With guard Marshal Yanda set to retire this offseason, the Baltimore Ravens find themselves desperately needing an answer to his replacement. While the team could turn to their own roster to remedy the problem, free agency is about to begin and the Ravens could instead look for a more experienced option on the open market.
Sadly, finding an exact replacement for Yanda is likely going to prove impossible. Yanda was one of the best offensive linemen last season and has been consistently among the best throughout his entire career. After creating a Hall of Fame level resume over the years, matching that level of production and locker room presence is something very few teams have ever managed to pull off before.
But for Baltimore, there are a handful of options that make sense for them to look at. A few former first-round picks are set to hit free agency as well as a former member of their own team. While the best option might still be from within, the Ravens are likely to explore free agency for some competition at the position at least.
Here are five free-agent options Baltimore would be wise to consider this offseason.
Brandon Scherff
If the Ravens want an immediate plug-and-play replacement for Yanda, Scherff is likely the guy they’d look to. The problem here is that the Washington Redskins really don’t want to lose their top offensive lineman and could turn to the franchise tag.
On the off chance Washington lets Scherff hit the free-agent market, he’s going to have plenty of suitors as the top guard available. That means he’s going to cost a fortune with $15 million a year a possibility on a long-term contract.
But there isn’t a better free-agent guard on the market this offseason and there’s little doubt Scherff would come in as a direct replacement to Yanda. According to Pro Football Focus, Scherff earned a 75 overall grade last season. Though it’s a good deal lower than Yanda’s 2019 grade, Scherff’s continued success proves he’d be a viable option, albeit an expensive one.
