INDIANAPOLIS -- The Baltimore Ravens made a lucrative offer to soon-to-be free-agent Kelechi Osemele, a move that indicates he's the team's preference at left tackle.
Bringing back Osemele would likely result in the release or trade of Eugene Monroe and remove Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley as a possibility for the No. 6 overall pick in the draft. The offer to Osemele would make him the second-highest-paid offensive player on the Ravens, according to the NFL Network.
This is a surprising development because it was assumed Osemele had priced himself out of the Ravens' price range.
“It’s a really aggressive deal,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Thursday at the NFL combine. “I think it shows a lot of respect to K.O. [Osemele]. It shows him that we really want him here, and I hope that he takes it.”
The Ravens have been searching for a long-term answer at left tackle since Jonathan Ogden retired at the end of the 2007 season, and they believe Osemele could fill that void after watching him start four games at that spot last season.
Osemele, 26, is considered the Ravens' top free agent this offseason, especially after the team announced it would put the franchise tag on kicker Justin Tucker. A second-round pick in 2012, Osemele has started at right tackle and left guard before moving to left tackle in the final month last season.
“I’m sure he’s shopping the deal,” Harbaugh said. “I hope he says, ‘You know what, I know what the Ravens are all about. I know they believe in me. I know what kind of football they want to play. And I feel like I’m part of this thing for a long time, like Marshal Yanda has done.'"
The Ravens thought they had addressed left tackle in 2014, when they signed Monroe to a five-year, $37.5 million deal that included $17.5 million guaranteed. But Monroe has missed 16 games (including playoffs) since signing that contract, which put his future in Baltimore in jeopardy.
Baltimore would gain $2.1 million in cap space if it releases or trades Monroe now and would create $6.5 million if it designates him as a June 1 cut. Monroe received a lukewarm vote of confidence from Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome on Wednesday.
“Right now, Monroe is our starting left tackle because K.O. is a free agent,” Newsome said.
If the Ravens fail to re-sign Osemele, they would have to determine whether they want to stick with Monroe or use one of their top two draft picks on an offensive tackle.
“We still have Eugene; he’s still in our program,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll put the best five guys out there and build the best offensive line we can, really no matter who’s here and who’s not here. But you know, as a coach, I really want K.O. here. And I hope he feels the same way.”