OWINGS MILLS — The Ravens think that rookie Roger Rosengarten can win the starting job at right tackle this season.
The Ravens need to fill that position after trading Morgan Moses and a fourth-round pick to the Jets in exchange for fourth- and sixth-round selections this offseason.
Rosengarten will battle Daniel Faalele and Patrick Mekari to replace Moses. Mekari and Rosengarten can play on the left and right side, and that versatility adds to their value.
“There is a lot of similarity that way,” coach John Harbaugh said about the two players. “Roger is a really good athlete, and so is Pat. [Rosengarten] moves his feet really well, you saw that out here [in this past weekend’s minicamp]. You see it on tape, and then you see it in person – because I hadn’t watched him work out. I saw him in person in the championship game a little bit, but that’s different.
“To see him in person out here moving his feet, I’m like ‘OK, he’s everything that we thought he would be athletically.’ So, that’s a big part of it.”
Washington Huskies offensive lineman Roger Rosengarten (73) against the Michigan Wolverines during the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game at NRG Stadium. By Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today Sports
At 6 feet 5, 310 pounds, Rosengarten has the size to make an impact with the Ravens this season.
He was a two-year starter at right tackle for the Washington Huskies, protecting the blind side of left-handed quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth overall pick in last month’s draft.
He did not allow a sack in his college career, according to Pro Football Focus.
Rosengarten is looking forward to working with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. Rosengarten said his run-blocking [skills] are “underrated,” which bodes well when for the Ravens, who like to run the ball more than any team in the NFL.
“When I thought [about] Baltimore, you think Lamar and then you think [about] the new addition of Derrick Henry,” Rosengarten said. “You get a guy that high level, a guy who runs hard, trusts his O-linemen. I know he loves his linemen from just watching him back when he was at Tennessee. To now see him finally in Baltimore, it’s super exciting.
“To know that I’m going to get reps blocking for Derrick Henry, that’s something that you don’t really think of growing up watching him when he was at Alabama [and] wins the Heisman [Trophy]. It kind of comes full circle. Getting to block for a guy like that is super special.”