One Year in, the Ravens 2024 Second-Round Tackle Has Something to Prove
The 2025-26 NFL regular season is quickly approaching, with the preseason wrapped and the first meaningful game of the year coming for most teams this upcoming Sunday. In Baltimore, the Ravens enter the season with lofty expectations yet again, with the Lamar Jackson-led squad currently holding the best odds in the NFL to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Santa Clara, California, come February, at +600. The Ravens will begin that journey toward accomplishing their goals on Sunday Night Football against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, ironically, the same team that ended Baltimore’s season last postseason on a snowy night in the Divisional Round. Last season, the Ravens boasted one of the league’s best offensive units, ranking seventh in passing and first in rushing, averaging 187.6 yards per game on the ground.
A big reason why Baltimore remained a potent offensive threat was the continuity and dependable performance of its offensive line. Led by veteran tackle Ronnie Stanley and Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, the Ravens’ big men up front provided the protection and consistency needed for a dynamic offense, especially when a dual-threat quarterback like Lamar Jackson is under center. While Linderbaum and Stanley may receive most of the media praise, Baltimore’s second-year right tackle, Roger Rosengarten, was no pushover in his rookie season. Now, as Rosengarten enters year two, the 23-year-old has valuable experience to lean on, having quietly showcased why Baltimore selected the former Washington Husky in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
A season ago, Rosengarten was thrown straight into the fire to begin his rookie campaign, making his NFL debut in Week One on the road against the reigning Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. He had the unenviable task of facing veteran six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones. If you had based your expectations for Rosengarten’s rookie season on that first matchup against one of the league’s elite defenders, your prediction likely wouldn’t have aged well. On his very first NFL snap, Rosengarten was introduced to a classic 'Welcome to the NFL' moment, as Jones easily maneuvered past him and strip-sacked Lamar Jackson in the backfield. Yet, the fearless rookie didn’t let that moment define him. Instead, he bounced back and steadily improved, ultimately becoming a bright spot on the Ravens’ offensive line by season’s end.
After making his first NFL start in Week Four against the Bills, Rosengarten was able to learn from that early career moment in Kansas City and transform it into becoming a reliable piece of Baltimore’s offense. Throughout his rookie season, the 316-pound lineman faced off against several premier edge rushers and enjoyed more success, going up against the likes of Maxx Crosby, Micah Parsons, and divisional foes such as the Steelers’ T.J. Watt, the Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson, and the Browns’ Myles Garrett. By the end of his first professional season, Rosengarten earned a respectable PFF grade of 66.9, the 48th-best among tackles, and an impressive 70.0 pass-blocking grade over 17 games. Now, heading into year two and aiming to grow into an elite offensive lineman, the Colorado native made it clear back in June that he enters this season with far more confidence than last year. Rosengarten stated, “Just going into this year, I’m going to play with way more confidence, and we’re going to play a lot of good teams, a lot of good players, and I’m excited about it.” As Baltimore sets its sights on a potential Super Bowl run, Rosengarten’s boosted confidence could prove to be a key part of his continued development, possibly solidifying him as a future anchor of the Ravens’ offensive line and playing a significant role in helping the team turn its championship aspirations into reality.
