There are few teams who have been better than the Ravens at consistently retooling during the offseason. Year after year, it seems like Baltimore keeps their major pieces and adds talent in all the right places. But, as Baltimore heads into mandatory minicamp tomorrow, Offensive Line Coach George Warhop is looking for a “clear winner” to emerge at left guard, according to Ravens Editorial Director Ryan Mink.
Position Battle to Replace Patrick Mekari Needs a ‘Clear Winner’ This Offseason
As The Athletic‘s Jeff Zrebiec points out, Baltimore will bring back 11 of the top 12 players who took the most offensive snaps in 2024.
“At least on paper, the Ravens won’t start training camp next month with too many spots unaccounted for on their regular-season roster, never mind questions about their projected starters,” writes Zrebiec.
The lone exception will be left guard, as 6-year veteran Patrick Mekari signed with the Jaguars on March 10. Mekari started all 17 games last season, but “looked a little out of position as a massive starting left guard,” according to Gregg Rosenthal, contributor for NFL.com and host of the NFL Daily podcast. Baltimore will need a “clear winner” to emerge as Mekari’s replacement at left guard.
“I believe in a starter,” said Ravens Offensive Line Coach George Warhop, according to Mink. “I don’t like playing two guys. So, we [have] two veteran guys here with Andrew [Voorhees] and Ben [Cleveland]. Let them fight it out. If one of the young guys comes up, and they can add competition to that, we’ll let that happen. But I prefer to have a starter and a backup. I don’t like going in with combination guys.”
The Competition Continues
The two main competitors for the left guard spot will be Ben Cleveland and Andrew Voorhees. Unfortunately, both of them lack starting experience. Cleveland has played 4 seasons with the Ravens, starting a total of 7 games, with 0 coming last season. Voorhees tore his ACL during the 2023 combine, missing his entire rookie season. But, he emerged as the starter following training camp last year, starting the first 3 games of the 2024 season. Unfortunately, an ankle injury sidelined him for 2 weeks. “Mekari slid into the starting job and never gave it up,” writes Mink.
“Given another opportunity in Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns, Vorhees looked like a different player, which was an encouraging sign for the team’s decision-makers,” writes Zrebiec. Zrebiec also points out that, while Cleveland has a chance to compete for the starting role, the fact that he hasn’t emerged as an every-week starter over the course of 4 seasons doesn’t bode well. Cleveland may also be “subject to potential league discipline for his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence in February,” writes Zrebiec. The uncertainty surrounding his availability may factor into the decision, as well.
They split time on the first team during the first 2 weeks of OTAs, according to ESPN‘s Jamison Henley. That signals that we could be in for a long competition this summer. By the time September rolls around, though, Baltimore is hoping a “clear winner” has emerged as their starting left guard.
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