With two preseason games in the books, it’s time to to examine the Ravens’ 53-man roster for the first time since the end of mandatory minicamp in mid-June.
My current assessment suggests as many as 45 players would be considered safely on the roster if the deadline were to come now. This number is higher than in recent years and reflects the lack of roster turnover on the defensive side of the ball, the team-record-tying 12 selections in this year’s draft, and the absence of any season-ending injuries being sustained so far this summer.
My rough assessment of the 91 players currently on the roster — fullback Christopher Ezeala carries an international player roster exemption — lists 20 on the bubble. Not all bubble players are on equal footing, of course, with some position groups lacking as much quality depth and others enjoying an abundance of talent and likely falling victim to the numbers game. It’s also important to consider any player’s contract status as the organization is more likely to retain a player with multiple years of control remaining compared to one similar in talent who’s nearing the end of his rookie contract.
Though general manager Ozzie Newsome, coach John Harbaugh, and the rest of the coaching staff and front office are cognizant of the numbers at each position, arbitrarily trying to pinpoint a specific number of tight ends or inside linebackers or wide receivers isn’t the most accurate way of projecting a roster. The Ravens are always looking for reserves who will excel on special teams, so coaches will look carefully at players’ other attributes in addition to what they bring to their specific positions when filling out the end of the roster.
The numbers in parentheses indicate the total number of players currently on the roster at that given position. Bubble players who are underlined are the ones just making the cut for the projected 53-man roster as of Aug. 14.
QUARTERBACKS (4)
IN: Joe Flacco, Lamar Jackson
BUBBLE: Robert Griffin III
LONG SHOT: Josh Woodrum
Skinny: Many are clamoring for Griffin to make the roster after his solid preseason thus far, but there are just too many talented players at other positions for the Ravens to keep a third quarterback for the first time since 2009. If you can’t trust Jackson to even be your backup and fill in for a game or two in the event of a Flacco injury, that’s not exactly an encouraging sign for his long-term development. Griffin is doing enough to show he belongs on a roster somewhere after sitting out the 2017 season.
RUNNING BACKS & FULLBACKS (8)
IN: Alex Collins, Buck Allen, Patrick Ricard
BUBBLE: Kenneth Dixon, Gus Edwards
LONG SHOT: Mark Thompson, De’Lance Turner
PRACTICE SQUAD ROSTER EXEMPTION: Christopher Ezeala
Skinny: Ricard wouldn’t be a lock solely as a fullback or as a defensive lineman, but his ability to play both should land him on the roster without question. Dixon hasn’t done anything to quell concerns about his durability as he missed the first two preseason games and running backs coach Thomas Hammock even said he needs to get “his body right” to stay on the field. Edwards has impressed as an undrafted rookie, but I’d still predict only an outside addition would push Dixon off the roster.
WIDE RECEIVERS (12)
IN: Michael Crabtree, John Brown, Willie Snead, Chris Moore, Jordan Lasley
BUBBLE: Jaleel Scott, Tim White, Janarion Grant, Breshad Perriman
LONG SHOT: Andre Levrone, DeVier Posey
RESERVE PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM LIST: Quincy Adeboyejo
Skinny: History says a rookie fourth-rounder is a lock for the Baltimore roster, but Scott has done little to distinguish himself even compared to the fifth-round pick Lasley, who at least flashes and has grown as a special-teams player. White’s durability remains a question as he and Grant have more work to do to justify the Ravens keeping one as a return specialist. The eyeball test and lack of a special-teams role tell you Perriman is more of a long shot than a bubble guy, but he’s still a former first-round pick.
TIGHT ENDS (7)
IN: Hayden Hurst, Nick Boyle, Mark Andrews
BUBBLE: Maxx Williams, Darren Waller, Vince Mayle
LONG SHOT: Nick Keizer
Skinny: Williams certainly hasn’t lived up to expectations as a former second-round pick, but he’s the best blocker of the bubble trio, something to remember with the Ravens’ run-blocking schemes that frequently employ two-tight sets. Waller has well-documented upside, but he’s difficult to trust and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the coaching staff hide him in the preseason to try to sneak him onto the practice squad. Mayle is a good special-teams player, but his path to the roster looks pretty steep.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (15)
IN: Marshal Yanda, Ronnie Stanley, Alex Lewis, Matt Skura, James Hurst, Orlando Brown Jr.
