Remaining: $1,265,344/2 years
- 2020 Cap Hit: $587,666
- 2020 Dead Cap Penalty: $5,334
- 2020 Cut Savings: $582,332
- Probability of Being Cut/Traded: Medium
Ben Powers
- 2020 Age: 23
- Experience: 2nd year
- 2020 Free Agent Status: Under contract
- Contract Remaining: $2,548,149
- 2020 Cap Hit: $759,383
- 2020 Dead Cap Penalty: $523,149
- 2020 Cut Savings: $236,234
- Probability of Being Cut/Traded: Low
James Hurst
- 2020 Age: 28
- Experience: 7th year
- 2020 Free Agent Status: Under contract
- Contract Remaining: $10,500,000/2 years
- 2020 Cap Hit: $5,250,000
- 2020 Dead Cap Penalty: $2,500,000
- 2020 Cut Savings: $2,750,000
- Probability of Being Cut/Traded: High
Hroniss Grasu
- 2020 Age: 29
- Experience: 6th year
- 2020 Free Agent Status: UFA
- Contract Remaining: None
- 2020 Cap Hit: N/A
- 2020 Dead Cap Penalty: N/A
- 2020 Cut Savings: N/A
- Probability of Being Re-signed: Low
Andre Smith
- 2020 Age: 33
- Experience: 12th year
- 2020 Free Agent Status: Under contract
- Contract Remaining: $685,000/1 year
- 2020 Cap Hit: $685,000
- 2020 Dead Cap Penalty: $25,000
- 2020 Cut Savings: $660,000
- Probability of Being Cut/Traded: Medium
Parker Ehinger
- 2020 Age: 27
- Experience: 5th year
- 2020 Free Agent Status: UFA
- Contract Remaining: None
- 2020 Cap Hit: N/A
- 2020 Dead Cap Penalty: N/A
- 2020 Cut Savings: N/A
- Probability of Being Re-signed: Low
Randin Crecelius
- 2020 Age: 24
- Experience: 3rd year
- 2020 Free Agent Status: ERFA
- Contract Remaining: None
- Potential 2020 Cap Hit: 660,000 (2020 league minimum)
- 2020 Dead Cap Penalty: $0
- 2020 Cut Savings: Not yet under contract.
- Probability of Leaving Baltimore: High

Potential Moves Baltimore Could Make:

Extend Ronnie Stanley
Cut James Hurst
Marshal Yanda retires.
Ravens part ways with Hroniss Grasu, Andre Smith, Parker Ehinger, and/or Randin Crecelius.

What Moves Should the Ravens Make to the Roster?

Although it may be hard to believe, the Baltimore Ravens should stand pat with their offensive lineman group for some time. Sure, there will be casualties by the start of the regular season, as many of the linemen on the roster bubble will inevitably be cut, but Baltimore has no reason to part with these bubble players until the end of the preseason. Baltimore will need depth on the offensive line during the preseason to run games without risking the health of starters. The Ravens will use this offseason to take a look at the roster bubble lineman to find potentially valuable additions to the 53-man roster. None take up an exorbitant amount of cap room, so there is no value in dumping them from the roster too early. One lineman that I expect to be cut at the end of the preseason, however, is James Hurst. Hurst was recently suspended for four games in 2020. The Ravens owe him $10.5 million over the next two years. Hurst has disappointed after receiving a generous contract extension in 2018, and the suspension voids all of the guaranteed money in his 2020 and 2021 salary. Needless to say, the Ravens can save a lot of money (and a precious roster spot) by cutting James Hurst before the regular season.

The Ravens do have one move to make in the very near future. Baltimore must give Ronnie Stanley a contract extension to keep him in the purple and black for the next four to five years. It won’t be cheap, but it is necessary.

Which Free Agents Should the Ravens Target?

There is not an immediate hole on the Ravens offensive line that needs to be filled in free agency. Baltimore has one of the best tackle duos in the National Football League, is solid at the guard position, and has a more than capable center assuming Matt Skura is healthy. The Ravens could seek luxury in upgrading at the left guard position though. Starting left guard Bradley Bozeman was okay at best, bad at worst for the Ravens in 2019. There are not many impressive guards on the market though. Guards like Graham Glasgow and Joe Thuney may be upgrades, but will the Ravens want to spend the cap space on these players? Baltimore could also add a center, like Ryan Kalil or A.Q. Shipley to provide a backup plan in case Matt Skura’s recovery drags on into the regular season.

Do the Ravens Need to Draft an Offensive Lineman?

The answer is yes. Without any doubt, the Baltimore Ravens need to draft an offensive lineman, specifically a guard. Marshal Yanda may be back in 2020, but he cannot play forever. Baltimore needs to find an heir apparent to the franchises’ second-best offensive lineman in history. Kentucky’s Logan Stenberg and Michigan’s Ben Bredeson could be the answer, but it’s too early to choose a player to draft in March. Wide receiver, offensive guard, and edge rusher will be the draft’s biggest needs, assuming that the Ravens don’t spend big in these areas during free agency.