The Baltimore Beatdown staff react to the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster.
On Tuesday, the Baltimore Ravens released their initial 53-man roster. Below are the reactions from the Baltimore Beatdown staff.
This is about as chalk as could be. All predictions I read from pundits were above 50/53. I myself went 52/53, for the record, though The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec went perfect.
I am surprised with the one I was wrong about from the angle that I expected the Ravens to implement roster gymnastics of waiving running back Rasheen Ali, bringing him onto the practice squad and then elevating him, as it’s unlikely he sees the field on something other than special teams. But, maybe the injury would’ve forced them to either keep him or place him on injured reserve.
The roster really just makes sense. They have the spots filled with who they had and few competitions were either win-or-get-cut. Even offensive line, their biggest competition on three starting roles didn’t amount to much as the Ravens kept 10 linemen and parted ways with expected moves.
This roster is far from being written in pen as moves will be made over the next few days as they structure for Week 1 and beyond. But overall, it’s a roster top-heavy with their stars and adequate backups in most areas. — Kyle Phoenix
The only surprising aspect about the Ravens’ final 53-man roster release was how long it took to get announced finally. Besides that, not much stands out or comes across as a shock. Journeyman veteran Josh Johnson cemented himself and inspired confidence as the unquestioned No. 2 quarterback behind Lamar Jackson. After being a handshake release guy since returning to the Ravens, it was nice to see veteran defensive end Brent Urban make the team outright. I’m also glad to see the Ravens keep versatile 2023 sixth-rounder Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu as their No. 10 offensive lineman to provide additional depth not only because he is a fellow Alaskan but because his late position coach, Joe D’Alessandris, believed in what he could become. The team wasn’t willing to risk losing out on the potential he possesses.
Undrafted rookie safety Beau Brade’s spot was well-deserved after the former Maryland standout proved he should’ve had his name called back in late April with how impressive he played throughout the preseason. The opposite was true for sixth-round rookie quarterback Devin Leary, who along with undrafted signal caller Emory Jones, was unsurprisingly waived. Seventh-round rookie Sanoussi Kane has all the makings of a being a special teams ace for years to come. I was hoping undrafted rookie outside linebacker and team favorite Joe Evans would make the team with third-rounder Adisa Isaac dealing with another minor leg injury, but hopefully he can get brought back on the practice squad. Even after standing out in the preseason, undrafted rookie wide receiver Dayton Wade faced long odds of making the team and ultimately didn’t, but he’s another youngster I’d love to see retained on the practice squad. — Joshua Reed
For the most part, this roster release, while late, was chalk. The biggest notes are the Ravens only kept two quarterbacks after years of holding three since Jackson was drafted. Both the undrafted rookie Beau Brade, the local Terp and Howard County graduate, and seventh-round pick Sanoussi Kane made the rosters at safety. Brent Urban made the roster instead of being a handshake deal. Lastly, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu made the roster despite competition and a potential numbers cut.
The biggest disappointment is not seeing wide receiver Dayton Wade make the roster. Outside of Tylan Wallace, Wade was by far the most consistent and flashy wide receiver in preseason. Deonte Harty made the roster as a returner despite not showing much during camp or preseason and offering little as a receiver. Hopefully Wade can sneak through waivers to wind up on the practice squad.
The last part to consider are moves from here. All three of Rasheen Ali, Devontez Walker, and Adisa Isaac have been nursing injuries for a large portion of camp. Any of them could be potential Injured Reserve moves tomorrow. The Ravens will need a third running back for week one as Ali status is “iffy,” per Head Coach John Harbaugh. Whether that ends up being a rostered player or a practice squad elevation remains to be seen. — Zach Canter