[News] Eisenberg: Ravens Taking Risk At Left Tackle One Way Or Another

[BR News]

Whether the Ravens go with Eugene Monroe or draft a left tackle, there will be some uncertainty at the position going into the fall.

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[PackinRavensHeat]

You cannot win a Super Bowl without a franchise LT. Biscotti is throwing the league drafters off by saying Monroe is still the man, but we all know the Ravens will %100 draft a LT in the first round.

[sami]

Another article by Eisenberg that says absolutely nothing. Just a bunch of speculation and stating of the obvious.

[Godfather A]

Another option is to get a backup for Monroe once teams start shedding players after training camp. It does not look like James Hurst is the best they could do.

[bigcatfrank1]

Dont be surprised to see 2 OT drafted in 2016, one early and then another down line at available. Then- walk ons, non-draftee's and possible post June 1 casualties. Then lastly, even a last minute trade or move could be in the works. This LT situation is not over until the Ravens are satisfied that they have the "best" player put at the position! Though I think it was a mistake to let KO go for a mear 2 million a year difference, let that be what it may. Its time to get the LT that will protect "Joe" and there is no excuse not to spend the time, effort, training, evaluating, players, re-placing players or the money to do so!

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

If Monroe can stay healthy he is a decent player but that's a BIG IF.

[Fastynart]

This is just insane. Taking a risk at LT? How stupid are they? Like it or not, Joe is their franchise and "taking a risk at LT" is about as dumb a thing as any team could do. Monroe stinks, plain and simple. Whomever signed this bozo should be fired. Oh, the great Oz, I forgot. They had better get someone competent there or Joe is going to get killed again. Then what?

[balfan23]

5 minutes ago, ALSKAN RAVEN FAN said:

If Monroe can stay healthy he is a decent player but that's a BIG IF.

There are no blue chip options at this point, so there is no way to go forward without risk. Standing pat on Monroe, however, is a risk we simply can't take. At this point, we have to talk about what we will do WHEN Monroe gets hurt, not IF. The answer that comes back cannot be Hurst.

I have to believe we are going to be looking long and hard at options in the draft, as well as bringing on a vet. Not either or ... but both. Unfortunately, I don't know that Stanley is worth a #6 overall, so I suspect we try to nail an option in the 2nd and may be willing to trade up a few slots to ensure we get the guy we want. To me, our draft will be focused on a couple of high quality defenders (likely one of those being with the first pick) and from there it needs to be O line, O line and more O line. 

[NNITRED]

Another article by Eisenberg that says absolutely nothing. Just a bunch of speculation and stating of the obvious.

indeed!

[CodeSpyder]

We needed to have selected a left tackle in last year's draft. It was a disaster waiting to happen, and it did happen. We need to select a left tackle at least to groom for the job, as the replacements we have can't cut it. Monroe is okay, not great, if he's healthy, but not the others.

[JustinB]

Im no NFL executive but does anyone think insulting your starting left tackle with no viable replacements behind him really the best way to inspire him to play hard.

[Maryland]

Whether it's Monroe or Clady or whomever, yes, we will be taking a risk. However, the difference between keeping Monroe on his current contract and signing Clady or Beatty to a short deal is that, with the later option, you can get a lot of bad money off the books for 2017 and onward by cutting Monroe now.

If I was GM, I would wait-out until Clady is cut and then offer him a 1-year deal with a team-option for 2017 and onward, similar to what Beachum got, and then cut Monroe.

[Edgar]

Most common descriptives in regards to how effective monroe is "when healthy" are ; "decent" and, "pretty good".

Put that together with him being oft injured and I'd say you've got yourself a straight bust.

[cbrook1862]

Le'Raven Clark in the 2nd round

[FloridalovesRavens]

  3 hours ago, sami said:

Another article by Eisenberg that says absolutely nothing. Just a bunch of speculation and stating of the obvious.

indeed!

That's all anything is at this point in time. Speculation is what it should be. Training camp has not started as yet so the jury is out as of now.

[robbie29]

Well, we addressed TE, WR, and Safety in Free Agency. The first two rounds of the draft will likely address Tackle, CB, or a pass rusher. I really, really, really hope we strike gold in the first round (and even the second round) this year and get a dynamic playmaker. There really won't be much room for excuses if we fail to land an impact player this year with the 6th overall pick in the draft. Man I miss the days when it seemed like Ozzie & Co were all but guaranteed to land at least one Pro Bowl level player, regardless of where they picked in the draft. Here's hoping the Ravens' 2016 draft turns out to be like their 1996 draft...

[bigcatfrank1]

  2 hours ago, NNITRED said:

  3 hours ago, sami said:

Another article by Eisenberg that says absolutely nothing. Just a bunch of speculation and stating of the obvious.

indeed!

That's all anything is at this point in time. Speculation is what it should be. Training camp has not started as yet so the jury is out as of now.

The Verdict was in a long time ago...Monroe has but 2 years left. Even if he can produce for 1 good year what then...surely the Ravens do not re-negotiate with him! This must be the year they get a formidable replacement and back-up immediately with the draft picks in front of them surely they have nearly the pick of the crop, with the exception of Tunsil who appears to go before 6th....wow wouldnt it be nice if he fell to us! Meanwhile, in my opinion, everything and I mean everything in the Ravens power should be directed at acquiring the "best" LT's available to them in the NFL that they can possibly put on the field! If that is taking Stanley and putting him at OG to develop for a while, then so be it. If Monroe plays well this year, great, but that is only a short term solution. I agree we are speculating, however putting great players on the team at LT will get this team where it needs to go. So I for one don't want to wait for Spring training to see the Ravens make some moves at LT and O line, ie. the Draft, trades, or Post opts.