BUBBLE: Jermaine Eluemunor, Nico Siragusa, Greg Senat, Bradley Bozeman
LONG SHOT: Andrew Donnal, Maurquice Shakir, Randin Crecelius, Justin Evans, Cameron Lee
Skinny: These four bubble players carry intrigue, but none have separated themselves from the rest of the pack to nail down a roster spot. Eluemunor has the experience edge, and Siragusa being a 2017 fourth-round pick makes it more problematic to get him through waivers and to the practice squad despite legitimate concerns about his surgically-repaired knee. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Senat or Bozeman stick on the 53-man roster, but late sixth-round picks are logical practice-squad candidates.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (10)
IN: Brandon Williams, Willie Henry, Michael Pierce, Chris Wormley, Brent Urban
BUBBLE: Carl Davis, Zach Sieler, Bronson Kaufusi
LONG SHOT: Myles Humphrey, Christian LaCouture
Skinny: Last year taught us not to doubt Baltimore’s propensity for hoarding defensive linemen, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see one roster spot come down to the versatile veteran Davis or Sieler, who shows impressive strength as a seventh-round pick. Davis looks vulnerable as he’s in the final year of his contract, but he’s a favorite of the coaching staff and has the ability to hold his own at all three base positions on the defensive line, a valuable game-day trait. Kaufusi needs to pick it up to win a spot.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (6)
IN: C.J. Mosley, Patrick Onwuasor, Kenny Young
BUBBLE: Albert McClellan
LONG SHOT: Alvin Jones
RESERVE PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM LIST: Bam Bradley
Skinny: Cutting McClellan, a longtime special-teams leader and versatile reserve, would be a gut-wrenching decision as he’s loved by teammates and coaches, but he’s 32 and returning from a major knee injury. Releasing him would save $1.25 million in cap space, but special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg does carry some clout regarding the back end of the roster. A slower-than-expected recovery from a torn ACL has prevented Bradley from joining the competition between Onwuasor and Young.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (7)
IN: Terrell Suggs, Matt Judon, Za’Darius Smith, Tim Williams, Tyus Bowser
BUBBLE: Kamalei Correa
LONG SHOT: Chris Board
Skinny: I see one spot potentially coming down to McClellan or Correa, but the latter has youth on his side, is also capable of playing all four linebacker positions, and performed well on special teams last year. Smith is in the final year of his rookie deal, but his ability to contribute as an inside rusher in sub packages makes him more valuable. Bowser isn’t in danger of being cut, but the 2017 second-round pick hasn’t been able to stay on the field while Williams has elevated his stock this summer.
CORNERBACKS (10)
IN: Jimmy Smith, Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Carr, Tavon Young, Maurice Canady, Anthony Averett
BUBBLE: None
LONG SHOT: Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Darious Williams, Jackson Porter
RESERVE PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM LIST: Jaylen Hill
Skinny: It’s tough to recall the last time the Ravens had a cornerback sextet with this much talent as Young and Canady look like starting-caliber players and even the rookie fourth-rounder Averett has progressed this summer. In the past, Jean-Baptiste and Williams very much would have been in the roster conversation, but it’s difficult to see a path to a roster spot for either unless there’s an injury or a trade ahead of them. Hill beginning the season on PUP is a blessing in disguise with the numbers here.
SAFETIES (7)
IN: Eric Weddle, Tony Jefferson, Chuck Clark, Anthony Levine
BUBBLE: DeShon Elliott
LONG SHOT: Kai Nacua, Bennett Jackson
Skinny: Elliott will need to rein in some of his physicality as secondary play continues to evolve, but the rookie sixth-round pick shows a nose for the ball and has flashed enough to warrant keeping him around for the future. Clark has had a good summer filling in for a banged-up Jefferson and could develop into a future starter. Known primarily for his special-teams play over the years, Levine is a big factor in the dime package, which is expected to be Baltimore’s primary sub package again.
SPECIALISTS (5)
IN: Justin Tucker, Sam Koch, Morgan Cox
BUBBLE: None
LONG SHOT: Kaare Vedvik, Trent Sieg
Skinny: There’s no roster drama here, but Vedvik’s leg has been so impressive that I’d be surprised if there aren’t at least a couple teams trying to claim him off waivers at the end of the preseason.
