Happiness is key, especially since Stanley knows he’s not long for Baltimore. It’s a big reason why he accepted the revised deal: If his time with the Ravens is nearing an end, he wants to go out the right way.
The right way would be, of course, with a stellar season reminiscent of past All-Pro campaigns. Stanley won’t guarantee such a performance in 2024, but he definitely believes he’s positioned better for it now than he has been since suffering the ankle injury in 2020.
“I don’t have it all figured out, but I’m to the point where I feel confident in knowing where I need to fix things and making little tweaks versus trying to figure out the big picture,” Stanley said. “I feel like it’s getting smaller and smaller every day. It’s easier to figure out. I haven’t felt that way, where I’m consistently knowing that I’m experiencing that growth, since 2020.”
Stanley admitted it’s been difficult to tune out the noise and criticism that has followed him as he’s battled injuries while trying to stay on the field. He knows his reputation no longer guarantees a future in the NFL, but isn’t worried about anything beyond 2024. He’ll just let his pads do the talking and hope for the best, because truly, his performance is what matters most.
“No, 100 percent, I want to keep playing. There’s no doubt in my mind,” Stanley said. “For personal reasons, I view it as a (key) year. I want to personally refuse to have a year like last year. But there could be three more years on my deal and I’d still feel the same. It’s not because it’s the last year on my deal. It’s more because as a competitor, I don’t like not playing to my capability.”
The Ravens are hoping for the best for and from Stanley. He’s just about ready to deliver.