ExtremeRavens Posted April 29 Posted April 29 With the draft behind them and the signing already of several undrafted free agents, the Ravens will next turn their attention to rookie minicamp (Saturday through Tuesday), the NFL schedule release (May 14), followed by voluntary organized team activities (May 27-29, June 3, June 5-6, June 9-12) and then mandatory minicamp (June 17-19) before players are dismissed until the start of training camp in late July. There’s a long way to go until Baltimore fills out its 53-man roster to start the season, but the truth is much of it has already begun to take shape, especially with few starting jobs expected to be open. That’s the reality of a Super Bowl-caliber roster. It’s a point that was further emphasized when general manager Eric DeCosta acknowledged that probably not all 11 draft picks would make the team. With that in mind, here’s a way-too-early look at the way the depth chart could shape up for now: (* denotes 2025 rookie) Quarterbacks: Lamar Jackson, Cooper Rush, Devin Leary Rush gives the Ravens the best backup quarterback they’ve had in a long time after he spent seven years with the Dallas Cowboys, who were 9-5 with him as a starter in games across three seasons. Running backs: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, Rasheen Ali Henry is in the final year of his two-year contract, has expressed interest in retiring in Baltimore, and the Ravens have likewise said they’d like to get a contract extension worked out after he finished second in the league in rushing last season. Fullback: Patrick Ricard The versatile sledgehammer of the Ravens’ offense returned on a one-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $2.87 million. Wide receivers: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Tylan Wallace, Devontez Walker, Anthony Miller, Keith Kirkwood, LaJohntay Wester*, Dayton Wade, Malik Cunningham The free-agent addition of Hopkins gives the Ravens much-needed quality depth. Wester, the sixth-round rookie out of Colorado, is small but a speedster who could push Wallace for the punt return job. Tight end: Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard, Zaire Mitchell-Paden Andrews was likely never getting traded, barring a desperate offer, a truth that became solidified when general manager Eric DeCosta finally and definitively said after Day 2 of the draft that he expects him to be on the team next season. Left tackle: Ronnie Stanley, Carson Vinson* The importance of re-signing Stanley before he had a chance to hit the free-agent market is even more glaring now. The Ravens likely would have significantly altered their draft plan if they hadn’t, though there are still depth concerns here with Vinson, a fifth-round pick out of Alabama A&M, dubbed a project. Left guard: Andrew Vorhees, Garrett Dellinger*, Corey Bullock Vorhees was the starter last season before suffering an ankle injury, being replaced by Patrick Mekari and never getting his job back. With Mekari signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Ravens not drafting a true guard until Dellinger in the seventh round, his path to returning to a starting role was made that much easier. Center: Tyler Linderbaum, Nick Samac, Darrian Dalcourt The thing that will be worth watching here is whether the Ravens exercise the fifth-year option for Linderbaum, sign him to an extension, or wait until next offseason then use a franchise tag, which they could later pull if they work out an extension. Whatever happens, he’ll be their center for a while, though with some injury concerns cropping up last season, the Ravens will need a dependable backup. Right guard: Daniel Faalele, Ben Cleveland Like Vorhees, Faalele figures to have little in the way of competition from the rookie class for the starting right guard job. Re-signing Cleveland at a minimum after he was arrested on suspicion of DUI this offseason at least provides some familiar depth. Emery Jones Jr. talks at the NFL scouting combine in February. The draft pick out of LSU could be a swing tackle or move to guard for the Ravens. (George Walker IV/AP) Right tackle: Roger Rosengarten, Emery Jones Jr.* Rosengarten is firmly entrenched as the starter after a solid rookie season. Baltimore hopes that Jones, a third-round rookie out of LSU, could be its next version of Mekari as a swing tackle who can also possibly play guard. Defensive line: Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, Aeneas Peebles*, CJ Ravenelle, Adedayo Odeleye, C.J. Okoye The one thing DeCosta acknowledged the Ravens did not get in the draft was a true wide-body, run-stuffing defensive tackle. Peebles, a sixth-round pick out of Virginia Tech, is an interesting player, though, as a tackle who’s on the smaller side for the position but is quick and explosive and plays with a high motor. Inside linebacker: Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan*, Jake Hummel, William Kwenkeu Harbaugh said he expects Simpson to start alongside Smith, but he’ll face competition from Buchanan, a fourth-round pick out of California and an excellent tackler. Expect Buchanan and Hummel, who signed with the Ravens this offseason, to be special teams regulars. Former Marshall edge rusher Mike Green, shown running through drills during Senior Bowl practices, is expected to compete for a starting spot at outside linebacker with the Ravens. (Butch Dill/AP) Outside linebacker: Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Mike Green*, Tavius Robinson, Adisa Isaac, David Ojabo, Malik Hamm Green comes with concerns over two previous sexual assault accusations, though the Ravens said they are comfortable with their background work on him and Green has denied the accusations. The second-round pick out of Marshall saw his stock plummet from a possible top-10 pick because of off-field concerns, but on the field there’s little question about his talent. He was the Football Bowl Subdivision leader in sacks (17) last season and projects to be an excellent pass rusher and strong run defender at the NFL level, something Baltimore desperately needed. Cornerback: Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, T.J. Tampa, Chidobe Awuzie, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Bilhal Kone*, Robert Longerbeam* The Ravens are expecting Tampa, who is entering his second year, to be a meaningful contributor. The hope is that between him and veteran free-agent Awuzie, they will find an outside corner opposite Wiggins, with Humphrey, an All-Pro in the slot last year, continuing to play a good bit inside again. Kone and Longerbeam have a chance to be special teamers while they develop. Safety: Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks*, Ar’Darius Washington, Sanoussi Kane, Beau Brade Starks was a home-run first-round pick by all accounts and is a player who the Ravens hope will be a smaller version of Hamilton — an immensely talented performer with a high football IQ who can play all over the field. His addition also means that Baltimore can utilize Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage this season after he had to play deeper more often in 2024 to help cover up issues on the back end. Tyler Loop, middle, kicks a field goal while at Arizona last season. (Tyler Tate/AP) Kicker: Justin Tucker, Tyler Loop* It’s likely a matter of when the Ravens will cut ties with Tucker after drafting Loop. The NFL investigation into the more than a dozen sexual misconduct allegations against Tucker is still ongoing, and it’s likely he remains a Raven until that wraps up. Long snapper: Nick Moore Moore returns for his fifth season in Baltimore, though it could be worth watching how he and Loop mesh as a new battery. Punter: Jordan Stout Stout is in the final year of his rookie contract and has been a mostly solid performer for the Ravens. Kick returner: Keaton Mitchell, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali It’ll be interesting to see how Mitchell looks in his second season since a torn ACL in December 2023. Usually, backs returning from such injuries bounce back in their second year, and that could be a boost to the offense as well as on special teams. Punt returner: Wallace, Wester Wallace lost the job last year and he’ll get another crack at it this year. But expect Wester, who led the American Athletic Conference in punt return yards (278) and yards per return (19.9) in 2023 when he was at Florida Atlantic and had two career punt returns for a touchdown, including last season at Colorado, to get a look as well. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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