The Baltimore Ravens officially start their full-team training camp this week. The rookies have already reported and the veterans are set to appear on Wednesday. With the 91-man roster pretty well set for Baltimore and training camp ready to begin, it’s time to take a harder and closer look at what the Ravens have going on. That means 53-man roster predictions!
Not only am I doing a prediction for the 53-man roster, but I’m also predicting the depth chart. I’m going to trim down the roster as the players stand right now and put them into where they currently sit on the depth chart if it were to be made today.
Of course, injuries will happen. While that might not make this the most accurate prediction, it’s a good identifier of where the team is at right now. It’s a good opportunity to pick up on some positions where things aren’t set quite yet and a few players that I think will surprise fans over the next two months before the regular season begins.
Let’s kick it all off with the leader of the team and the guy Baltimore is building off of: the quarterback.
Quarterback (2):
Lamar Jackson, Robert Griffin III
With Joe Flacco traded to the Denver Broncos, the top two spots are pretty obvious. Jackson is the franchise quarterback and earns top billing. But Griffin was re-signed this offseason specifically because of how he performed last year and how he’ll fit into coordinator Greg Roman’s scheme.
The big question mark is Trace McSorley, the rookie sixth-round pick. He’s not going to make the team solely as a quarterback, at least not in my book. But Baltimore seems to have big plans for McSorley, looking to test him out on defense and special teams. With some holes at linebacker and punt returner, McSorley could find his way on the 53-man roster if others don’t step into those roles and the Ravens don’t fill them with another free agent signing.
Running back (3):
Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill
While Edwards holds the top spot right now, I don’t think that last for very long. Baltimore didn’t sign Ingram to have him ride the bench. He’s the most polished and experienced back on the roster and the most versatile as well.
Ingram can not only bust through the center of the line with power, he’s adept as a receiver out of the backfield too. In spite of turning 30 this season, Ingram’s speed around the edges is dangerous if underestimated and he can be tough to take on in the flat. With Ingram able to fill all the roles at running back, he’s likely going to be the guy getting the most touches overall even if he isn’t necessarily No. 1 on the depth chart come Week 1.
Edwards will certainly deserve his touches too. He played well all of last season and will be able to rotate in with Ingram to keep the elder back fresh all season. We could also see a dual-back offense with Ingram and Edwards on the field at the same time to further create chaos in the backfield.
The final spot will be one of the Ravens’ biggest competitions in training camp. It’ll likely come down to Hill and Kenneth Dixon, but I wouldn’t count out someone like De’Lance Turner swooping in with a big preseason to warrant more consideration either. However, Baltimore just drafted Hill in the fourth round, which gives him a leg up over everyone else, making it his roster spot to lose.
I think Hill is the perfect accompaniment to Ingram and Edwards as a pure speed back. Teamed up with Jackson on a speed package with Brown at wide receiver will haunt defensive coordinators trying to cover all of them at once. That alone is just too tempting to keep over Dixon, who has been often injured in his career.
Offensive line (8):
Ronnie Stanley, James Hurst, Matt Skura, Marshal Yanda, Orlando Brown Jr., Bradley Bozeman, Ben Powers, Jermaine Eluemunor
The Ravens have guys inked in at left tackle, right guard and right tackle. It’s the center of the offensive line that is up for grabs. Both left guard and center will have competitions to figure out who starts and it’s likely where players will ensure they make the 53-man roster as well.
Baltimore loves continuity and without any proven options at left guard or center, I’m assuming the Ravens keep with what they had last season. That means Hurst and Skura will once again getting the starting nods if healthy.
Behind the starters is versatility. Baltimore has tended to lean towards keeping offensive linemen who can play multiple positions, which is precisely what the rest of this group can do. Bozeman can play both guard and center, doing so for a bit at the tail end of last season. Eluemunor is typically a tackle but saw some time at guard during OTAs and played well, according to coach John Harbaugh.
Powers is really the only guy that does just one thing. But as a fifth-round pick, he’s ultimately being groomed to take over at left guard in the next year or so. That gives him a pass for this season as they look to continue his development towards that role.
Wide receiver (7):
Marquise Brown, Willie Snead, Miles Boykin, Jordan Lasley, Jaleel Scott, Chris Moore, Michael Floyd
We start things off with the first-round pick himself: Marquise Brown. While I have Brown on the 53-man roster, I believe he’s a candidate to miss a few games while Baltimore lets him get healthy. They know how to handle a Lisfranc injury and it usually includes plenty of rest to let things heal. Baltimore doesn’t seem to be in a rush to get Brown back into the lineup and risk further injury, putting him on the NFI list to start training camp.
I’m also not entirely sold on both Lasley and Scott making the team. Neither was active for a single game last season and though they’ve made some plays during OTAs, they really need to outshine the rest of the young talent on the 91-man roster to make the cut. With guys like Jaylen Smith and Seth Roberts nipping at their heals, don’t be shocked if one or both players don’t make the final roster.
I think Snead and Moore are locks to make the team given their play last year. Snead was a go-to receiver last year and does an outstanding job playing the middle of the field. Moore has deep speed, which could help the team be more cautious with Brown’s return, while also being a solid kick returner.
I think Boykin is a lock as well, simply because he was a third-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft. He’s still pretty raw but his physical attributes and draft status buys him a little time to develop on the 53-man roster.
Tight end (3):
Nick Boyle, Mark Andrews, Hayden Hurst
While I have the depth chart sorted out this way, this is one of the few positions where it ultimately doesn’t mean a single thing. The Ravens find themselves with an abundance of talent at tight end and all in different things and all three will find time on the field.
I put Boyle at the top of the depth chart because he’s the best blocker of the group and one of the best blocking tight ends in the league. Since Baltimore is going to be a run-heavy offense this year, having a guy like Boyle on the field most of the time is a pretty good idea.
On the flip side is Andrews, who is effectively a wide receiver. In fact, Andrews spent most of his time playing as a slot receiver last year and he made good of his rookie campaign. But for as good of a receiving option as Andrews is, he’s a pretty awful blocker.
Hurst, while technically third on the depth chart, might actually end up with the most snaps by the end of the year. Now that he’s healthy and has a chip on his shoulder, Hurst is the most versatile player at tight end. He’s a sure-handed receiver that can create mismatches with his size and speed. But he’s also a pretty solid blocker as well. I believe that versatility will eventually see Hurst on the field the most often in order to not tip plays off to the defense while not having any glaring weaknesses to be taken advantage of.
Ravens offensive depth chart:
| Position | No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 |
| QB | Lamar Jackson | Robert Griffin III | ||
| RB | Mark Ingram | Gus Edwards | Justice Hill | |
| LT | Ronnie Stanley | Jermaine Eluemunor | ||
| LG | James Hurst | Ben Powers | Bradley Bozeman | Jermaine Eluemunor |
| C | Matt Skura | Bradley Bozeman | ||
| RG | Marshal Yanda | Ben Powers | ||
| RT | Orlando Brown Jr. | James Hurst | Jermaine Eluemunor | |
| WR 1 | Marquise Brown | Chris Moore | Jordan Lasley | |
| TE | Nick Boyle | Mark Andrews | Hayden Hurst | |
| WR 2 | Willie Snead | Michael Floyd | Miles Boykin | Jaleel Scott |
