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Jamison Hensley
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens kept a major part of their dominant rushing attack on Tuesday, when they re-signed five-time Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard.
The one-year deal is fully guaranteed for around $3 million, a source told ESPN.
The Ravens have used the start of free agency to solidify the blocking for the NFL’s No. 1 offense. In addition to keeping Ricard, Baltimore re-signed left tackle Ronnie Stanley to a three-year, $60 million deal on Saturday.
Ricard, 30, was named first-team All-Pro for the first time last season after helping the NFL’s No. 1 rushing attack average 5.8 yards per carry, which was the best in a single season in NFL history.
Last season, Ricard cleared the way for Ravens running back Derrick Henry to gain 1,921 yards, which ranks as the 11th-highest rushing total in league history. Henry nicknamed Ricard “Juggernaut” for his massive size (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) and physical blocking.
After going undrafted in 2017 as a defensive lineman out of Maine, Ricard was moved to fullback and has become one of the best lead blockers in the NFL. Since 2019, he has averaged 41% of Baltimore’s offensive snaps as the Ravens have totaled 17,416 yards rushing, which is nearly 3,000 more than any other team.
At the end of the season, it sounded like Ricard and the Ravens would get a deal done. Ricard said he wanted to retire a Raven and general manager Eric DeCosta said he would love to make that happen.
In an era where many teams have gone away from the traditional fullback, Ricard has excelled at the position. Only six Ravens players have made more Pro Bowls than Ricard: Ray Lewis (13), Jonathan Ogden (11), Ed Reed (nine), Marshal Yanda (eight), Terrell Suggs (seven) and Justin Tucker (seven).
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