The Ravens officially signed first-round pick Michael Oher on Thursday to a five-year contract, a multimillion-dollar deal that represents as much of an investment in franchise quarterback Joe Flacco as the rookie out of Mississippi.
The contract is valued at up to $13.8 million, with $7.8 million guaranteed, according to an NFL source.
When the Ravens take the field today for their first full-team practice of training camp, the 6-foot-4, 310-pound Oher is expected to line up as the team's right tackle, becoming the final piece of the Flacco Protection Plan.
"We sat here a year ago, drafted a quarterback, and hoped that we didn't have to deal with that for a while," general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "We're hoping the same thing now with Michael. We have a talented, young offensive line."
This Ravens' offensive line will undoubtedly rank among the youngest in the NFL. If everything goes according to Newsome's plan, it will also rank among the best.
Last season, Flacco started every game and was never listed on the injury report, a streak the Ravens hope continues this year.
The foundation of this line was built in the 2007 NFL draft, when the team selected left guard Ben Grubbs in the first round. It was the first time the Ravens had used their first pick for an offensive lineman since they chose perennial All-Pro Jonathan Ogden in 1996.
Later in the 2007 draft, the Ravens traded three picks to move up into the third round to take right guard Marshal Yanda. Although Yanda could be sidelined for training camp as he recovers from knee surgery, he is expected to play this season.
Then, in the 2007 supplemental draft (which accommodates players who didn't enter the regular draft), the Ravens used a fifth-round pick for left tackle Jared Gaither. It has been projected that Gaither could have gone in the first round of the 2008 draft.
The Ravens finalized their offensive front this offseason. After losing center Jason Brown to the St. Louis Rams in free agency, the team signed six-time Pro Bowl performer Matt Birk.
In the draft, the Ravens watched Oher, a player they had rated fifth on their board, slip to them at No. 23. Some league observers have questioned whether he would pick up NFL offenses. But the Ravens said they couldn't pass up Oher's agility, power and toughness.
