The final preseason game is over and cutdown day looming. In this final roster prediction, the Ravens stick with their typical 25 offensive, 25 defensive, and 3 specialist model they stubbornly stick to year-in and year-out. That has consequences up and down the roster, which we will get into in this full breakdown.
Quarterbacks (2):
Lamar Jackson, Cooper Rush
Simple stuff here. Lamar Jackson is the perennial MVP candidate and Cooper Rush is the newly paid backup. Rush had his cleanest game in Week 3 and looks to be
an easy fit who can let Derrick Henry and the weapons win games with a strong defense if the worst happens. Devin Leary is the likely practice squad quarterback.
Running Back (4):
Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, Rasheen Ali
The top three were never in question. But Rasheen Ali seems to have forced himself onto the roster with strong performances in every preseason game. Harbaugh noted after the Commanders game how Ali is a starter on every single special teams unit. Keeping four running backs prevents the Ravens from carrying 10 offensive linemen in the 25/25/3 model and prevents extra players on defense from making the roster as well. Ali and Keaton Mitchell will be the likely kick return duo as well.
Tight Ends/Fullback (4):
Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Pat Ricard
The only question in this room is where Isaiah Likely lands. Likely’s status is unknown for week one, but there is still hope he can play against Buffalo. That leads us to believe that Likely is not a real IR candidate. But if Likely’s status following week one remains in question, there is a chance the Ravens could start Likely on the IR, which would force him to miss the first four weeks of the season. If Likely does land on the IR, it could open up an extra spot for an offensive lineman or another defensive piece.
Wide Receiver (6):
Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Tylan Wallace, Devontez Walker, LaJohntay Wester
This is potentially the best wide receiver room the Ravens have ever had in their franchise. The top three are easy locks and will take most of the load for the season. The real question coming in was who could get game-day activations, assuming one would have to be a healthy scratch this season. But Walker had maybe the best summer of all the wideouts and looks to be a special teams player, and Wester has seemingly won the punt returner job. All six of these receivers will be active on game day.
Offensive Line (9):
Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Joseph Noteboom, Ben Cleveland, Corey Bullock, Carson Vinson
Left guard was one of the two starting positions that might have been truly up for grabs this season. Andrew Vorhees did the same thing he did last year and came in and won it. The rest of the line stays the same. Noteboom is the top tackle backup, Cleveland the top guard backup for either side, and Bullock the center backup. Vinson will be a healthy scratch most of this year as a developmental tackle, looking to earn a role next year and be the eventual successor to Stanley.
If Ali somehow doesn’t make the roster after all of the talk and/or Likely ends up on the IR, Darian Dalcourt or Garrett Dellinger are the candidates for the 10th linemen. Nick Samac fell behind them, being the last to enter the game against Washington. All three are practice squad candidates
Defensive Line (5):
Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, Aeneas Peebles, John Jenkins
The early summer defensive line remains the same in the final cut. Brent Urban will be either a handshake deal afterwards or join the practice squad and get elevated for gamedays. CJ Okoye was a fun preseason candidate and could still make it on the 53-man with some nifty maneuvers. But for now, there’s simply not enough to indicate the Ravens will take Okoye as the top backup nose tackle over veteran John Jenkins for now.
Outside Linebackers (5):
Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Mike Green, Tavius Robinson, David Ojabo
What was going to be one of the hardest roster decisions becomes an easy choice. Adissa Isaac will start the year on IR with a dislocated elbow that requires surgery. He won’t be back until midseason at the earliest, opening up a spot for Ojabo, who was battling for his career on the last year of his contract.
Inside Linebacker (4):
Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan, Jake Hummel
It seems odd, but the roster crunch just seems too deep for the Ravens to fit the UDFA linebacker Jay Higgins IV. The Ravens likely value Hummel’s special team ability too much to cut him for Higgins. There is a chance they could do it, stick Hummel on the practice squad to keep Higgins, but after last year’s special team struggles, I’m just not sure I’ve heard enough to indicate that Hummel’s job is at stake. That would require five linebackers for Higgins to make it, and with the secondary choices and Ali making the team, that kicks Higgins off. Hopefully, he can sneak onto the practice squad and maybe earn snaps later in the year or for future seasons.
Simpson won the only other starter job seemingly up for grabs outside of left guard and reearned his spot next to Smith after winning it last year, then giving way to other linebackers.
Cornerback (7):
Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, Jalyn Armour-Davis, T.J. Tampa, Keyon Martin
This is the most loaded cornerback room in the NFL. Four true starting cornerbacks, including three that could be a team’s top option on most squads. Armour-Davis and Tampa have shown massive improvement in the preseason and look fully capable of stepping in. And what can’t you say about the UDFA Martin? He absolutely forced his way on the roster this summer, balling out in the preseason. The kid was a big-play walking, with sacks, interceptions and passes defensed everywhere. How big his role this year is underdetermined, but he made one of the most stacked secondaries in the NFL as a UDFA.
Safety (4):
Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Sanoussi Kane, Reuben Lowery III
Hamilton and Starks could be the most talented safety duo in the NFL, paired with the corners listed above, to make the top secondary in the NFL. Kane battled with Beau Brade, starting early in the spring, and won the third safety role, which comes with a snap count in this defense. But now Brade has seemingly lost his roster spot to UDFA Lowery. Lowery has been on roster watch since the start, making plays at rookie minicamp and continuing to do so every step of the way. The top UDFA all summer long, Lowery has played every position in the secondary this summer and now looks to be the top free safety backup. That makes two UDFAs making this Super Bowl roster after being unsure if any could. Brade could come back on the practice squad.
Specialists (3):
Tyler Loops, Jordan Stout, Nick Moore
Tyler Loop had maybe one of the hardest jobs on the team, coming in to replace arguably the greatest kicker in NFL history, Justin Tucker. He not only got the place kicker job, but won it emphatically, kicking 9-11 in the preseason games, including five from beyond 50 yards and a 61-yarder. He’ll make some mistakes this year, but he’s earned the job.
