Amid breakthrough year, Ravens sign RT Patrick Mekari to contract extension through 2024

The Ravens connected Thursday signed third-year violative lineman Patrick Mekari, a versatile blocker who’s developed into a reliable close tackle successful a breakout season, to a declaration hold done the 2024 season. The three-year declaration is worthy $15.4 million, according to the NFL Network.

Mekari, who’s started a career-high 10 games this season, was acceptable to go a restricted escaped cause this offseason. He’s been the Ravens’ apical violative tackle amid a play of instability, and helium enters Week 17 arsenic Pro Football Focus’ No. 46-rated subordinate astatine the presumption contempt a mates of insignificant injuries.

“Pat is an casual decision,” Ravens wide manager Eric DeCosta said successful a release. “He’s pugnacious and gritty, smart, versatile and a five-position subordinate who does everything the close way. Congratulations to Pat and his family, and convey you for playing similar a Raven.”

Mekari, who joined the Ravens successful 2019 arsenic an undrafted rookie retired of California, has started astatine center, defender and tackle implicit 36 vocation games and 23 starts with the team. He was forced into enactment astatine close tackle successful September aft injuries to near tackle Ronnie Stanley and second-year lineman Tyre Phillips forced Alejandro Villanueva to determination backmost to the near side. In 373 pass-blocking snaps this season, Mekari’s allowed 3 sacks, according to PFF.

“Pat’s a large player, he’s ever been a large player,” halfway Bradley Bozeman said past month. “Guy knows the crippled plan, helium knows the playbook. He’s 1 of those machine chips retired there, benignant of knows everything. Great to person that feline retired there. When I’m not for sure, I cognize helium has my backmost to assistance maine out, get things fixed connected the field.”

With Mekari’s extension, the Ravens present person 5 tackles with starting acquisition nether declaration done adjacent season. Stanley, an All-Pro successful 2019, volition beryllium returning from his 2nd consecutive season-ending ankle injury. Villanueva, who’s started 15 up-and-down games this season, turns 34 successful September and could beryllium a salary-cap casualty. Phillips has been injury-prone, and his aboriginal could beryllium astatine guard. Ja’Wuan James is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon that’s pushed backmost his instrumentality until 2022.

Mekari, who’s played done ankle and manus injuries this season, could beryllium the favourite to commencement astatine close tackle entering adjacent year. He signed his declaration Thursday successful a personalized mechanic shirt, a fitting prime for a blue-collar subordinate who had conscionable 2 Division I assistance offers successful precocious schoolhouse and didn’t enactment successful the NFL scouting harvester oregon immoderate postseason showcases 2 years ago.

“I’ve seen a feline that’s conscionable playing the position, really, successful each honesty, astir arsenic good arsenic you could expect it to beryllium played,” manager John Harbaugh said successful October. “I couldn’t beryllium much pleased with him — tally blocking, walk extortion — [and] his versatility, obviously, but he’s locked successful astatine close tackle, and I couldn’t inquire for a amended subordinate determination close now.”