Two quarterbacks or three? Nine offensive linemen or 10? How many spots need to be reserved for special teams?
These are the questions general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh face annually. Otherwise, there isn’t a ton of buzz about the Baltimore Ravens’ pending roster subtractions heading into this year’s cutdown day. A few injuries thinned out position competitions. Nobody from the undrafted rookie class really made a significant push on a roster that had very few openings when training camp began.
With the preseason mercifully over, the next task for the Ravens is to cut their 90-man roster to 53 by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline. There will likely be a couple of players moved to injured reserve. Running back Keaton Mitchell is expected to revert to the reserve physically unable to perform list. DeCosta is always looking at potential trade opportunities. But the heavy roster lifting will be done with cuts. If the Ravens have their way, a number of their cuts will clear waivers and return to the team on the practice squad.
Projecting Baltimore’s 53-man roster only got more difficult after Saturday’s 30-7 preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers as a few “bubble” players, including running back Owen Wright and center Nick Samac, went down with injuries.
New rules allow teams as part of the cutdown to 53 to put two players on IR who can return after missing at least the first four weeks of the season. If the Ravens want other players beyond the two to return from IR, they’ll have to be on their initial 53 and then moved to IR later in the week.
DeCosta and the Ravens are no strangers to roster gymnastics this time of year, and they’ll probably be forced to use some machinations again, given they have a number of players who have missed parts, or all, of training camp with injuries. They also have a handful of rookies, who don’t appear to be in line to have notable roles early and have missed some time over the summer, who could be pushed to IR to ease the roster crunch and prevent the Ravens from losing them on the waiver wire.
So there’s a lot of things that could come into play before 4 p.m. Tuesday. And the initial roster almost certainly won’t be the same one that will take the field on Sept. 5 and face the Kansas City Chiefs in the regular-season opener. But this is the best guess at how things could play out.
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Quarterback (2)
In: Lamar Jackson, Josh Johnson
Out: Devin Leary, Emory Jones
Hardest cut: Leary
The Ravens’ preference has always been to keep just two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, and the rule change allowing the game day emergency No. 3 to come from the practice squad is even more incentive to stay the course. Using a sixth-round pick on a potential developmental quarterback like Leary remains a worthwhile gamble at the most important position in sports. Leary struggled mightily while getting his most extensive action in Baltimore’s preseason finale. Even before that, he hadn’t made a compelling case that the Ravens must keep him. He could benefit from a developmental year on the practice squad.
Running back (3)
In: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali
Out: Chris Collier, John Kelly
IR: Owen Wright (foot)
Reserve PUP list: Keaton Mitchell (knee)
On the cusp of a roster spot after a strong training camp, Wright broke his foot in the preseason finale against the Packers, Harbaugh said. It’s not necessarily a season-ending injury, but the Ravens are going to have to decide whether they want to keep the door open for Wright to return this year. His injury definitely complicates things with the No. 3 running back situation and seemingly puts Ali, the rookie fifth-round pick, back into the picture. Ali hasn’t done a whole lot this preseason and didn’t play Saturday. Beyond Ali, the Ravens’ other options are keeping the veteran Kelly or the undrafted rookie Collier. Or they could just roster two running backs and use practice squad elevations to fill the No. 3 running back role the first couple of weeks.
There are also still some accomplished veteran backs available in free agency, including Dalvin Cook, who finished last season with the Ravens. But the No. 3 running back position was shaping up to be more of a special teams job, with Henry and Hill expected to be the only two backs with offensive roles. That calls into question whether Cook would be the best fit. Mitchell isn’t expected back until the latter part of the season.
Wide receiver (6)
In: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace, Devontez Walker, Deonte Harty
Out: Malik Cunningham, Russell Gage, Keith Kirkwood, Anthony Miller, Sean Ryan, Dayton Wade, Isaiah Washington
Hardest cut: Miller
Walker, a rookie fourth-round pick, didn’t do much in training camp and the preseason to suggest he’s ready to immediately help Baltimore on offense or special teams. However, the Ravens are almost certainly not going to cut a rookie fourth-rounder, nor should they. Walker just needs some time. It’s possible the Ravens could put the rookie, who has dealt with a few injuries this summer, on injured reserve and open a spot for another receiver. The veteran Miller would probably be the most deserving, but Kirkwood has a case, too. Miller signed late, but he made plays just about every practice and can really run. He played well enough to stick. But keeping seven wide receivers just feels unnecessary with how much the team relies on its tight ends in the passing game. Wallace and Harty appear to be firmly in the Ravens’ special teams plans.
TOUCHDOWN @OfficialTylan2!!
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— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 24, 2024
Tight end/fullback (4)
In: Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard
Out: Qadir Ismail, Mike Rigerman, Riley Sharp
Hardest cut: Ismail
If there was a most improved player award from camp, Ismail would win in a runaway. The college quarterback-turned-wide receiver-turned-NFL tight end opened a lot of eyes this summer and would be a nice developmental tight end to keep on the practice squad as he continues to get stronger and learn the finer points of the position. However, this group was essentially set well before training camp started and nothing significant happened over the past month-plus to force a change in plans.
