Baltimore Ravens OL Ronnie Stanley isn't practicing at left guard these days

Baltimore Ravens first round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft Ronnie Stanley is getting reps at left tackle and zero reps at left guard these days. When Stanley was selected with the sixth overall pick in April, there were questions if he would work at left guard first and over time take the left tackle position away from Eugene Monroe. Right now, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is giving Stanley the opportunity to earn a spot at left tackle right off the bat.

BaltimoreRavens.com writer and editor Sarah Ellison provided this tidbit of what Harbaugh had to say about Stanley's status on the offense line.

Harbaugh was asked about Stanley working at both left tackle and guard. The head coach didn't miss a beat: "Did you see him working at guard today?"

An awkward pause ensued ... then finally the answer: no.

To top it off, Harbaugh made it more than clear that he expects Stanley to start.

"The ball is in [Stanley's] court and he has to earn it, but he's the sixth pick in the draft," Harbaugh noted via BaltimoreRavens.com."I expect him to start. That's his job is to come out here and start."

We are beginning to see the Ravens invest a lot in Stanley which only begs the question: Where does Monroe stand with the team? Right now Monroe is diving into research with the use of medical marijuana in the NFL while he is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and the Ravens are OK with him doing so. It is unlikely that the Ravens will move Monroe anytime soon via trade or by releasing him because he hasn't been cleared to practice yet to begin with until now.

Feeling blessed! Cleared to play again!

— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) June 8, 2016

And besides, there is no indication that the Ravens want to move him anyway.

Keeping Monroe may actually be the best choice at the moment as Monroe is still a quality starter and the Ravens need an insurance policy in case any injury were to occur at the left tackle position.

Overall

Stanley may be the favorite to start at left tackle going forward, but it would be nice to ease him in without any pressure because moving Monroe off the roster provides very little depth at left tackle and also forces Stanley to play at an even higher level during his rookie season.