[bigcatfrank1]

We needed to have selected a left tackle in last year's draft. It was a disaster waiting to happen, and it did happen. We need to select a left tackle at least to groom for the job, as the replacements we have can't cut it. Monroe is okay, not great, if he's healthy, but not the others.

Absolutely!

[WNC-Raven]

4 hours ago, bigcatfrank1 said:

Though I think it was a mistake to let KO go for a mear 2 million a year difference, let that be what it may. 

Ravens offered 8.5 mil a year. Raiders gave him 12mil a year.

That's around 3.5 million a year more or 42% more

Fact is the Raiders gave him

stupid money

[thecommish]

that is somewhat true that either way we are taking a risk but if we draft a quality (starter worthy T).... we significantly reduce that risk. We have a legit back up if Monroe goes down again (and we have every reason to believe that he will). and if Stanley or Tunsil are not what they are supposed to be then they are probably still better then Hurst

[PalmBayRaven]

You cannot win a Super Bowl without a franchise LT. Biscotti is throwing the league drafters off by saying Monroe is still the man, but we all know the Ravens will %100 draft a LT in the first round.

Not true. We won our last Super Bowl without a franchise LT. McKinney didn't play all year and was fresh for the playoffs and was let go the following year. When McKinney was drafted he was a franchise LT but by the time the Ravens got him he was well past it.

[verified]

We need to pick a corner with our first pick i cant stand to watch another year of us getting tourched. I feel like the ravens and any peyton manning team were the only teams that really challenged the patriots in the AFC, but with manning gone and our team under construction i fear the patriots will run through the afc like they been doing, this draft has to be a good one for the sake of the AFC and the league.

[law215]

The problem with the Ravens is that they have too many players who are have been injury prone. Another example is Campanero who is a good player but can't stay on the field. You mitigate injuries with depth. Monroe is solid when healthy. If you draft a rookie, would you cut Monroe? Hope not. Then what if the rookie gets injured? Then you are right back to Hurst. Even the great Ogden started as a rookie at Guard. Will a rookie even be better than a healthy Monroe day one? Beyond Tunsil, I say no. Ravens best option given there many needs is to get a cap casualty LT and draft mid round tackle to groom. IMO

[akacrow]

Clady is coming off of an ACL tear, a one year show me deal for Clady like Denver gave Okung could work. In this scenario Clady would compete with Monroe for the LT spot, and the club would not have to pick Clady up for 2017 unless they felt he was a better option than Monroe.

Ferguson is 32 and has never missed a start. Ferguson would not come with a potential one year deal like Clady, but he might be a cheaper option overall and a solid backup to Monroe if Ferguson didn't win the LT spot outright.

The idea is to add more depth or consistency at tackle, not to trade one poor situation for another. Also Pitta would be a better option as a June first cut to free up 6 mil.

[hen826957]

@verified you mean the Patriots have 2 years max because the golden boy Tom Brady will retire LOL. I'm not afraid of the Patriots and l believe we could beat them. They fear us but we don't fear them. ?

[GENE2407]

Disagree with Eisenberg completely here. When Monroe played, he did not do well at all. Everytime a RB was dropped or there was pressure coming, it was usually from Monroe's guy. The man missed 60-70% of his snaps over 2 years and was mediocre to bad in the ones he did play. Man, get RID of this guy. He's already gonna cost $6m for his remaining bonus. Don't give away another $6m in base salary. Dump him. I don't care who they get in his place, it doesn't matter to me because he's not going to play well anyway..........if he ever gets on the field at all!

[GENE2407]

We need to pick a corner with our first pick i cant stand to watch another year of us getting tourched. I feel like the ravens and any peyton manning team were the only teams that really challenged the patriots in the AFC, but with manning gone and our team under construction i fear the patriots will run through the afc like they been doing, this draft has to be a good one for the sake of the AFC and the league.

Agree. Other than Weddle, they seem content on bringing back all the same guys who sucked last year. We need quality, high draft picks at CB. No more practice squad players from other teams and giving up 6th and 7th round picks for someone off the Dolphins bench. I got absolutely sick of watching that secondary last year.

[Tank 92]

13 hours ago, PalmBayRaven said:

Not true. We won our last Super Bowl without a franchise LT. McKinney didn't play all year and was fresh for the playoffs and was let go the following year. When McKinney was drafted he was a franchise LT but by the time the Ravens got him he was well past it.

McKinney played at an all world level during that run. It's highly unlikely a scenario like that could ever play out again.

[757RavensFan]

20 hours ago, sami said:

Another article by Eisenberg that says absolutely nothing. Just a bunch of speculation and stating of the obvious.

 

19 hours ago, NNITRED said:

indeed!

Dang, cut the dude some slack.  You know how hard it must be to come up with Ravens related content during this slow point of the year?  

[usmccharles]

1 minute ago, 757RavensFan said:

 

Dang, cut the dude some slack.  You know how hard it must be to come up with Ravens related content during this slow point of the year?  

Exactly.