Ravens Will Have A Hard Time Retaining G Kelechi Osemele Following Marshal Yanda Extension

Raven G Kelechi Osemele says he’s not thinking about his contract situation, even after the team locked up fellow G Marshal Yanda to a four-year, $37.4 million contract extension.

“All I really can control is how I play,” Osemele said, via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. “I’m not thinking about leaving or staying or anything. I’m kind of just focused on trying to get the season turned around and playing better football every game and improving every week.”

Before Yanda’s extension with Baltimore was announced, he contacted Osemele regarding the news.

“I was pretty much the first to know,” Osemele said Thursday. “Kudos, man. There’s not a guy in the league that deserves it more than Marshal does, honestly. I might be biased, but I think he’s the best offensive lineman in the game — hands down, without question. I go out there and try to emulate what he does.”

The Ravens have one of the best guard tandems in the league, but there’s no question that it will be difficult to justify them playing market-value contract to both Yanda and Osemele.

Previous reports have said that Osemele is unlikely to offer the Ravens a hometown discount, and he’s clearly in a great position to cash in big next year.

Osemele, 26, was taken in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Ravens. He has one year remaining on his four-year, $3.34 million rookie contract and stands to make a base salary of $846,255 for the 2015 season.

This season, Osemele has appeared in all six games for the Ravens and is rated by Pro Football Focus as the No. 21 guard out of 81 qualifying players.