After one of the NFL’s longest preseasons, the Ravens have one last week to leave a lasting impression.
The team will return to practice Monday and Tuesday before traveling to Wisconsin ahead of Thursday’s joint practice against the Green Bay Packers. Saturday’s preseason finale at Lambeau Field will be the Ravens’ final audition in front of general manager Eric DeCosta, who has until 4 p.m. Aug. 27 to trim the team’s roster to 53 players. A day later, he can start assembling the Ravens’ 17-man practice squad.
A relatively healthy and productive training camp in Baltimore has robbed the cut-down process of some mystery. The Ravens have close to 50 players who should be considered locks or near locks for the 53-man roster. But every spot at the back end of the depth chart matters. Here’s a position-by-position look at how the team’s roster could come together.
Quarterback
Lock: Lamar Jackson
Near lock: Josh Johnson
Long shots: Devin Leary, Emory Jones
Coach John Harbaugh’s confidence in Johnson hasn’t wavered all camp, and the 38-year-old rewarded his faith with a mistake-free passing performance in Saturday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons (11-for-11, 120 yards and one touchdown). The Ravens will have to remain vigilant at the position, especially if higher-upside options become available in free agency or on the trade market, but Johnson remains the favorite to back up Jackson. Leary’s curious usage against Atlanta — one hurry-up, second-quarter drive and one competitive fourth-quarter drive — seemed designed to tamp down outside interest in him. Overall, the strong-armed sixth-round pick is 9-for-15 for 61 yards in two preseason games and seems destined for a practice squad spot after an inconsistent summer.
Running back
Locks: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell (physically-unable-to-perform list)
Near lock: Rasheen Ali
On the bubble: Owen Wright
Long shots: Chris Collier, John Kelly
Mitchell, who’s not expected to complete his knee rehabilitation until midway through the regular season, won’t count against the Ravens’ roster until he’s activated. Wright has outplayed Ali in camp and the preseason, but general managers are typically reluctant to cut fifth-round picks with Ali’s speed and wiggle. It’s also unclear how much interest other teams would have in claiming Wright if he were released; he played just eight snaps last season, all on special teams, and followed an impressive preseason opener with an unremarkable showing Saturday. Depending on his preseason finale, the Ravens could feel good about keeping the Bethesda native in Baltimore.
Wide receiver
Locks: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Devontez Walker
Near lock: Deonte Harty
On the bubble: Tylan Wallace, Russell Gage, Anthony Miller
Long shots: Keith Kirkwood, Malik Cunningham, Sean Ryan, Dayton Wade, Isaiah Washington
Walker has had a quiet camp — a lingering rib injury hasn’t helped matters — but his roster spot’s not in jeopardy. The Ravens have too much invested in the speedy fourth-round pick to part ways after one preseason. Harty didn’t impress as a kickoff returner Saturday, averaging just 18.5 yards on two opportunities in his preseason debut, but he showed good moves on his 18-yard punt return. His special teams ability and speed should be enough to lock down a job.
Wallace has shown good chemistry with Jackson in camp and can contribute on several special teams units. His closest competition for a roster spot should come from Gage, a proven veteran with limited special teams value who’s barely practiced since signing Aug. 6, and Miller, who’ll need to sustain his strong start in camp. Cunningham’s chances, meanwhile, have faded during a camp marred by shaky hands. Wade leads the Ravens in catches and receiving yards this preseason, but as an undersize receiver, his 2024 potential is somewhat capped.
Tight end/fullback
Locks: Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard
Long shots: Qadir Ismail, Scotty Washington, Riley Sharp, Mike Rigerman
The only real intrigue here, amid Likely’s impressive summer, is how many two- and three-tight-end sets the Ravens will use this season. Ismail hasn’t matched his camp productivity in the Ravens’ two preseason games, but he’s a likely practice squad target. Washington could be back there, too.
