Ronnie Stanley played some of the best football of his career this season, but at 30 years old and entering free agency, the Baltimore Ravens must consider a future without their longtime left tackle.
A potential solution could come in the form of Aireontae Ersery, whom CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso projects as the Ravens’ pick at No. 27 in the 2025 NFL Draft. Trapasso describes Ersery as “a thick but balanced left tackle” and sees him as a natural addition to Baltimore’s massive offensive line. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound blocker from the University of Minnesota would join 380-pound guard Daniel Faalele, a 2022 fourth-round selection, in reinforcing the trenches.
However, despite Ersery’s physical traits, his inconsistent showing at the Senior Bowl raises concerns about his viability as a first-round pick.
Aireontae Ersery Not a Slam-Dunk 1st-Round Selection
Ersery’s size and strength allow him to dominate at times, but his footwork and balance remain question marks. These strengths and weaknesses were on display in Mobile, Alabama, during the Senior Bowl.
At his best, Ersery uses his hands well and keeps his feet moving, making him difficult to beat. One standout moment came against Arkansas edge rusher Landon Jackson, as highlighted by Brian Hines of SB Nation’s Pats Pulpit. He also held his own against Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku in a sequence noted by Bleacher Report’s Josh Taylor.
Strong reps like these could make the Ravens view Ersery as a potential blindside protector for Lamar Jackson. However, his inconsistencies suggest he’s not a guaranteed success at tackle.
Ryan Roberts of AtoZ Sports noted concerns about whether Ersery can stay at tackle long-term. Taylor’s colleague Brandon Thorn pointed to “significant variance” in Ersery’s footwork, strike timing, and hand placement, which expose his struggles with recovery when beaten.
Thorn also observed that Ersery “was late with his hands” and allowed rushers to work inside his frame too easily during a rough second day at the Senior Bowl. He was also “on the ground a few times” when forced into scramble mode.
Given his raw potential but uneven technique, the Ravens must weigh whether they want to risk trusting a rookie at one of the team’s most critical positions or retain a proven veteran.
Ronnie Stanley Deserves a New Deal
Baltimore has shown a willingness to rely on young linemen in recent years, with Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, and pending free agent Patrick Mekari all starting alongside center Tyler Linderbaum in 2024. Yet Stanley remained the most experienced and reliable member of the unit.
When healthy, he still provides elite pass protection. He allowed just two sacks and four quarterback hits on 575 pass-blocking snaps in 2024, per Pro Football Focus.
Staying on the field was a major milestone for Stanley, who played a full season for the first time since 2019 after missing 36 of Baltimore’s 67 regular-season games from 2020 to 2023, as noted by Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. His availability was a “huge development” and a key reason the Ravens’ offensive line remained stable.
Despite this, keeping Stanley won’t come cheap. ESPN’s Matt Bowen pointed out that he has the “high-end tape to get paid,” with Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker estimating his value at $20 million or more per season.
With just $9.31 million in projected cap space, according to Spotrac, general manager Eric DeCosta will need to get creative to keep Stanley in Baltimore. However, securing the veteran’s services may be a safer bet than handing the left tackle job to a rookie with inconsistent tape.
