Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome has the phones working hard tonight as the team appears to have upgraded the offensive line significantly.
ESPN Insider Adam Schefter reports this evening – pending a physical – Jacksonville has agreed in principal to trade tackle Eugene Monroe to the Baltimore Ravens for what’s being described as multiple third day draft picks to the Jaguars in return.
Monroe, a mammoth tackle at 6’5″ 306 pounds has started 62 of 65 career games for Jacksonville. Yes, he also is a left tackle and likely will compete immediately with Bryant McKinnie for the starting spot. Ian Rapoport reports Monroe will be on a plane headed to Baltimore tomorrow to complete the deal.
According to the Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson, Monroe’s contract is for $3.8 million dollars this season. His original salary of $2.562 million in 2014 has since been voided, per Wilson. McKinnie this past offseason inked a two-year deal worth $6.3 million, including a signing bonus of $2 million.
The Jaguars 1st round selection in 2009 out of the University of Virginia, Monroe is a Plainfield, NJ native and still on the young side at 26 years old. He brings premier talent and ability to protect the quarterback to Baltimore after being the lone bright spot on an otherwise poor Jaguar offensive line.
He allowed just five sacks last season for a team that went 2-14. This season, Monroe has given up just one sack through four games according to statistics compiled by Pro Football Focus.
This looks like a solid move for the Ravens. While the pass blocking has been decent, the run blocking has been terrible.
Joe is the third most hit Q-back in the NFL , how does that make the pass blocking decent ?