Patrick Mekari can play everywhere on the line, and the Ravens may need him to

Patrick Mekari’s greatest strength is also, perhaps, a detriment to him, coach John Harbaugh said.

Mekari has become known for his versatility, his ability to step in at any position — and to play well. He’s considered a starter, at least in the late Joe D’Alessandris’ mind, but the legendary Ravens offensive line coach didn’t think his talents were best suited in a starting position, even with three spots up for grabs. Why?

”In my eyes he’s a starter, but he’s in the position where he can play multiple positions, and that’s the role that we’d like to see him in right now,” D’Alessandris said in minicamp. “Does that mean ... if we have an injury, guess what? You’re starting, Pat. But it’s not that he can’t start; it’s just that we see the versatility and the benefit of that opportunity. There are not many guys in the NFL that can play center, both guards and tackle.”

For a guy who said he wants to play as often as possible, that might be frustrating, especially knowing he’s good enough. But those three starting jobs are also why Mekari’s versatility has become even more important.

When general manager Eric DeCosta spoke ahead of the season, he said the front office decided over the offseason that it was time to rebuild the offensive line from the “bottom up.”

The departures of veteran starting guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson tipped the scales in that direction. But it was the front office’s decision to trade veteran right tackle Morgan Moses that signaled its intent.

They started by picking up a veteran in free agency, Josh Jones. He isn’t a big name, but neither was Simpson, so they hoped they found a gem. Then the Ravens took two offensive linemen in the draft: second-round right tackle Roger Rosengarten and seventh-round center Nick Samac. For their other needs, they spoke highly of their in-house options, including Andrew Vorhees, Ben Cleveland and Daniel Faalele.

To anchor the rebuild, they had Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and former Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley to rely on.

They also had Mekari.

He’s not a Pro Bowl selection, but he’s something equally rare.

“We call him a unicorn,” Stanley said.

Over the course of his NFL career, Mekari has played 502 snaps at left tackle. He’s played 10 at left guard. And 677 at center, 75 at right guard and 326 at right tackle.

It’s hard to explain just how unusual this is, how hard it is to do.

Stanley has experience switching positions. In college, he transitioned from right tackle to left. That was hard enough, and he only had to learn one new position and got to dedicate attention to it full time. Mekari not only can play every position on the line, but he can also switch positions on a whim.

Some games, he fills in at a position he only had one day of practice at, Stanley said, which is clearly not his preference. Mekari explained that sometimes he spends a whole day at one position and then does a whole practice at another position the next day. Others, he switches positions from snap to snap.

“It depends on the coach, depends on what he wants, depends on where the need is for support that day,” Mekari said.

He’s done it since coming into the league as an undrafted rookie. It’s easier than it was then, but after five seasons he still wouldn’t call what he does easy.

“The more I did it, the more natural it became, but I wouldn’t say it’s natural now,” Mekari said. “I think it’s still something that’s difficult.”

Stanley, in his soon-to-be nine years of NFL ball and four years of college, has played with only one other player like Mekari. That man was James Hurst, a former Ravens offensive lineman and Mekari’s mentor.

“They were both rotating positions in a similar fashion to what he’s doing now,” Stanley said.

Mekari recalled how Hurst would back up both tackles during Mekari’s rookie year in 2019 while he backed up the guards and the tackles. And, if Hurst was called upon, Mekari would suddenly become backup for all the other positions.

Stanley and Linderbaum said they expect any player to be able to fill in if called upon, a sentiment the coaches would probably echo. But, the reality is, anyone else who fills in is a backup. Mekari is something different.

When called upon to play more than 50 snaps at a position, Mekari has stood with the best of them. According to Sports Info Solutions, he had a blown block rate above 3.2% at just one position (left tackle) in just one season (2023). At right tackle, his blown block rates from 2021-23 were 3.2%, 1.6% and 2.6%. For the most part, those stats ranked in the top 15 in the NFL. He ranked lower only three times.

Another statistical company, Pro Football Focus, tells a similar tale. In every year he’s played, Mekari has graded out above average according to its model. In his worst year, 2021, he graded out at 66.1. At his best, in 2022, he finished with a 73.3.

Mekari’s role remained similar when this year’s training camp arrived despite the overhaul of the line. He took snaps at right tackle as Rosengarten adjusted to the speed of the NFL. After Cleveland had a rough performance at center, Mekari took over as backup for a few series.

In addition to acting as a plug-and-play guy, Mekari has become a rare resource for everyone along the line. He can give advice at every position. He also knows how to explain what each player is seeing from his own vantage point.

That’s helpful for players like Faalele, who is young and going through a position change himself, moving from right tackle to right guard.

“I come to Pat with questions about literally anything, and he always has the right answer for me,” said Faalele.

It’s also valuable for Pro Bowl veterans like Linderbaum, who said with a grin that that’s why the Ravens put them next to each other in the locker room.

“Shoot, every day, we’re talking about certain protections, certain run looks, like hey, what’s a tackle seeing?” Linderbaum said. “Because I’ve never played that position. And he sees it from a center’s perspective.”

Having Mekari on the roster provides reassurance for a young offensive line and its coaches, Stanley said.

If Rosengarten isn’t ready to take on the Kansas City Chiefs’ pass rush, Mekari can start or rotate with the rookie at right tackle. If Faalele starts to struggle at right guard, Mekari can step in while Faalele figures things out. Same with Vorhees at left guard. Heck, he’s even supporting the veterans.

“It’s huge. I think all of the guys on the roster are fully capable of stepping in if things happen,” Linderbaum said. “But he’s certainly — if you can only dress up six linemen, and let’s say Pat was the one backup, he can get all five positions covered, and I think coaches would go to bed pretty good the night before, knowing that.”