It’s time for the Baltimore Ravens to trim their roster down to 53 players from the 90 they had throughout training camp. With all the preseason games finished and game film on every player, the coaching staff can begin that process more formally.
It also means we can take a final stab at predicting the Ravens’ 53-man roster with what Baltimore is most likely to do. We’ve already handled the offense, so now it’s time to tackle the defense and special teams.
Defensive line (7): Brandon Williams, Michael Pierce, Willie Henry, Patrick Ricard, Chris Wormley, Zach Sieler, Daylon Mack
The defensive line has been Baltimore’s bread and butter over the last decade. This team knows how to find and develop talent all along the defensive line and with some players eyeing up free agency next year, the Ravens need to keep some depth.
Williams and Pierce are the only actual locks at this point. Henry did himself no favors this offseason but should stick around because of what he’s flashed when healthy before. Though I do have him down as a potential shocking cut if the Ravens are tired of waiting around for him.
Ricard might be the most improved player on Baltimore’s roster this offseason. After being a healthy scratch late last season, Ricard found himself near the ball and several big plays all preseason long. Not only did he secure himself a roster spot but might find his way to the starting lineup for Week 1.
Wormley was awfully quiet this preseason but he was initially penciled in as the starter at defensive end. He played all 16 games last year, ending with 38.7% of the defensive snaps but a move to defensive end in the wake of Brent Urban leaving in free agency should have him in the rotation heavily again this year.
Sieler found his way onto the Ravens’ 53-man roster last year thanks to flashes and while he too was quiet this offseason, I think he’s a player Baltimore wants to keep around in order to further develop in the hopes he takes a Ricard-like leap forward.
The last spot goes to Mack, who I originally didn’t have making the cut. But with Pierce and Henry set to hit free agency at the end of this season, they need to keep him around
Outside linebacker (5): Matthew Judon, Pernell McPhee, Jaylon Ferguson, Tyus Bowser, Tim Williams
Baltimore took the losses of Za’Darius Smith and Terrell Suggs in stride. They signed McPhee, who stepped into the starting role immediately, and added Ferguson in the 2019 NFL draft to Judon to create a few locks.
The Ravens needed Bowser and Williams to step up this offseason and both did. That made the lackluster performance of Shane Ray an easy cut, one of the early cuts Baltimore made Friday.
Inside linebacker (3): Patrick Onwuasor, Kenny Young, Chris Board
Onwuasor, Young and Board were all locks to make this team already. It’s the depth behind them that remains a question mark after the preseason.
Against the Redskins, Otaro Alaka made a serious case for making the Ravens’ 53-man roster. But with a nagging ankle injury that saw Alaka limping around the field Thursday night, he seems to be the perfect case for stashing on IR in order to develop him further.
Inside linebacker is the one spot that could be a target for Baltimore to add a recently cut veteran. They need someone with more experience to be a backup and offer special teams value behind the main three players. But for now, the Ravens will make do with this group and some safeties playing down when needed.
Cornerback (7): Marlon Humphrey, Jimmy Smith, Brandon Carr, Anthony Averett, Cyrus Jones, Bennett Jackson, Tavon Young
Young’s injury makes a mess of the roster. The Ravens have to decide if he can potentially make it back at some point this season and can give him the IR-Return designation. But that means he’d have the make the 53-man roster first before going to IR. That’ll likely cut into which defensive backs they keep eventually.
The starters are pretty obvious though, with Humphrey, Smith and Carr rotating around depending on scheme and matchups. Averett seems to be the main backup at outside corner but can play some inside as well.
As the team’s punt returner and how awful Marquise Brown was at it, Jones earns himself a spot on the Ravens’ 53-man roster. He’ll factor into the slot cornerback role as well.
I give the final spot to Jackson over Maurice Canady because of the versatility Jackson offers. He can play both inside and outside cornerback as well as at safety. Though once Young eventually heads to IR, Canady would be a good candidate to bring back as additional depth.
Safety (5): Earl Thomas, Tony Jefferson, DeShon Elliott, Chuck Clark, Anthony Levine
I just can’t cut any of these guys. Thomas and Jefferson are locks to start but coordinator Don Martindale will have to find a way to get all three backups on the field as well.
Elliott was a heat-seeking missile this offseason, delivering crazy tackles. He’s a player that could have an immediate role this season and create some big turnovers but still has room to develop into so much more. Clark has been a special teams ace for Baltimore but can play both strong and free safety as well.
Levine is effectively a fourth inside linebacker and is yet another special teams ace. He could arguably have the most snaps of this entire group thanks to his versatility.
Special teams (3): Justin Tucker, Sam Koch, Morgan Cox
This is an automatic at this point. The “wolfpack” is arguably the best special teams unit in the NFL and there’s absolutely no reason to mess with that.
