The Baltimore Ravens have finished with their 2019 preseason and now look forward to Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. But first, they have to trim their roster down from 90 to 53 by Saturday’s deadline.
With all the game film we could ask for, it’s time for one final Ravens’ 53-man roster prediction. It’s worth noting there are likely players on another roster right now that will end up with Baltimore by the start of the first game. Whether by trade or grabbing a free agent, no roster is actually set at any point in the season.
Let’s take a look at who I predict will make the cut for the Ravens on offense.
Quarterback (3):
Lamar Jackson, Robert Griffin III, Trace McSorley
Jackson and Griffin are locks on this team. The question has always been if the rookie can do enough to warrant making the Ravens keep three quarterbacks.
I think McSorley eventually heads to the practice squad but Baltimore is going to have to wait for a bit until things settle down and they can sneak him over there. While I believe McSorley has shown good development over this preseason, the Ravens simply need more depth elsewhere than keeping a quarterback who offers little to no special teams value.
Running back (3):
Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill
The top-three spots were already locked in as Ingram, Edwards and Hill didn’t play a snap in the final preseason game. Much like quarterback, the question for the Ravens’ 53-man roster at running back is just how many Baltimore keeps.
With Kenneth Dixon limping off the field against the Redskins, I think any hope of extending his tenure with the Ravens was ended. Even though Dixon came back just a few plays later, it was yet another reminder of his injury history. Considering he doesn’t play any special teams, and can’t handle a full workload and stay healthy at the same time, there’s little reason to keep him on the team.
However, Dixon could be dangled around as trade bait and be kept around until the last second of the deadline. There are two teams that stand out as the most likely destinations for him but I think Dixon can be a starting-caliber running back if he can stay healthy.
Offensive line (8):
Ronnie Stanley, Ben Powers, Matt Skura, Marshal Yanda, Orlando Brown Jr., James Hurst, Bradley Bozeman, Patrick Mekari
With the trade of Jermaine Eluemunor, the offensive line pretty much got settled. Most of the starting lineup had already been established with Stanley, Skura, Yanda and Brown keeping their jobs from last year. Where things get interesting is at left guard and how many depth pieces the Ravens wanted to keep.
Whether he starts Week 1 or not, Powers is going to eventually start this season. Bozeman offers a lot of depth on the interior, being the obvious backup center and potentially even the starter initially at left guard. Hurst can play both tackle and guard, and with his salary cap hit, he’s a lock to make the team regardless.
After Baltimore put Mekari at every spot on the offensive line in the final preseason game, I think he has to make the 53-man roster. Not only is he the most versatile offensive lineman on the team right now, he was in the running for the starting left guard job in training camp. He continues the Ravens’ legacy of keeping at least one UDFA each year.
I thought about keeping Senat but figured Hurst could fill in at tackle in case of injury. And if Baltimore lost both starting tackles, they’re doomed already and Senat isn’t pulling them out of that.
Wide receiver (6):
Willie Snead, Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin, Chris Moore, Seth Roberts, Jaleel Scott
The starting lineup is pretty much set and was fairly obvious against Washington on Thursday. Snead, Boykin, Moore and Roberts didn’t play at all and Brown only attempted to return two punts before being pulled from the game. While there’s a case to be made for keeping just five wide receivers this year, I don’t think that’s nearly enough depth.
Plus, Scott balled out this preseason and deserves to make the Ravens’ 53-man roster. He led the team in all receiving stats, catching 11 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He snags the final spot on the wide receiver depth chart as a developmental prospect with some red-zone ability.
Tight End (3):
Nick Boyle, Mark Andrews, Hayden Hurst
The tight end depth chart was set after the 2018 NFL draft. Both Andrews and Hurst are clearly the future of the position for Baltimore and the Ravens signed Boyle to a three-year extension this offseason. With depth needed elsewhere and all the roles at tight end filled by these three, it’s a matter of if Cole Herdman or Charles Scarff can earn a spot on the practice squad, not the Ravens’ 53-man roster.
