Eugene Monroe, Ravens 'very close' to new deal

[thabear04]

The Baltimore Ravens are closing in on a deal to keep Eugene Monroe around for the long haul.

With bookend Branden Albert close to a new pact with the Miami Dolphins, Jared Veldheer on the radar of the Arizona Cardinals and Rodger Saffold appearing bound for the Oakland Raiders, Monroe's return to Baltimore makes plenty of sense.

The Ravens made signing the tackle a priority, but progress toward a contract had flatlined over the weekend, with the Carroll County Times reporting that Monroe was "likely to leave" town for a new team.

The looming question is how much Baltimore is willing to surrender to keep its top blocker under lock and key. Monroe reportedly was seeking $10 million annually while the Ravens were looking to reward him closer to $8 million to $9 million per season.

If Monroe signs with the Ravens before the open market ignites, it pulls the No. 2 player off Around The League's list of the top 101 free agents.

It's another example of how well this front office navigates the business side of the game, refusing to panic and always finding its way through choppy waters.

Baltimore desperately needed to keep Monroe cemented on a line that struggled mightily last season against the pass and, especially, opening holes for the ground game. Monroe excels at both.