Much work remains for general manager Eric DeCosta to complete the construction of the 2022 Ravens roster, but the bulk of that will come with the NFL draft at the end of the month.
Holding nine selections over the first 141 spots, the Ravens have no shortage of opportunities to address multiple positions, but the key will be coming away with more impactful depth than inventory that doesn’t really move the needle. Even the best drafting teams never bat 1.000, of course, and Baltimore still has a number of positions one would classify as a need or at least a significant want after the first month of free agency. According to the NFL Players Association, the Ravens also had just over $7 million in salary cap space before including the new deals for defensive end Calais Campbell and inside linebacker Josh Bynes, meaning some contract restructuring or even a couple roster cuts are likely at some point.
For now, the Ravens have 64 players on their 90-man offseason roster, which will allow space for draft picks, rookie free agents, and a few more veteran signings between now and training camp. As we move into the preseason schedule later this summer, I’ll provide updates complete with 53-man roster projections of who’s in and who’s out.
Below is a look at where the roster stands as of April 13 with the numbers in parentheses indicating how many players are currently at each position as well as a few thoughts on the concern level for each group:
QUARTERBACKS (2) — Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley
Concern level: LOW
Skinny: Though we’ll continue to discuss Jackson’s long-term contract status because it’s that significant to the franchise and its future, the 2019 NFL MVP isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and he’s backed up by the capable Huntley. The Ravens will add another quarterback to the mix for depth and developmental purposes, but they couldn’t be in better shape here as long as Jackson isn’t feeling any lingering effects from the bone bruise in his ankle that ended his 2021 season prematurely.
RUNNING BACKS (5) — J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Ty’Son Williams, Nate McCrary
Concern level: MODERATE
Skinny: Though Dobbins and Edwards will have each had a full calendar year to recover from their respective ACL tears by the time the season kicks off in September, you never know for sure how a running back will return from a serious knee injury, which is why the Ravens would be wise to add another back to the mix with one of their five fourth-round picks. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman certainly needs a deeper and more explosive group than he had last season.
TIGHT ENDS & FULLBACKS (6) — Mark Andrews, Patrick Ricard, Nick Boyle, Josh Oliver, Tony Poljan, Ben Mason
Concern level: MODERATE
Skinny: With an All-Pro tight end coming off a record-setting season, perhaps the concern level is closer to low than moderate, but there’s no evidence of a viable pass-catching understudy should something happen to Andrews and the health of Boyle’s knee will be of great interest as he carries a $7 million cap number. The latter concern likely factored into the Ravens re-signing Ricard, but that’s a lot of money to pour into a blocking tight end and fullback with so many roster needs elsewhere.
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WIDE RECEIVERS (8) — Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay, James Proche, Tylan Wallace, Miles Boykin, Jaylon Moore, Binjimen Victor
Concern level: LOW
Skinny: Make no mistake, if the right wide receiver with size lingers on the board during draft weekend, the Ravens shouldn’t hesitate to add another to this young mix, but this group looks better than it has in a long time, especially when factoring Andrews’ place in the passing attack that goes well beyond the usual tight end. You’d feel even better seeing at least one of Duvernay, Proche, and Wallace take a step forward, but Baltimore is expecting big things from Bateman to go with Brown, who is coming off his first career 1,000-yard season.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (11) — Ronnie Stanley, Kevin Zeitler, Patrick Mekari, Morgan Moses, Ben Cleveland, Patrick Mekari, Ben Powers, Ja’Wuan James, Trystan Colon, Jaryd Jones-Smith, Jimmy Murray
Concern level: HIGH
Skinny: Everything comes down to the health of Stanley, who’s played in just one game since injuring his left ankle on Nov. 1, 2020. Any lingering concerns about center or left guard don’t seem so significant if the former All-Pro left tackle is healthy and back to playing like his old self, but DeCosta acknowledged earlier this month that there are no guarantees with his rehab at this point, meaning the Ravens would be wise to invest a Day 2 pick on a young left tackle even after signing veteran Morgan Moses to stabilize the right tackle spot last month.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9) — Michael Pierce, Calais Campbell, Justin Madubuike, Derek Wolfe, Broderick Washington, Isaiah Mack, Kahlil McKenzie, Aaron Crawford, Xavier Kelly,
Concern level: MODERATE
Skinny: Pierce’s signing and Campbell’s return leave this group in a similar short-term position to last season without knowing the reality of Wolfe’s status coming off January hip surgery, but the Ravens are still leaning heavily on aging players here and could really use someone who brings more pass-rushing ability from the interior. Though finding that in this year’s draft class could be easier said than done, Baltimore needs to come away with a defensive tackle with some upside to add to the rotation.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4) — Patrick Queen, Josh Bynes, Malik Harrison, Kristian Welch
Concern level: MODERATE
Skinny: Re-signing Bynes to a one-year contract should again help this group’s floor in the short term, but the Ravens hoped not to have such long-term questions at this position after using a first-round pick on Queen and a third-round pick on Harrison two years ago. Though Queen played better over the second half of last season, the pass coverage ability of this group remains a real concern, which is why Baltimore tried to sign eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner late last month and will likely aim to add an off-ball linebacker via the draft.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (4) — Tyus Bowser, Odafe Oweh, Jaylon Ferguson, Daelin Hayes
Concern level: HIGH
Skinny: Even if Bowser returns from his Achilles tear in time for Week 1 and Oweh takes a step forward after a rock-solid rookie campaign, there just isn’t enough depth here with Ferguson showing little pass-rushing mojo over his first three seasons and Hayes, a 2021 fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, appearing in just one game last year. A veteran signing such as the return of Justin Houston still makes sense, but not coming away with an edge rusher over the first few rounds of this month’s draft would be disappointing, especially in the wake of the Za’Darius Smith agreement falling through last month.
CORNERBACKS (6) — Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Kevon Seymour, Robert Jackson, Kevin Toliver, Iman Marshall
Concern level: HIGH
Skinny: A year ago, the Ravens were viewed by many as enjoying the NFL’s deepest cornerback group, but the lack of established depth behind Humphrey and Peters — both coming off season-ending injuries — couldn’t be more concerning now. While hybrid safety Brandon Stephens will likely receive a long look as the primary slot corner, Baltimore has placed too much emphasis on this position group in recent years to think DeCosta won’t be targeting a cornerback or two as early as the first round, especially with the 29-year-old Peters entering a contract year and coming off a torn ACL.
SAFETIES (6) — Marcus Williams, Chuck Clark, Brandon Stephens, Tony Jefferson, Geno Stone, Ar’Darius Washington
Concern level: LOW
Skinny: Swapping the oft-injured DeShon Elliott for a prize free agent in Williams immediately upgraded a group that has a good mix of veterans and young options to deploy in different sub packages. The 25-year-old Williams should give new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and the Ravens their first true deep center fielder in years, and that presence will allow Clark to play closer to the line of scrimmage and Stephens to move all around the defense.
SPECIALISTS (3) — Justin Tucker, Sam Koch, Nick Moore
Concern level: LOW
Skinny: If there’s anything to note from this group, Koch will turn 40 in August and carries the third-highest cap number ($3.15 million) among punters for the 2022 season. Sooner than later, the Ravens will need to be pondering a successor for the punter and holder who’s played in more games than anyone in team history.
