It’s the final week of the offseason. On Aug. 31, the Baltimore Ravens and the rest of the NFL have to turn in their final 53-man rosters. That means a lot of overtime for Baltimore’s front office as they go through game and practice film to judge players on what they’ve done so far, their fit in the scheme and their potential.
While much of the roster has already been locked in, there are a number of players still fighting for the final spots on the Ravens’ 53-man roster. These 12 will look to the final preseason game, against the Washington Redskins, to make their case for making the roster.
RB Kenneth Dixon
I just don’t see a role for Dixon on this offense. The Ravens have the power rushing covered with both Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards. Rookie Justice Hill is a threat to turn every reception into a touchdown, taking that role off the table. But Dixon can make his best case as a depth player who can do both things well when healthy.
He didn’t play at all against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, meaning he has one more shot to stay in the coaching staff’s mind. His biggest value with the team now might be as a trade option.
DE Zach Sieler
Sieler was a bit of a surprise last year, making the 53-man roster thanks to some serious flashes during preseason. He played in just two regular-season games last year, however, and hasn’t made the same splash this preseason. With how well Patrick Ricard has played this offseason, it looks like Sieler is now the odd man out on the defensive line unless he can force his way onto the roster by ensuring he’d never make it through the waiver wire to the practice squad.
CB Maurice Canady
Canady had a golden opportunity to make the Ravens’ 53-man roster with the injury to cornerback Tavon Young. As a fellow slot cornerback, Canady was suddenly thrust into more playing time last week against the Eagles in order to see what he could do, but he played downright terribly.
Canady looked lost and a little slow on a few plays, giving up big receptions in the second half. With other guys offering more value by playing multiple roles on defense, Canady needs to show he can lock down the slot well enough to do just that.
DB Bennett Jackson
Much like Canady, Jackson was given more playing time against Philadelphia to test what he could do with Young down. Jackson also allowed a few big receptions, including a touchdown on the night. Where Jackson separates himself from someone like Canady is by offering more value by playing inside and outside cornerback as well as safety.
Jackson doesn’t need quite the impressive showing to put himself back in the running for a job but he needs to have a really solid night both on defense and special teams.
WR Michael Floyd
Floyd started training camp off a little slow and looked to be on the way out in spite of being something Baltimore desperately needs — an experienced, big-bodied possession receiver on the outside. But with Seth Roberts sidelined with an injury, Floyd stepped up. It culminated with an impressive showing against the Eagles in which he caught three of his four targets for 54 yards and a touchdown.
While Floyd has helped his case quite a bit, he either needs to put himself over Jaleel Scott or force the Ravens to keep an extra wide receiver. That means showing up big in the final preseason game, especially on special teams.
QB Trace McSorley
McSorley might have done just enough to put himself on the 53-man roster. While I still question his usefulness this season as a third quarterback, I think he’s a prospect Baltimore will want to keep around to continue developing. And with a great game against Philadelphia, he put himself on the league’s radar. That means the Ravens likely won’t be able to sneak him to the practice squad.
If McSorley wants to cement his spot on the 53-man roster and be active on game days, he’s going to need to have more versatility than simply being an extra quarterback. That could mean finding a way to make plays on special teams.
DT Gerald Willis
Willis was once thought to be the shoo-in to keep alive Baltimore’s streak of having at least one UDFA on the 53-man roster. But he’s largely been missing from action. He didn’t play at all against the Eagles and barely got any snaps against the Green Bay Packers. That seems telling for a team looking to fill out the depth on their defensive line.
I believe Willis is a great candidate for the Ravens’ practice squad and could make a push to get on the roster. He should get plenty of snaps in the final preseason game to prove himself.
NT Daylon Mack
Mack seems like less of a long shot to make the 53-man roster than Willis. He’s gotten quite a lot more snaps in each preseason game than Willis and has the added benefit of being a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft. But fifth-round picks aren’t given roster spots, as Jordan Lasley can attest to after being cut earlier this offseason.
Mack isn’t going to record crazy stats and isn’t expected to. He needs to eat up space, take on double teams and grow roots in the run game in this final preseason to allow the linebackers to scrape down the line and make plays. If he can’t do that and doesn’t show more potential to develop into that type of player, he won’t make the cut.
LB Nicholas Grigsby
Grigsby was a late free-agent acquisition to a linebacker corps that needed extra depth and someone with starting experience. Because the Ravens signed linebacker Paul Worrilow over the weekend, it seems like Grigsby wasn’t cutting it by himself.
With Worrilow retiring before his first practice with Baltimore, however, Grigsby is given a little reprieve. He needs to play exceptionally well to change the coaching staff’s minds and keep him on the roster.
OLB, Shane Ray
I really wanted Ray to work out. He’s a former first-round pick with a ton of potential. But injuries caused the Denver Broncos to get tired of waiting around for him. Ray has been injured in Baltimore as well and just hasn’t been as dominant as a former first-round pick should be.
Even playing against second and third-string players, Ray finds himself with a half-sack and two quarterback hits over 65 defensive snaps in three games. That’s not the type of production anyone was hoping for when he signed with the Ravens.
Ray can still turn things around — this is a really thin outside linebacker unit that could use depth with starting experience. If he finally gets everything sorted out this Thursday against the Redskins and can notch a few sacks, he could find his way back on the 53-man roster. Anything other than a stellar game will likely result in him being cut.
CB Justin Bethel
Bethel was added this offseason to be a special teams ace. While he’s played quite a bit this preseason on special teams, he hasn’t gotten a lot of time on defense. Considering the need for depth at a number of positions, including cornerback, Bethel needs to do more defensively to secure himself on the roster.
WR Jaleel Scott
Scott is in a weird spot on this roster. As a fourth-round draft pick last year, Scott was given some time to develop. This year, he really needed to step his game up and become a contributor. He’s shown some development this offseason, making a few big plays in practice and having an all-around decent preseason, catching five of his nine targets for 59 yards and a touchdown.
The question is whether he’s shown enough and has been consistent enough to unseat someone else for a roster spot. As we saw with Lasley this offseason, Baltimore’s patience at the position is wearing thin. Another good showing in the final preseason game will help his cause, and a monster performance should cement his roster spot.
