The Baltimore Ravens are opening the gates of the Under Armour Performance Center today for the official full-team start of training camp. The veterans are set to report today and the Ravens are going to begin the laborious process of figuring out their 53-man roster.
That means it’s time for us to do the same. With training camp starting today, I went through the 91-man roster to figure out who I’d keep. Not only am I predicting the 53-man roster, but I’m also breaking down the depth chart as well. While injuries and unplanned things will eventually happen, I’m making decisions as if they were due today.
I’ve already done the offensive depth chart and portion of the 53-man roster, so visit that to check out the complete team.
Defensive line (6):
Brandon Williams, Michael Pierce, Willie Henry, Chris Wormley, Zach Sieler, Gerald Willis, Daylon Mack
The defensive line is one of the deeper groups Baltimore has. Already having a wealth of talent there, the Ravens grabbed two more players in fifth-round pick Daylon Mack and undrafted free agent Gerald Willis. That puts the pressure on a few players to make splashes at training camp.
But as I see it, the top of the depth chart is pretty well figured out. Williams, Pierce and Henry are all locks to make the team. As the only listed defensive end on the roster, Wormley is all but locked in as well though it’s his job to lose in my opinion.
I have Sieler making the cut over Patrick Ricard. Though Ricard plays fullback as well, Baltimore has a few players who can fill that role and really needs someone who shines on the defensive line primarily. Sieler gave plenty of flashes last year and I expect him to take the next step this year.
I think both Mack and Willis make the cut as big guys in the middle who can hopefully either swallow up double teams or can knife through to generate a little quarterback pressure. I see them as the eventual heirs to guys like Henry and Pierce.
Inside linebacker (4):
Patrick Onwuasor, Kenny Young, Chris Board, Anthony Levine Sr.
Inside linebacker might be the thinnest portion of Baltimore’s roster. Losing C.J. Mosley definitely hurts there, even if the Ravens believe this combination can make up for his production. So I had to be a little creative.
I just straight-up moved Levine from strong safety — his listed position — and put him at inside linebacker. That’s where he actually lines up most often and it’s going to be his biggest role once again in 2019. While he’ll still be that hybrid safety/linebacker, for the sake of the depth chart, I put him at linebacker.
Onwuasor, Board and Young are all locks to make the team. But I didn’t really feel terribly comfortable with anyone else that was on the roster making the cut. With Levine coming down to add some functional depth, I think this is a position the Ravens can limp along at for the time being. But don’t be terribly shocked if they add an experienced inside linebacker to bolster the unit sometime during training camp.
Outside linebacker (5):
Matthew Judon, Jaylon Ferguson, Tyus Bowser, Shane Ray, Pernell McPhee
Judon leads the top of this unit. Much like inside linebacker, outside linebacker took a big hit in free agency with the losses of Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith. But that gives us a little more flexibility now.
Judon and Ferguson are the two locks here, while veryone else is up in the air. But I think both McPhee and Ray were brought in because they have experience and this group can really use that. If they step up their games, especially if Ray can play like his first-round draft status, it’s icing on the cake for Baltimore.
Out of Tim Williams and Bowser, I had to lean towards Bowser for the final spot. Williams has been a healthy scratch quite a lot over the last two years. While I think he has the talent to become a really good situational pass rusher, he hasn’t figured it out yet and doesn’t offer much else. Bowser has flashed a bit over the last two years, he’s a second-round pick and he has the physical traits to be thrown into coverage if needed. That gives him the final roster spot in my mind.
Cornerback (7):
Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Carr, Jimmy Smith, Tavon Young, Anthony Averett, Iman Lewis-Marshall, Terrell Bonds
Humphrey, Carr, Smith and Young are all going to be starters in reality, even if there are only two actual spots on the depth chart for them. In a pass-happy league, the Ravens will figure out a way to get most, if not all of them, on the field at the same time. That leaves three more spots open on my depth chart.
Averett steadily got better as a rookie and I think he has the physical attributes to take a Humphrey-like jump in his second year. I also think Averett is the obvious replacement for Smith next year when the elder cornerback hits free agency.
Lewis-Marshall was a fourth-round draft pick and I think Baltimore likes him as a long-term option they can develop quietly for a year or two first. That means he wouldn’t make it to the practice squad and earns himself a roster spot accordingly.
The final spot goes to Bonds. I thought about Justin Bethel for his special team prowess or Canady for his experience with the team. But Canady has been injured too frequently and Bethel doesn’t really offer a lot in the way of defensive play. Bonds should be able to fill both roles reasonably well and has already made a name for himself with some big plays at OTAs. I think he continues to make big plays and forces himself on the roster because of it.
Safety (4):
Earl Thomas, Tony Jefferson, Chuck Clark, DeShon Elliott
No surprises here. Thomas and Jefferson are at the top of this depth chart but Clark and Elliott will find themselves on the field too.
Clark is a great all-around safety that can fill in in a pinch at either strong safety or free safety. He also plays quite a lot on special teams, which is a huge saving grace for him.
Elliott is a wrecking ball that plays with aggression and agility. He made some impressive plays at OTAs and minicamp after missing his rookie season with a broken arm. I fully expect we’ll continue to hear his name at training camp as he finds himself always near the football. Elliott should also offer a lot of special teams value, bumping up his stock there too.
Special teams (3):
Justin Tucker, Sam Koch, Morgan Cox
You’ve made it this far and there are once again absolutely no surprises. The “wolf pack” sticks together for another year. Tucker is the best kicker in the league and there’s a serious argument for Koch being the best punter in the game. Cox is the consistent long snapper both need to be at their best.
Baltimore Ravens defensive depth chart:
| Position | No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 |
| DT | Willie Henry | Gerald Willis | ||
| NT | Brandon Williams | Michael Pierce | Daylon Mack | |
| DE | Chris Wormley | Zach Sieler | ||
| RUSH | Matthew Judon | Jaylon Ferguson | ||
| MLB | Patrick Onwuasor | Chris Board | ||
| WLB | Kenny Young | Anthony Levine | ||
| SAM | Shane Ray | Tyus Bowser | Pernell McPhee | |
| LCB | Brandon Carr | Jimmy Smith | Anthony Averett | |
| SS | Tony Jefferson | DeShon Elliott | Anthony Levine | |
| FS | Earl Thomas | Chuck Clark | ||
| RCB | Marlon Humphrey | Tavon Young | Iman Lewis-Marshall | Terrell Bonds |
