T Andrew Thomas, Georgia
There doesn’t seem to be a consensus top tackle in this draft, with the top four options being pretty fluid depending on which draft analyst you ask. For some, Thomas is that No. 1 guy and is expected to come off the board at some point in the first round. Baltimore grabbing Thomas would be a shocker for a few reasons.
The first is that Thomas would last until No. 28 when the Ravens are on the clock. Top tackles are a serious commodity in the NFL — just look at what the Miami Dolphins got for Laremy Tunsil as a prime example — and seeing one last until the end of the first round would shock plenty of people to begin with.
Secondly, it’s not a need for Baltimore in any way. They already have Orlando Brown Jr. on the right side and Ronnie Stanley on the left — both Pro Bowl tackles still on their rookie deals. If selected, Thomas would be left sitting on the bench all season long, barring an injury.
However, there is a little method to the madness here. Stanley is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract and there is absolutely no guarantee the Ravens will be able, or want to afford what he’ll end up costing. By the time Baltimore gets around to giving Stanley a new deal, top tackles could end up at or above $20 million per season with around 50% of their deals guaranteed.
It might not make a lot of sense for the Ravens to automatically assume they won’t be able to re-sign Stanley but it seems like an even worse idea for them to not have a contingency plan there. If Baltimore really loves Thomas and he falls to them, they could surprise everyone by snagging him.