The Kansas City Chiefs might have wanted Ronnie Stanley badly, but familiarity won the day.
Before NFL free agency officially opened, the Baltimore Ravens re-signed Stanley, their two-time Pro Bowl left tackle, to a three-year, $60 million deal. Kansas City had reportedly been planning to target Stanley, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic, but they never got the chance.
The Chiefs, whose biggest weakness all season was arguably the LT spot, will now have to pivot.
Fortunately, there are still some decent options at the position available in free agency, and the Chiefs will likely save some money now that they’re not allowed the privilege of bidding on Stanley.
Meanwhile, Sportsnaut’s Matt Johnson predicted on Sunday that the Chiefs would sign former Minnesota Vikings LT Cam Robinson, who Johnson called the “second-best” left tackle on the market after Stanley.
“Cam Robinson won’t do anything to help the run game but he’d be the best left tackle in pass protection Kansas City has had in years. Stability on the left side is desperately needed with Joe Thuney gone,” Johnson wrote.
“Robinson will have to take less money than a team like the New England Patriots can offer, but this would be his best chance at winning a Super Bowl. Plus, a one-year deal could position him for a bigger contract in 2026.”
Robinson, 29, has made 101 starts in his NFL career, playing over 80 percent of his team’s offensive snaps in all but one season. He’s never earned Pro Bowl or All-Pro status, but he’s generally regarded as an above-average starter at a crucial spot on the offensive line.
Spotrac currently projects Robinson’s market value at three years, $42 million, which would save the Chiefs $6 million a year on the deal Stanley wound up getting. Sometimes, Plan B winds up working out well, but it’s yet to be determined what the Chiefs’ Plan B actually is.
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