The Ravens need Lamar Jackson upright and fully healthy for the entire 2022 season.
That’s why GM Eric DeCosta prioritized upgrading the offensive line again this offseason.
DeCosta selected a pair of offensive linemen in the 2022 NFL draft and signed a key free agent; as a result, Baltimore’s offensive line should be stronger in 2022.
Jackson has to be happy with the additions.
“I’ve had conversations with Lamar many times and I’ve said, ‘Lamar, what can we do to help you? What is most important to you?'” DeCosta told “The Lounge” podcast on the Ravens website. “Honestly, the thing that he always comes back to is the offensive line.”
The Ravens selected center Tyler Linderbaum with the 25th overall pick and he is expected to take over the starting job as a rookie.
“I told Tyler that it’s my goal to have him laying in bed shaking every night, worried about the next thing, so hopefully, by training camp, he’s not, and then by the season, he’s feeling good,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. “We’re trying to throw him in there and get him as much exposure [as possible]. He’s doing a really good job; you can see it every day. Some guys – you can just see it every day – they just take another step forward, and he’s one of those guys thus far. So, it’s a credit to him, and he needs to keep it going.”
DeCosta also added depth at tackle with the addition of Daniel Faalele from the University of Minnesota in the fourth round. He could evolve into a mauling player.
But the Ravens also added some experience to the offensive line with the addition of offensive tackle Morgan Moses as a free agent. Baltimore has the depth, size and talent to adequately protect Jackson and provides holes for the running backs.
“There’s going to be a lot of competition for the starting spots, a certain one spot in particular, but then there’s going to be competition for those backup spots, big time,” DeCosta said. “The thing we’re trying to do is be a physical, punishing offensive line. We want that kind of a mindset in our group, and that’s what Tyler Linderbaum brings to us, Pat Mekari is like that already, and a lot of our guys are. This guy [Tyler Linderbaum] adds to it.”
The key now is to stay healthy.
The Ravens are optimistic left tackle Ronnie Stanley will recover from an ankle injury that kept him out of the lineup for much of the past two seasons. If Stanley cannot open the season on the active roster, Pat Mekari is a viable backup and the Ravens have other players behind him that can provide depth.
[Related: Ravens Taking No Chances at Tackle]
“[We’ve] done an unbelievable job of addressing a situation and putting us in a really good position,” quarterbacks coach James Urban said. “We feel really good about what’s happening up front.”
