After failing to come to terms on a new contract and finding no trade partners, the Baltimore Ravens announced the release of offensive lineman Eugene Monroe.
REPORT: Monroe released.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) June 15, 2016
📄: https://t.co/QX8jEBBvVq
After drafting Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley with the sixth overall pick in April, the Ravens had no need for an over-priced offensive lineman that missed more than half of the season with injuries.
The Ravens will thus be forced to eat $8.8 million from Monroe’s contract.
The #Ravens are releasing OT Eugene Monroe, source said. He couldn't reach an agreement on salary. Keep an eye on the #Giants....
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 15, 2016
Multiple league insiders point towards the New York Giants as a team that could make a move for Monroe on the free agent market. The team reportedly did not want to pay him as much as his current contract was worth. The San Diego Chargers and Seattle Seahawks were also linked to Monroe in similar reports.
After trade talks with Giants fell through, Ravens released OT Eugene Monroe, per sources. Now free agent. NYG, SD, SEA could have interest.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 15, 2016
The eight year veteran offensive lineman was originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the eighth overall pick in 2009 out of the University of Virginia. He played left tackle for four years and s tarted 62/65 games while sporting the black and teal.
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Baltimore traded for Monroe during the 2013 season, sending a fourth and fifth round pick to Jacksonville. The Jaguars would select Aaron Colvin and Chris Smith with those draft picks. Ozzie Newsome signed his new left tackle to a five-year, $37.5 million deal that included $19 million guaranteed in March of 2014.
He started 28 games in Baltimore, but missed 15 games with multiple injuries. A shoulder injury and a concussion were the culprits that limited him to only six games in 2015.
Pro Football Focus could not rank Eugene Monroe for the 2016 season after playing only six games, but his final grades would rank him among the top 25 offensive tackles in the NFL.