ExtremeRavens Posted yesterday at 09:00 AM Posted yesterday at 09:00 AM The start of the Ravens’ season begins in earnest on Tuesday. That’s when veterans report for training camp, one week after the rookies, with the first full team practice taking place on Wednesday in Owings Mills. Five weeks later, Baltimore’s roster will be trimmed from 91 players to 53, with up to an additional 16 signed to its practice squad (or 17, if one carries an international designation, such as outside linebacker David Ojabo). The difficult reality for many players on the fringe hoping to find their way onto the active roster, however, is that the Ravens simply don’t figure to have many openings with perhaps the best and deepest collection they’ve had in the 31 years of an organization that boasts two Vince Lombardi trophies. Training camp is about preparation, but it’s also often about competition, and simply put, there are few jobs up for grabs. Still, there are opportunities — role players, reserves, they all matter. There will also inevitably be injuries. Already, Baltimore lost safety Ar’Darius Washington to a torn Achilles tendon during offseason workouts, which means someone has to fill his void alongside All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and rookie first-round pick Malaki Starks. With that in mind, here’s a look at how the Ravens’ final roster could end up looking after training camp concludes: Quarterback (2) Lamar Jackson, Cooper Rush For the first time in a while, the Ravens have invested more than just the minimum when it comes to Lamar Jackson’s backup, signing Cooper Rush this offseason to a two-year, $6.2 million deal that’s worth up to $12.2 million. Rush, who will turn 32 in November, is also an upgrade over 39-year-old journeyman and former No. 2 Josh Johnson. The former Central Michigan standout appeared in 38 games (14 starts) for the Dallas Cowboys and last season completed 60.7% of his passes for 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns with five interceptions over 12 games, which included eight starts. That also means that second-year quarterback Devin Leary, who continued to struggle in the spring, is bound — at best — for the practice squad. Running back (3) Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell With Keaton Mitchell appearing to be fully healthy from a brutal torn ACL that he suffered in mid-December 2023, Rasheen Ali, a fourth-round draft pick last year, looks to be the odd man out. Though Ali has kick return ability and showed improvement this spring, the expectation is that Mitchell, with his elite speed, will fill that role along with being more involved in the offense. Baltimore could carry four running backs, but that’s unlikely with needs elsewhere and not enough of a role for Ali. Wide receiver (6) Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Devontez Walker, Tylan Wallace, LaJohntay Wester For a team that has been rightfully maligned when it comes to some of its past wide receiver groups, there is much to like about this room with Zay Flowers coming off a Pro Bowl season, Rashod Bateman healthy and blossoming, veteran DeAndre Hopkins providing elite hands and know-how to get open and 2024 fourth-round pick and speedster Devontez Walker performing considerably better than he did as a rookie. Meanwhile, Tylan Wallace is a special teams ace and excellent blocker with dependable hands, and sixth-round rookie LaJohntay Wester should have the inside track to the punt return job given his speed and shiftiness. Add it all up and Anthony Miller, Dayton Wade, Keith Kirkwood, Malik Cunningham, Jahmal Banks and Xavier Guillory are, at best, probably battling for one spot, if Wester struggles, with the practice squad a more likely destination for some of them. Ravens teammates and coaches are excited about how wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins can fit into their explosive offense. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Tight end/fullback (4) Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are all in the final year of their contracts, so it’s a big year for the group and also probably the last all three will be together. Andrews will turn 30 in September. Likely, 25, is the logical heir apparent. Kolar, 26, has developed as a blocker, has reliable hands and is a likable locker room presence. Patrick Ricard, who was an All-Pro last season, has a lock on the fullback/tight end role. Put another way, Zaire Mitchell-Paden and Sam Pitz are at best practice squad players. Offensive tackle (4) Ronnie Stanley, Roger Rosengarten, Joe Noteboom, Emery Jones Jr. With Ronnie Stanley eschewing a likely more lucrative free-agent deal to stay in Baltimore and Roger Rosengarten coming off a solid rookie season, the Ravens are set with their offensive line bookends. Adding veteran Joe Noteboom and his 35 career starts also gives them the swing tackle they usually covet. After that is where some possible roster gymnastics could be at play. Emery Jones Jr., a rookie third-round pick out of LSU, might not be ready for the start of the season after missing all of the spring with a shoulder injury. If so, that would open the door for another player, such as fifth-round rookie Carson Vinson or possibly second-year tackle and former Maryland product Corey Bullock. Guard (4) Daniel Faalele, Andrew Vorhees, Ben Cleveland, Garrett Dellinger Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele, last year’s starters at left and right guard, respectively, are the front-runners to do so again this year. Ben Cleveland, who is entering his fifth season, provides familiar depth. But Cleveland, who was arrested on suspicion of DUI in the offseason, could be looking at a potential suspension, and that might impact what Baltimore does here, at least initially. Garrett Dellinger, a seventh-round rookie out of LSU, is someone they’re high on, but he also worked some at center this spring. Darrian Dalcourt, who spent his rookie year on the practice squad, could perhaps work his way into the equation, but that seems unlikely. Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum discusses his offseason workout routine during a media session in April. There's no doubt Linderbaum will start for the Ravens this fall, but there are question marks about the team's offensive line depth outside of the starting unit. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Center (2) Tyler Linderbaum, Nick Samac The Ravens declined Tyler Linderbaum’s fifth-year option, but that was a financial move more than anything else as they’d like to work out a long-term extension with the two-time Pro Bowl selection. Nick Samac, meanwhile, enters his second season as the favorite to back up Linderbaum, who has at times dealt with injuries, including to his neck. Samac could also potentially be pushed by Dellinger. However it plays out, the expectation is for the Ravens to have nine or more likely 10 offensive linemen on the roster. Defensive line (5) Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, John Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones figure to gobble up most of the snaps, with Broderick Washington next in line. John Jenkins, who is entering his 13th season after spending the past two with the Las Vegas Raiders, will fill the void of retired Michael Pierce. Aeneas Peebles, a sixth-round pick out of Virginia Tech, is undersized but quick off the line and makes for a potentially intriguing pass rusher. C.J. Ravenell, now in his second year, could also push Peebles for that final interior spot. Outside linebacker (5) Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, Adisa Isaac After three years marked by injuries and a lack of productivity, David Ojabo could get squeezed out. Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson and recently signed second-round pick Mike Green are all locks to make the roster. That leaves the final spot for Ojabo or Adisa Isaac, who played just 78 snaps between defense and special teams as a rookie last year because of injuries, and it figures to be one of the few training camp battles worth watching. Other linebackers — Malik Hamm, Diwun Black and Kaimon Rucker — face longer odds. Ravens linebacker Odafe Oweh, left, celebrates with cornerback Marlon Humphrey after sacking Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud in 2024. The Ravens expect a productive season in 2025 from Oweh, who enters training camp in some of the best physical shape of his professional career. (David J. Phillip/AP) Inside linebacker (4) Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Jake Hummel, Teddye Buchanan Coach John Harbaugh said that he expects Trenton Simpson — who was benched last season — to be the starting weak-side linebacker next to Roquan Smith. Baltimore used a fourth-round pick on Teddye Buchanan, a former high school quarterback who led California in tackles (114) and tackles for loss (12) last year. Simpson is the favorite to start, but Buchanan is one of at least a few rookies worth keeping an eye on this summer. The other linebacker likely to help replace the departed Chris Board-Malik Harrison duo is Jake Hummel, a special teams stalwart who saw an increased role at inside linebacker each of the past two seasons with Los Angeles Rams. Cornerback (7) Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Bilhal Kone Baltimore plays with a plethora of defensive backs, so that should mean plenty of snaps and mix-and-match options with Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, who was one of the best corners in the league down the stretch as a rookie last season, the newly acquired (and oft-injured) two-time All-Pro Jaire Alexander as well as veteran Chidobe Awuzie (another player with a long injury history). The Ravens are also high on second-year fourth-round pick T.J. Tampa, and Jalyn Armour-Davis, who, when healthy, has been a solid contributor. Bilhal Kone, meanwhile, could be battling fellow sixth-round rookie Robert Longerbeam, as well as Reuben Lowery, an intriguing undrafted free agent who always seemed to be around the ball in the spring. Or, Baltimore could add to their cornerback room with another veteran this summer as they have in the past. Safety (4) Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Sanoussi Kane, Beau Brade Washington’s aforementioned injury that will keep him out most, if not all, of the year means that Baltimore could look to add a veteran safety sometime this summer, and there are plenty of options still available. Either way, Kyle Hamilton and first-round pick Malaki Starks figure to be the top two options, followed potentially by Kone or a player still to be added. Baltimore could also look to potentially deploy Armour-Davis or Awuzie at safety. Special teams (3) Tyler Loop, Jordan Stout, Nick Moore For the first time since 2012, the Ravens will have an open kicking competition after parting ways with Justin Tucker, who was also suspended for 10 weeks by the NFL over the sexual misconduct allegations brought against him by more than a dozen massage therapists. Tyler Loop, a sixth-round pick out of Arizona, is the favorite, but undrafted free agent John Hoyland out of Wyoming will have a crack at the job, too. So far, both have had good and bad days. This will also be the most analyzed position battle of training camp. 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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