Baltimore Ravens

Kelechi Osemele may stick as Ravens' left tackle of future

Published Dec. 15, 2015 12:59 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Baltimore Ravens and offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele may find a way to extend their marriage beyond this season.

The prevailing thought on Osemele was that his upcoming free agent contract would be too rich for the Ravens to spend on a left guard considering the lucrative extension paid to right Marshal Yanda in October. With starter Eugene Monroe out for the season, Osemele made his first career start at left tackle in Sunday's loss to Seattle, and impressed head coach John Harbaugh enough to get the gig for the remaining three games of the season.

Per The Baltimore Sun:

Osemele, who played left tackle in college at Iowa State, said after Sunday's game he would be honored to be the team's long-term answer at left tackle.

"It's a huge honor and a privilege to be that guy," Osemele said via the team's official website. "I could see myself in that role. It's really up to the team saying that hey, I'm the guy, that's my position, but as of right now, I'm just trying to help the team any way I can."

The Ravens would still likely have to pay Osemele a hefty sum to keep him Baltimore, but they could also cut ties with Monroe, who has been unable to stay on the field in his two seasons with the team. Monroe signed a five-year, $37.5 million deal with almost $12 million guaranteed prior to the 2014 campaign. According to OverTheCap.com, cutting Monroe with a post June-1 designation would leave $2.2 million in dead money over the next three seasons, but the Ravens would also save nearly $7 million in base salary.

Since left tackles are paid a premium in the league, the Ravens are much more likely to pony up for Osemele if he can prove capable of protecting Joe Flacco's blind side. John Urschel, who has filled in at center over the last four weeks, can step in at guard with a healthy Jeremy Zuttah resuming his duties next season.

"We’ll keep him there, and I thought he looked good. “There are some things that he can do better. Sometimes the sets and the angles and the timing the movement, sometimes it’s something that he’ll get a feel for more and more as he plays. But, he had lots of good blocks [in] pass protection and the run game. I thought he was a bright spot.”

--Ravens head coach John Harbaugh