With free agency closing in, Eugene Monroe’s future in Baltimore still seems to be up in the air and the contract negotiations between the Ravens and the 26-year-old (27 in April) have stalled over the past several days.
At this point, Monroe seems to be a case that the Ravens have had many times before, a player that has had an excellent season in a contract year and is looking to get paid top dollar in the open market (Paul Kruger, Dannell Ellerbe, Cary Williams, Bart Scott, Adalius Thomas, etc.). With this being said, Monroe’s value is at an all-time high and it wouldn’t be shocking to see a team throw 5 years, $50 million at the Ravens most coveted free agent.
What if Monroe does take the money and run? The Ravens have to have a really good fall back option whether it’s through free agency or the draft to make sure there isn’t a huge void left on the blind side.
One option would be to nab LT Jared Veldheer from the Oakland Raiders. The 26-year-old (27 in June) suffered a torn triceps during the Raiders 2013 training camp and subsequently missed the first 11 games of the season, but the Grand Rapids, Michigan native has been stellar as the Raiders left tackle over the past four years after being drafted in the 3rd round of the 2010 NFL draft out of Hillsdale.
Pro Football Focus ranked Veldheer as the 9th best OT in 2012. He is very good in both pass protection and run blocking, and has way more athleticism than a regular 6-8, 320 pound human should have. If Monroe leaves, Veldheer could be a very good fall back option
And he’d sign cheaper too!
Another option would be through the draft. Although Michigan LT Taylor Lewan is high on my list of 1st round targets, one prospect that the Ravens could nab in the 2nd round if they go with another need or the BPA in the first round is UNC LT James Hurst.
Hurst was thought of as a potential first round pick before a fractured fibula in his last collegiate game (a 39-17 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats in the 2013 Belk Bowl) cost him the Senior Bowl and the Combine.
But after an amazing career at UNC in which he started all four years at LT and recorded a school-record 49 starts on the blindside, the Plainfield, Indiana native has already proven himself. The 22-year-old Hurst also earned 2nd team All-ACC honors in 2011 and 1st team All-ACC honors in 2012 and 2013.
At 6-7 and 305 pounds, Hurst has impressive athletic ability to go with his size while being a rock in pass protection, often shutting down opposing speed rushers (including Jadeveon Clowney). Not only does Hurst have an impressive skill set at LT, but also he plays the game with a very high IQ and has tremendous discipline. If the Ravens don’t nab a left tackle in the first round in this year’s draft, they can find a player with first round talent in the second round in Hurst.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/41ow8gODsPg[/youtube]
Video courtesy of Draft Breakdown where you can do your own scouting on hundreds of draft eligible prospects given their extensive video library.
