The Baltimore Ravens opened up training camp on Wednesday as the rookies reported. The rest of the team will report on July 24 as the Ravens look to figure out their 53-man roster and prepare for the regular season.
With the trim down to 53 players, the coaching staff and general manager Eric DeCosta will have to figure out which players are too important to let go and which cuts can be made. For quite a few of the players, they’re on what’s known as the “roster bubble.” Those players can really help or hurt their chances depending on how they practice in training camp and how they play in the preseason.
Let’s take a look at three Ravens players who are on the roster bubble heading into training camp.
RB Kenneth Dixon
Kenneth Dixon was considered on one of the steals of the 2016 draft when the Ravens selected him in the fourth round. A hybrid back, Dixon is a power runner with good speed that can bounce to the outside if needed and break tackles.
In three seasons in the NFL, Dixon has rushed for 715 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards-per-carry. That type of talent and production typically warrants a roster spot.
When Dixon is on the field he has proven to be effective. The problem for Dixon is he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Dixon has been on injured reserve twice in three years — in 2017 and 2018. He’s also been suspended twice in 2017 for violating the league’s substance abuse and performance-enhancing drug policies. In total, Dixon has been active for just 19 games over three seasons.
The Ravens are four deep at running back right now with the selection of Justice Hill in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft and the free-agent acquisition of Mark Ingram this offseason. Baltimore also has Gus Edwards penciled in as their starter right now. With likely only three roster spots available, Dixon is going to have to beat someone out for a job.
Dixon has been a valuable piece to the Ravens offense when he’s healthy. However, if Dixon shows that his fumbling issues aren’t behind him or he goes down with another injury, his days in Baltimore might be numbered.
CB Maurice Canady
Canady is one of the latest examples of the Ravens finding a diamond in the rough. Baltimore selected Canady in the sixth round in the 2016 NFL draft, and he’s been a productive depth player ever since. He has been a good special teams player while also contributing as a role player on defense to the tune of 29 total tackles.
Canady primarily plays in the slot, where newly extended Tavon Young plays. With Young locked into the starting slot cornerback job and players like Jimmy Smith, Brandon Carr and Marlon Humphrey occupying the outside, Canady is ultimately fighting for a position further down the depth chart. Which is sort of a problem in reality. Depth is needed but the Ravens have easily one of the deepest secondaries in the league, brimming with young talent. There’s only so much roster space and Baltimore could choose to make room for another player with a higher upside.
The biggest knock on Canady has been his health, though. He’s been placed on injured reserve twice in three seasons and has been active in just 19 games. While he’s a depth player, having someone who the team knows will be available is important. If there’s a choice between Canady and another cornerback that has played just as well but has been healthier, the Ravens could have the decision made for them.
Canady is a good player who might fall victim to a numbers game.
CB Cyrus Jones
In a pick that might surprise many Ravens fans, Jones could be on the way out. The local product — who went to high school at Gilman — burst onto the scene last season as a punt returner, running back 18 punts last year for 259 yards and one touchdown while averaging 14.4 yards per return. He provided stability at the punt returner position at a time where the Ravens were cycling through player after player, failing to find a playmaker.
With the impact he had last year, many could be viewing Jones as a lock to make the team. However, as mentioned with Canady, Baltimore a surplus of cornerbacks. In total, nine cornerbacks have a real shot of making the Ravens’ 53-man roster with virtually no chance of the team actually keeping that many.
Whether Jones makes the team comes down to whether Baltimore values his punt-return ability. If the team can find another solid option to return punts such as Willie Snead or even Trace McSorley, Jones could be on the way out. However, if the Ravens value consistent production at punt returner and feel that Jones’ value can’t be replicated, he should make the roster regardless of what position he plays.
WR Michael Floyd
Floyd joined the Ravens this offseason and could be eyeing up one of his last chances to get his career back on track. He has the skills Baltimore really needs in an outside receiver. He’s got experience and is sure-handed. But the Ravens have a deep group of young talent at wide receiver and Floyd’s roster spot is far from guaranteed.
Floyd will have to show up in practice and in preseason games in order to secure a roster spot. And he’s going to have to be a leader to the rest of the players, showing them what to do and becoming an on-field coach for the wide receiver corps.
If he can do those things, he could make the cut. But he’ll likely be riding that roster bubble until the final 53-man roster is set.
OLB Tim Williams
Fans might not want to hear this since Williams is a fan favorite. But between Williams and Bowser, I think Williams is the one more firmly on the roster bubble. While Bowser has been active for nearly every game over the last two years, Williams has been a healthy scratch quite a bit.
If Williams can step up in training camp and consistently generate a pass rush, he should get a pass. But with two new veterans in Pernell McPhee and Shane Ray joining the depth chart alongside rookie Jaylon Ferguson, Williams is going to have competition for his roster spot. Just because it’s the weakest unit on Baltimore’s roster doesn’t mean anyone’s safe.
I doubt the Ravens would outright cut Williams but as we’ve seen in previous years, finding a trade partner is an option where Baltimore can regain some of the draft equity sunk into him.
FB/DT Patrick Ricard
As one of the few players in the league playing on both offense and defense, Ricard would seem like a lock to many. But the Ravens have been doing quite a lot both on offense and defense and Ricard’s dual role isn’t as secure as previous years.
The defensive line is once again full of young talent trying to make the team and get on the field. It’s a blessing to have that level of quality depth but it means Ricard is going to have to prove he’s worth keeping as a defensive lineman.
On offense, the Ravens have used tight ends Nick Boyle and Hayden Hurst in the backfield in a similar role. With a new offense under coordinator Greg Roman, the fullback role might also be further diminished as the team might look to spread defenses out or create more dynamic mismatches utilizing their speed players. While Ricard makes a solid fullback, he’s not the only one on the roster.
Ricard is going to have to step up his game on defense to warrant a roster spot. Considering he was a healthy scratch for the final five regular-season games last year, he was never a lock to make this roster this year.