Offensive line (10)
In: Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Patrick Mekari, Josh Jones, Ben Cleveland, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Nick Samac
Out: Corey Bullock, Darrian Dalcourt, Tashawn Manning, Julian Pearl, Darrell Simpson
Hardest cut: Manning
This really comes down to the ninth and 10th spots if the Ravens do take that many — and they have before. Samac, the rookie seventh-round pick, got healthy and came on in the second part of camp. He gives the Ravens another backup center option if Mekari is needed to play tackle. However, he also sustained what appeared to be a lower leg injury in Green Bay and was carted back to the locker room. That could change the team’s plans depending on the severity of the injury. Aumavae-Laulu being used as tackle and guard this preseason should help his cause, but he by no means feels safe.
Other factors could come into play. The Ravens have been looking to improve their offensive line depth, so it’s not impossible they swing a trade or make a waiver claim that impacts their final one or two spots. You also can’t dismiss that they’ll find a suitor for Cleveland, who never really got an opportunity to win one of the starting guard jobs. As things stand now, though, it appears the Ravens are down to three guys for one or two spots. Samac, Manning and Aumavae-Laulu are legitimately on the bubble.
GO DEEPER
John Harbaugh says the Ravens are closing in on their starting OL decisions
Defensive line (5)
In: Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, Brent Urban
Out: C.J. Ravenell, Deadrin Senat, Josh Tupou, Tramel Walthour
Hardest cut: Ravenell
As was the case with the tight ends, this group has been written in ink for a while now, and only an injury or a revelatory performance from a roster hopeful was going to change that. One situation to watch is Baltimore potentially cutting Urban with a handshake agreement to re-sign him a few days later as part of the roster gymnastics that DeCosta traditionally plays this time of year. Since Urban is a vested veteran, he’s not subject to waivers. He also doesn’t want to play anywhere else. The Ravens could presumably cut Urban and keep one of the injured players on their 53-man roster until Wednesday afternoon before placing that player on IR and then re-signing Urban. That would allow the injured player to return during the season. They’ve played that game with Urban before. Otherwise, there’s not much to see here.
Outside linebacker (5)
In: Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson, Adisa Isaac
Out: Joe Evans
IR: Malik Hamm (knee)
Malik Harrison will likely be used extensively as a strong-side linebacker, so he could just as easily be listed with this group, too. Isaac is also a candidate for IR as he continues to be plagued by hamstring issues. If the Ravens think he’s several weeks away from contributing — and he certainly has missed a lot of time — then he could go the IR route with the hope that he’d be ready in October. Evans plays his butt off and earned himself a lot of fans in the building, but a developmental year will probably do him some good.
Inside linebacker (4)
In: Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Chris Board, Malik Harrison
Out: Deion Jennings, Yvandy Rigby, Josh Ross
Hardest cut: Ross
The Ravens often find a spot on the roster for an undrafted rookie inside linebacker. But it never felt like Jennings and Rigby made a steady push, and injuries were a big reason for that, at least for Rigby. Ross is one of the toughest roster calls. He didn’t stand out much this summer, but the Ravens don’t have a lot of inside linebacker depth, particularly if Harrison is playing a lot on the outside. Ross has also played well on special teams in the past, and that’s always a factor. But for the purpose of this exercise, Ross is the 54th man and the last guy off. It just feels that if it comes down to keeping an extra offensive lineman or an extra inside linebacker, the Ravens will keep the extra offensive lineman every time.
Cornerback (6)
In: Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Nate Wiggins, T.J. Tampa, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Ar’Darius Washington
Out: Bump Cooper Jr., Ka’dar Hollman, Christian Matthew, Damarion Williams
IR: Arthur Maulet (knee), Trayvon Mullen (shoulder)
Hardest cut: Hollman
Armour-Davis and Ar’Darius Washington, who were considered to be on the bubble heading into camp, have played well and presumably locked down spots. Williams really struggled in the preseason finale. Being on the field late in the fourth quarter probably isn’t a good sign for his roster chances. The wild card here is Hollman. The Ravens signed him mainly for his special teams ability, and he’s been one of their busiest special teams guys in both training camp and the preseason. That could be enough to get him a spot or at the very least a practice squad invitation with a promise of an elevation during the early weeks. If special teams becomes the deciding factor, he’d likely make the team over Williams, who isn’t a guy the coaching staff seems to trust on coverage teams. Maulet is expected to return at some point in the first half of the season, so it would make sense if he gets one of the two IR with a designation to return spots.
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Safety (5)
In: Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Eddie Jackson, Sanoussi Kane, Beau Brade
Out: Daryl Worley
Hardest cut: Worley
Due to Washington’s ability to play safety, the Ravens could easily get away with keeping just four. This likely will come down to Kane, Brade and Worley battling for one or two spots — and special teams could be the determining factor. The Ravens really like Worley’s physicality on special teams, but he’s a vested vet and they can play the practice squad game with him like they did last year. Kane and Brade have also flashed at different points this summer, and Baltimore would like to keep both around.
Specialists (3)
In: Justin Tucker, Jordan Stout, Nick Moore
Out: Jack Browning
The Ravens had another long snapper in camp for a couple of weeks and they brought in Browning, a kicker and punter, later so they had another leg to share kicking and punting duties. However, no competition materialized here. The Ravens are confident with their three specialists.
(Photo of Damarion Williams, Nate Wiggins and Jalyn Armour-Davis: Greg Fiume / Getty Images)