Offensive tackle
Locks: Ronnie Stanley, Roger Rosengarten, Patrick Mekari, Josh Jones
Long shots: Julian Pearl, Darrell Simpson
After two encouraging preseason performances, Rosengarten is seemingly in line to start at right tackle in the Ravens’ season opener. Mekari, the unit’s do-everything reserve, played over 180 snaps at both tackle spots last season and could be called upon early if Stanley’s injury issues resurface or if Rosengarten struggles. Jones has played exclusively at left tackle in the preseason but has good experience inside.
Interior offensive line
Locks: Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele
Near lock: Ben Cleveland
On the bubble: Sala Aumavae-Laulu, Nick Samac, Tashawn Manning
Long shots: Corey Bullock, Darrian Dalcourt
Vorhees and Faalele have not exactly eased concerns about the Ravens’ starting line this summer, but they’re the team’s projected Week 1 starters. Cleveland’s solid showing at center — one bad shotgun snap notwithstanding — has likely helped secure a roster spot. It might also cost Samac his chance to take over as Linderbaum’s backup. Aumavae-Laulu projects as a guard but has played most of his snaps at tackle this preseason, making him a tough evaluation. Manning, who spent his rookie season on the practice squad, is a dark horse to make the team. He’s played 36 snaps at left guard this preseason and has graded out decently, according to Pro Football Focus.
Defensive line
Locks: Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, Brent Urban
Long shots: Josh Tupou, C.J. Ravenell, Deadrin Senat, Tramel Walthour
The roster competition upfront all but ended in mid-March, when Urban signed another one-year contract extension. Tupou, who started 16 games over the past three seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, would be a valuable practice squad addition.
Outside linebacker
Locks: Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson, David Ojabo, Adisa Isaac
Long shot: Joe Evans
The Ravens lost their lone on-the-bubble player when Malik Hamm tore his ACL early in camp. Ojabo and Isaac have started to flash in camp and the preseason, but with their injury concerns, DeCosta could look to add to this group.
Inside linebacker
Locks: Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Malik Harrison, Chris Board
On the bubble: Josh Ross
Long shots: Deion Jennings, Yvandy Rigby
Ross’ roster chances could depend on Harrison’s role. If Ravens coaches expect the versatile linebacker to play regularly on the outside this season, keeping just one full-time backup, Board, would be risky. But if Ojabo and Isaac’s growth this summer frees up Harrison to focus more on off-ball duties, Ross could be seen as redundant. As always, special teams expertise is almost a prerequisite for backup inside linebackers.
Cornerback
Locks: Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Nate Wiggins, T.J. Tampa, Arthur Maulet
On the bubble: Damarion “Pepe” Williams, Ka’dar Hollman
Long shots: Trayvon Mullen, Bump Cooper Jr., Christian Matthew
Maulet, who’s recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, could start the season on injured reserve, which would sideline him until at least Week 5. Williams has seemingly outplayed Hollman in the preseason, but with so many other capable slot defenders on the Ravens’ roster, will they need a sixth full-time cornerback? Special teams will also be a consideration; Hollman finished fourth on the Houston Texans last season in snaps there.
A shoulder injury has limited the injury-prone Mullen in camp, but he graded out well in Saturday’s win over Atlanta, according to PFF. Another good game against the Packers could push him to the bubble. Cooper has shined in camp recently and has held up well in preseason action, likely pushing the undrafted rookie to near the top of the Ravens’ practice squad wish list.
Safety
Locks: Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Eddie Jackson, Ar’Darius Washington
On the bubble: Sanoussi Kane, Daryl Worley, Beau Brade
Washington has played himself off the bubble this summer. With Maulet’s injury, he could see important early-season snaps in the slot. Kane has been sidelined since suffering a stinger in the preseason opener; another week of inactivity could decimate his chances of making the 53-man roster. Brade has had more highs than lows in the preseason, but the Ravens should be able to stash the Maryland product on their practice squad. Worley, who played well in reserve duty last season and can contribute on special teams, has had a disappointing camp.
Specialists
Locks: Justin Tucker, Jordan Stout, Nick Moore
Long shot: Nick Browning
Tucker was a Pro Bowl pick last year. Moore was an All-Pro in 2022. With Stout’s booming leg, he could reach that rarefied air this season.
