OWINGS MILLS — The Ravens have internal options to compete for three starting roles on the offensive line.
However, the team still plans to add players through the draft, and coach John Harbaugh expects intense competition throughout training camp to make the final roster.
The Ravens lost their starting guards — Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson — to free agency and traded right tackle Morgan Moses and a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft in exchange for fourth- and sixth-round selections.
“There’s going to be competition for those spots,” Harbaugh said about the openings on the offensive libe . “Whoever plays the best – we always say, ‘Who’s the best player’ – it’s the player who plays the best. You could have been the best player five years ago, but you’re not the best player now. So, every day, you go out to practice every game you play, there’s an accumulated established aspect of it. But right now, we’re a little more open, so those guys that you’re talking about are going to be competing with whoever comes in here, and we’ll just see who does it.
“But I think those guys are ready to compete and do well. They’ll be in here Monday [for the start of the offseason conditioning program]. I can’t wait to see them. It’s going to be great to see those guys Monday working hard, and [we’ll] see what happens.”
Pat Mekari and Ben Cleveland are atop the depth chart at guard. The Ravens also signed free agent Josh Jones, who can play tackle and guard, which makes him capable of competing for a starting job.
Daniel Faalele or Mekari will look to take Moses’ spot at right tackle.
DeCosta also has made it clear that the Ravens will select at least one tackle in this year’s draft and that player will have an opportunity to earn playing time or even start because of the lack of depth at that position.
Many draft experts have linked the Ravens to Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims in the first round of the draft. BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia, Alabama’s J.C. Latham, and Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton also could be options.
“I think the offensive line is pretty stacked across the board in most rounds,” DeCosta said. “We see a lot of different opportunities in different rounds to get players at tackle, guard, and center, and we’re excited about that.”
The Ravens are also bullish on guard Andrew Vorhees, who was selected in the seventh round with the 229th overall pick in the 2023 draft. Vorhees had a redshirt rookie year as he recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered while participating in the Scouting Combine.
The Ravens see a huge upside with Vorhees because of his versatility to play guard and tackle.
“Andrew was a guy that I’ve seen on tape, and I thought that he was a good player and that he would have a chance long term to be a player for us and be a starter for us potentially,” DeCosta said. “[He’s a] physical, tough guy that loves football. It just seemed to me that we would get some value with him as a player that had he been in the Draft and been healthy, he would have been a higher pick.
“I saw an ability potentially for him to be a starter at guard in the league, so we’ll see. He’s done a fantastic job with rehab. He’s very, very strong and physical – if you guys have seen him. The strength coaches and the trainers and the doctors are all very excited about him. So, we’ll see what he does.”