The Ravens are back in Owings Mills and beginning serious preparations for the open of a 2025 season with very high expectations.
With training camp just beginning and the first preseason game still two weeks away, this look at the roster is still based more on track record, contract status, draft standing, and positional need rather than making too much of snapshot observations from a handful of practices. I currently see 46 players comfortably on the 53-man roster, leaving seven spots to fill. We’ll get a better idea of where players stand by observing the rep distribution in training camp and the playing time in preseason games. Not all bubble players are on equal footing, of course, with certain position groups lacking established depth and others having so much talent that the numbers game could squeeze out someone otherwise deserving of a roster spot.
Though general manager Eric DeCosta, head coach John Harbaugh, and the rest of the staff and front office are cognizant of the numbers at each position, trying to arbitrarily pick a certain number of wide receivers or outside linebackers isn’t the most authentic way of filling out a 53-man roster. The Ravens typically value reserves who excel on special teams, so they’ll look carefully at other traits in addition to what individuals bring to their offensive or defensive position groups when filling out the bottom of the roster.
The numbers in parentheses indicate how many players are projected to stick on the 53-man roster at each position. As we move deeper into training camp and the preseason schedule, I’ll provide updated projections all the way to final cut-down day on Aug. 26.
QUARTERBACKS (2)
IN: Lamar Jackson, Cooper Rush
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: none
LONG SHOT: Devin Leary
Skinny: The March signing of Rush to a two-year deal said much about Leary’s chances of becoming Jackson’s primary backup, so there doesn’t figure to be any real roster debate here.
RUNNING BACKS (3)
IN: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: Rasheen Ali
LONG SHOT: Marcus Major
Skinny: Assuming Mitchell is as healthy as he looked in the spring, Ali will really need to stand out on special teams to warrant a spot on the 53-man roster as a No. 4 option with so much talent ahead of him.
TIGHT ENDS & FULLBACKS (4)
IN: Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: none
LONG SHOT: Zaire Mitchell-Paden, Sam Pitz, Lucas Scott
Skinny: We’ll continue to ponder the long-term status of these four veterans, but the Ravens will have one of the best and deepest tight end groups in the NFL for at least one more season.
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WIDE RECEIVERS (6)
IN: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Tylan Wallace, Devontez Walker, LaJohntay Wester
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: Dayton Wade
LONG SHOT: Anthony Miller, Keith Kirkwood, Malik Cunningham, Jahmal Banks, Xavier Guillory
Skinny: Wester’s path to a roster spot will largely depend on his ability to contribute as a return specialist, and Wade would really help his own chances by standing out as a return option.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (10)
IN: Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Joseph Noteboom, Ben Cleveland, Emery Jones Jr., Carson Vinson, Darrian Dalcourt
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: Garrett Dellinger, Nick Samac
LONG SHOT: Corey Bullock, Jared Penning, Gerad Lichtenhan, Reid Holskey, Ozzie Hutchinson
Skinny: We’ll monitor Jones’ status on the non-football injury list, but he’s on track to begin practicing in a few weeks. My pre-camp sleeper pick to be the 10th lineman is Dalcourt, who spent last year developing on the practice squad and is higher on the current depth chart than one might expect.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (5)
IN: Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, John Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: C.J. Ravenell
LONG SHOT: C.J. Okoye, Adedayo Odeleye, Jayson Jones
Skinny: Jenkins was signed to help fill the void of the retired Michael Pierce, but he’s 36 and entering his 13th season. Though an interesting pass-rush prospect, Peebles is undersized and was a late sixth-round choice. In other words, this group is far from set in stone after the three incumbent veterans.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4)
IN: Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan, Jake Hummel
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: William Kwenkeu
LONG SHOT: Jay Higgins, Chandler Martin
Skinny: The Ravens aren’t planning to use a weak-side backer next to Smith as an every-down player, but the depth behind the three-time Pro Bowl selection remains shaky at best. Baltimore must also replace the special-teams snaps covered by departed veterans Malik Harrison and Chris Board, which leaves some opportunity for a sleeper to find his way into the conversation.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (6)
IN: Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, Adisa Isaac, David Ojabo
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: Malik Hamm
LONG SHOT: Diwun Black, Kaimon Rucker
Skinny: Ojabo was my final player to survive the cut as a former second-round pick whose development was smothered by injuries over his first two years, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Ravens part with him, especially if DeCosta finds a trade partner and prefers keeping an extra young corner.
CORNERBACKS (6)
IN: Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Bilhal Kone
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: Jalyn Armour-Davis, Robert Longerbeam
LONG SHOT: Reuben Lowery, Marquise Robinson, Keyon Martin
Skinny: The lack of contractual control beyond 2025 is working against the oft-injured Armour-Davis and Longerbeam was one of the last picks of the sixth round, but the injury history of Alexander and Awuzie and the lack of safety depth would increase the odds of keeping another corner on the roster. Keep an eye on the undrafted Lowery, who made plays on the ball throughout spring practices.
SAFETIES (4)
IN: Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Sanoussi Kane, Beau Brade
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: none
LONG SHOT: Desmond Igbinosun, Keondre Jackson
PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM LIST: Ar’Darius Washington
Skinny: It was right around this time last year that Baltimore signed veteran Eddie Jackson, and while that move certainly didn’t pan out, a veteran safety to back up Hamilton and the rookie Starks is the biggest roster need entering training camp. Such an addition could push Brade to the wrong side of the roster bubble.
SPECIALISTS (3)
IN: Jordan Stout, Nick Moore, Tyler Loop
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: John Hoyland
LONG SHOT: none
Skinny: Loop is the favorite after becoming the first kicker to be drafted in team history, but he struggled toward the end of the spring and the undrafted Hoyland will have every chance to win the job. It’s also possible that the 2025 kicker still isn’t on the roster, so the Ravens will need to figure this out.
