Projecting who will make the Baltimore Ravens’ initial 53-man roster in 2024.
Four days of training camp have passed and 16 more open practices and three preseason games are on the horizon before any decisions are made. Some sit sturdily on the roster while others are in contention for the final spots.
Here is my initial 53-man roster projection.
Offense (24)
Quarterbacks (2): Lamar Jackson, Josh Johnson
Of course, the reigning league MVP makes the roster. And his backup until further notice is Johnson. The Ravens repeatedly stated Johnson is their backup quarterback after drafting Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary in the sixth-round of the 2024 NFL Draft, though Johnson’s performance in the first four days of camp has left a lot to be desired.
Leary doesn’t make the roster as I project the Ravens intend to waive and re-sign him to their practice squad due to the NFL passing a new rule allowing an emergency game-day quarterback to come from the practice squad.
Running backs (3): Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali
The biggest free agent addition, Henry, will be the Ravens’ top ball-carrier, while being spelled by Hill. Ali, drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft may get some run in certain circumstances but all expectations are Henry to get the lion’s share of carries and Hill to get the scraps.
Keaton Mitchell will be placed on injured reserve to begin the season after suffering a significant knee injury during the 2023 NFL season.
Wide receiver (6): Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace, Deonte Harty, Devontez Walker
The starting trio for the Ravens, Flowers, Bateman, Agholor, all return, along with Wallace. Two offseason additions join them in fourth-round rookie Walker and free agent addition Harty, who is mostly expected to contribute as the team’s primary special teams returner. Wallace cuts his teeth more in special teams than at receiver which gives him a greater leg up than others.
Tight end (4): Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard
This room is arguably the most secure in its status. While Scotty Washington and the other tight ends can look good, none will usurp the top four. Andrews is 100% and all expectations are for Likely and Kolar to be more utilized in two tight end sets in 2024.
Offensive Linemen (10): Ronnie Stanley, Tyler Linderbaum, Patrick Mekari, Andrew Vorhees, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Josh Jones , Nick Samac, Ben Cleveland
The majority of the offensive line spots are already secure as the Ravens return two starters from 2023 and a full stash of depth, too. There is optimism in Vorhees and Faalele to be in starting roles. The best-case scenario would be for rookie Rosengarten to be a plug-and-play right tackle. The Ravens covet Mekari, be it in his “sixth man” role to back up any of the five positions or to earn a starting role, be it guard or tackle. They’re continuing to develop Aumavae-Laulu after drafting him in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. This offseason, they added Jones, who could be the primary backup for Stanley at left tackle, an area Jones has excelled in his NFL career.
The two unknowns likely come down to if the Ravens are done with developing Cleveland and their confidence in Samac to clear waivers after drafting him in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. For now, I have both making the team with Cleveland being No. 53.
Defense (26)
Defensive Linemen (5): Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, Brent Urban
Another room seemingly solved due to all returning from the 2023 season. Headlined by Madubuike and his All-Pro performance last season, the Ravens look for him to continue and either the younger players (Jones, Washington) to continue developing or the veterans (Pierce, Urban) to retain their play for another season.
Outside Linebackers (6): Kyle Van Noy, Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson, Malik Harrison, Malik Hamm
The Ravens lean on their youth and elder statesman Van Noy. While last year the Ravens brought in both Van Noy and Jadeveon Clowney, this season they’re handing the reins to Oweh, Ojabo, Robinson and Hamm.
As for rookie third-rounder Adisa Isaac, there’s a chance he starts the season on the Non-Football injury list. Isaac has been dealing with a hamstring injury he suffered in the spring and has yet to practice. If/When he does, then my projection may change but I suspect the Ravens keep him on NFI, meaning he won’t count toward the 53 and can be activated after four games.
Inside Linebackers (3): Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Chris Board
The Ravens plug in Simpson where Patrick Queen stood beside Smith in 2023. Board becomes the backup linebacker who primarily is used in special teams, a la Del’Shawn Phillips last season. Josh Ross, a player coaches who’s developed for the past two seasons in Baltimore is the odd-man-out. Parting ways with Board costs the cap-strapped Ravens $1.15 million, while releasing Ross saves them $915k.
Cornerbacks (6): Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Arthur Maulet, Nate Wiggins, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Trayvon Mullen
The starting trio are set with outside cornerbacks Humphrey and Stephens with Maulet locking down the nickel role. They develop and give snaps to the young first-round rookie Wiggins and if health remains a non-factor, Armour-Davis feels a lock, too.
On the outside looking in is Damarion Williams and Ka’dar Hollman, an offseason addition. Williams has shown positive play in camp and earned credit from Harbaugh during a post-practice presser, but I see the team valuing Mullen as a player in both special teams and defensively as superior.
Entering the season with only six cornerbacks is a bit low, but I see this as a possibility due to how the Ravens’ defense operates with their safeties.
Rookie cornerback T.J. Tampa was placed on the PUP list entering camp as he recovers from sports hernia surgeries; I expect the team to place him on the PUP list and not count towards the 53-man roster.
Safeties (5): Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Eddie Jackson, Sanoussi Kane, Ar’Darius Washington
Starters are in place and now the third safety role has been secured as the team signed Jackson on the eve of training camp. Washington makes the team due to his versatility in coverage and supplants the slightly low number of cornerbacks.
Specialists (3): Justin Tucker, Jordan Stout, Nick Moore
No surprises here. The Ravens return the G.O.A.T kicker, an All-Pro snapper and their young, budding punter.