NFL Analyst Calls Out Ravens Best Free Agency Move

The Baltimore Ravens best move in free agency took place before free agency actually started, according to one ESPN NFL analyst. He rates the re-signing of free agent Ronnie Stanley as the best move the Ravens made during the first wave of free agency.

ESPN analyst Ben Solak went one step further. Solak called it the best move of the offseason so far.

"Right before free agency, Baltimore kept one of the best possible free agents in the building when it re-signed Stanley to a three-year, $60 million extension -- far less than he would have made on the open market," Solak said.

Stanley has been protecting Lamar Jackson's blindside for many years. He not only provides pass protection for Jackson, but he is always the guy opening holes for Jackson and Derrick Henry to run through.

"The Ravens remain in a competing window given the MVP-caliber play of quarterback Lamar Jackson and could not let a franchise left tackle leave without a succession plan in place," Solak said.

Stanley said he came back for his teammates, but he has one goal in mind. He told the Ravens Vault it is time to win another Super Bowl.

"We've broken so many records the last [few] years, I don't think we really care about it, to be honest," Stanley said. "The only thing we really care about is winning a Super Bowl. Definitely unfinished business. I don't think anyone is really happy."

Stanley also said he was ecstatic when the Ravens agreed to terms with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

"I had a huge smile on my face when we signed D-Hop [DeAndre Hopkins]. You know what you're getting with that guy," Stanley said. "He's a Hall of Fame caliber WR, and still think he has a lot of good reps, years and seasons in him. He's a physical player, a competitive player, and I think he's going to fit into our team really well."

For the record, Stanley actually agreed to terms before the legal tampering period started last Monday. He could have made more money going elsewhere, but he did not want to leave the Ravens.