There was some speculation heading into the offseason about the Ravens moving on without left tackle Eugene Monroe, who is set to count $8.7 million against the cap after missing 15 games the last two seasons because of injuries.
The Ravens didn’t pick up anyone who makes an obvious replacement for Monroe in free agency, however, and Kelechi Osemele, who closed the year at left tackle, left for the Raiders, leaving Monroe looking like the only choice. While coach John Harbaugh said this week that the team would hold a competition leading into next season, owner Steve Bisciotti’s take is a little bit different.
“He is our left tackle going into next year,” Bisciotti said, via the team’s website. “I think a lot of the speculation about us moving on from him clearly comes down to the fact that he’s been hurt a lot, because he’s played pretty well when he’s been in there. We’ve always been happy with him when he’s on the field.”
Monroe’s injury history is reason for concern about his ability to hold up for an entire season, but there’s little on the roster to suggest the team would be better without him heading into next season. Unless that changes in the draft, chances are good that Monroe will be on Joe Flacco’s blind side come September.