Ravens hope to extend Eugene Monroe before he hits free agency

The Baltimore Ravens made a move to bolster their offensive line by acquiring offensive tackle Eugene Monroe from the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Ravens will have plenty of work to do to keep their offensive line intact this offseason with both Monroe and Michael Oher’s future in question, so the Ravens appear ready to make a move before the free agent market opens.

According to reports, the Ravens are hoping to extend Monroe before he hits the open market.

From Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports:

"The Baltimore Ravens are hopeful they can retain left tackle Eugene Monroe, according to team sources, after acquiring him from Jacksonville in a midseason trade. Monroe is eligible for unrestricted free agency in March, but keeping him is a priority for Baltimore, which has gone through some instability at left tackle since Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden retired.The Ravens parted with a fourth and fifth round pick to land Monroe — a steep price for a “rental” and especially steep for a team that prizes draft picks as the Ravens do — and with right tackle Michael Oher’s future very much in doubt with the team, the team will attempt to secure Monroe long-term when then season ends, sources said. Oher, a former first-round pick, has shown he can not play left tackle and even as a right tackle, struggles in pass protection and commits a lot of penalties. Contract talks with Oher prior to the season yielded no real progress, sources said, and the team is unlikely to make Oher among the highest-paid right tackles in the league."

The Ravens are 5-2 since acquiring Monroe from the Jaguars and he has found a home on the Ravens offensive line.

With how impressed the Ravens have been with Monroe’s play since bringing him in before the trade deadline, they are ready to open up the check book and reward him for his efforts. It will be a move that quarterback Joe Flacco will likely appreciate.