Alejandro Villanueva was one of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ biggest success stories in recent years. Now, the two-time Pro Bowl offensive tackles will write what will likely be the final chapter of his career with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens, as has been expected for weeks, agreed to terms with Villanueva on a two-year contract Tuesday. ESPN reports the deal is worth $14 million overall and $8 million guaranteed.
Villanueva’s story has been told before but bears repeating.
The 6-foot-9 Villanueva went to high school in Belgium then was a wide receiver at the United States Military Academy. Following his graduation from West Point, Villanueva became a Army Ranger.
After leaving the military, Villanueva signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent as a defensive lineman. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin spotted Villanueva standing on the sidelines for the national anthem prior to a preseason game between Pittsburgh and the Eagles in 2014.
When Villanueva was released late in the preseason, Tomlin urged Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert to sign him. The Steelers switched Villanueva to offense and, after spending the 2014 season on the practice squad, he helped anchor their line for the last six seasons.
Villanueva started every game from 2016-20, playing 100 percent of the offensive snaps in each season but 2017 when he appeared in 97 percent. Villanueva was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2017 and 2018.
While Villanueva did not play at a Pro Bowl level the last two seasons, he did rank 28th among offensive tackles in Pro Football Focus’ grading system in 2020.
However, Villanueva’s four-year, $24-million contract expired at the end of last season. Under a salary cap crunch, the Steelers did not attempt to re-sign the 32-year-old in free agency.
Three-year veteran Chuks Okorafor is expected to take over at left tackle for the Steelers. A third-round draft pick in 2018, Okarafor made 15 starts at right tackle last year after Zach Banner sustained a season-ending knee injury in the Week 1 win over the New York Giants.
Okorafor was just 70th among the 79 tackles who played enough snaps to qualify for PFF’s rankings.
Meanwhile, Villanueva will fill a big hole left in the Ravens’ line with the trade of Orlando Brown Jr. to the Kansas City Chiefs last month, a deal that netted Baltimore a first-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
Brown asked to be traded because he wants to play left tackle, which is the domain of Ronnie Stanley with the Ravens. Brown is eligible for free agency at the end of the 2021 season and puts himself in line for a potentially much bigger contract playing on the left side rather right tackle.
According to PFF, Brown was the 25th-best tackle in the NFL last season.
Villanueva is switching sides in one of the fiercest and most physical rivalries in the league.
The Steelers won the AFC North last season with a 12-4 record while the Ravens went 11-5 and tied the Cleveland Browns for second place. The Ravens are favored to win the division title in 2021.
