NFL free agency officially kicks off this week and teams around the league are scrambling to get their plans in place and prepare for what's sure to be a furious few days of action.
The Kansas City Chiefs are no different, entering the week with a desperate need to bolster the offensive line. Left tackle was the roster's biggest weakness in 2024, ultimately costing them the Super Bowl, and now they'll have to find a replacement for All-Pro guard Joe Thuney as well.
Needless to say, it's important for the front office to get this right. Unfortunately, the Chiefs' No. 1 target has elected to remain with his current team, signing a contract extension before he could negotiate with other teams.
Breaking: The #Ravens are re-signing free agent Pro Bowl OT Ronnie Stanley to a three-year, $60M extension with $44M guaranteed, per sources. pic.twitter.com/2Wm87H2med
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 8, 2025
LT Ronnie Stanley Re-Signs With Ravens Despite Chiefs' Interest
According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, Pro Bowl tackle Ronnie Stanley signed a three-year, $60 million contract extension with the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. He was reportedly the Chiefs' preferred option, and now Kansas City is back to the drawing board in a dwindling market.
Stanley has spent his entire nine-year career with the Ravens, twice earning Pro Bowl honors and being named an All-Pro once. He'll be 31 years old next week though and $44 million guaranteed over three years is a hefty price tag for someone who is good but not great. Stanley ranked 39th out of 141 qualified tackles at Pro Football Focus and has a history of injuries, playing in only 18 games from 2020-2022.
That said, beggars can't be choosers and the Chiefs aren't operating from a position of strength. They may bring D.J. Humphries back and try to find options in the 2025 NFL Draft, though that's a risky proposition considering the importance.
Patrick Mahomes was under constant duress last year and now the left side of the line is a complete unknown. There's time to fix things but missing out on Stanley feels like a blow regardless.