The Baltimore Ravens made it clear earlier this offseson that they were looking to lock up All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley on a long-term deal.
Stanley, 26, was one of the best left tackles in the NFL last season. A former top-six pick back in 2016, the Notre Dame product is set to earn $12.87 million next season.
According to this note from ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Stanley feels like he should be one of the highest-paid tackles in the NFL.
“I definitely want to get paid my value and what I feel I’m worth,” Stanley said Wednesday. “That part of it is important. But, at the end of the day, I don’t think money is the most important thing to me.”
How might a new contract look? We must check in on recent history as a determining factor.
Laremy Tunsil’s record-breaking contract
The Houston Texans shocked the football world back in April when they signed 26-year-old offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil to a three-year, $66 million contract. The $22 million annually is $5.5 million more than the second-highest paid tackle in the league.
It’s not yet known whether this was embattled Texans head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien overpaying or something else. What we do know is that said deal suggests Stanley is looking at north of $20 million annually.
Ronnie Stanley stats
The former Notre Dame standout has started all 56 games in which he’s appeared in four NFL seasons. This past year saw Pro Football Focus grade Stanley out as the best pass blocker in the league.
We can guarantee that Stanley and his representatives are using this in negotiations with the Ravens.
It seems to suggest that the left tackle will get somewhere near $100 million on a five-year extension when all is said and done. After all, Baltimore needs to pony up to protect reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.