Final Ravens’ 53-man roster predictions ahead of cutdown day
The Baltimore Ravens will have to make many extremely tough decisions ahead of the Tuesday, August 31st at 4pm EST deadline to trim their roster down to 53 players. Multiple members of the team who have done enough to stay will most likely have to be let go due to the limited roster space that is currently available.
There are a few positions that can be identified as ones that will be harder to make decisions on than others, including the offensive linemen and the defensive backs. Any player that Baltimore does let go of will be subject to waivers, and some will most likely be claimed by other franchises.
Below we take a look at our final 2021 roster predictions for the Ravens ahead of cutdown day.
(AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Quarterbacks (2): Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley Cuts: Trace McSorley Huntley did more than enough during training camp and the preseason to earn the backup quarterback job behind Jackson. He showed that he can be trusted with the keys to the offense in the event that Jackson were to miss any time, and is a great fit to run an offense catered to Jackson's skill set. McSorley is a talented player, but with how much depth the team has at multiple different positions this year, he's on the outside looking in. The Ravens could look to put him on injured reserve to make sure another organization won't steal him off of waivers.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Running backs (3): Gus Edwards, Ty’Son Williams, Justice Hill Cuts: Nate McCrary IR: J.K. Dobbins Hill makes the team due to Dobbins going down with a season-ending knee injury, but in this scenario he is placed on injured reserve immediatly after cutdown day, making room on the roster for either McCrary or an outside addition. McCrary likely has much less of a chance of being claimed off of waivers than Hill, and although McCrary has outperformed Hill this preseason and deserves a roster spot, Baltimore could think of ways that they can keep everyone that they possibly can while exposing themselves to the least amount of risk of having their players taken off of waivers by other teams. If the Ravens decide to bring in an outside option as opposed to putting McCrary back on the 53-man roster, the undrafted rookie free agent would be a phenominal option for the practice squad.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Fullbacks (1): Patrick Ricard Cuts: Ben Mason Mason is still listed as a tight end on the Ravens' roster, but he falls more into the category of a Ricard-type of player at the fullback position. Baltimore seemingly really likes the rookie out of the University of Michigan, but with how much depth they need elsewhere on the roster, it would be a massive luxury to keep two fullback-style players on the team. It wouldn't be shocking to see Mason stay, but after moving off of one rookie already in cornerback Shaun Wade, they could do it again with another one of their fifth-round selections. The FB/TE is also an injured reserve candidate as a stash option.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Wide receiver (6): Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman, Sammy Watkins, Devin Duvernay, Tylan Wallace, James Proche II Cuts: Miles Boykin, Deon Cain, Binjimen Victor, Jaylon Moore, Devin Gray, Siaosi Mariner Proche strengthened his hold on a roster spot against Washington by hauling in four passes for 52 yards, including an incredible 20-yard touchdown catch. There are scenerios where Boykin gets kept as a seventh receiver and is immediatly placed on injured reserve after cut down day, but that would risk exposing another talented player to waivers at a position of need, which Baltimore wants to avoid as much as possible. Bateman will likely be placed on injured reserve after cutdown day unless the team believes that he can return prior to Week 4. Cain, Victor and Moore are all practice squad candidates, and could be called up to the active roster on game day if needed.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Tight end (3): Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, Josh Oliver Cuts: Eric Tomlinson, Tony Poljan Oliver is the unquestioned winner of the Ravens' third tight end battle, but Tomlinson showed some nice flashes throughout the preseason, including a touchdown catch against Washington in Week 3. If Boyle isn't ready to start the season and Baltimore places him on injured reserve after cutdown day, Tomlinson is a good bet to be brought back to the team until their star blocking tight end is ready to get back on the field.
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Offensive line (9): Ronnie Stanley, Bradley Bozeman, Kevin Zeitler, Alejandro Villanueva, Ben Cleveland, Ben Powers, Tyre Phillips, Patrick Mekari, Ben Bredeson Cuts: Trystan Colon, Michael Schofield, Adrian Ealy, Foster Sarell IR: Ja’Wuan James Baltimore will have some tough decisions to make on the offensive line. It's possible that they keep eight guys at the position, but that seems like too few with injury concerns. Keeping 10 is also an option, but that seems like too many with depth needed elsewhere. Nine gives them a good number, and it feels like the final spot would come down to Bredeson, Colon and Schofield. It will all depend on what the Ravens view as a more pressing need. If they want a swing tackle, Schofield probably makes the roster. If they want an interior player, Bredeson probably makes it over Colon due to his versatility, although the team likes both players. Whoever is on the outside looking in on the offensive line could be a trade candidate, as losing them for nothing would sting.
(AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Defensive line (5): Calais Campbell, Derek Wolfe, Brandon Williams, Justin Madubuike, Broderick Washington Cuts: Justin Ellis, Aaron Crawford, Jovan Swann In this scenario Ellis would be cut at first, but brought back immediatly after cutdown day with a handshake-type agreement after another player is placed on injured reserve. The Ravens could use the spot that Ellis would occupy to keep another player at another position on the roster while still retaining the well-respected veteran defensive lineman. Crawford and Swann are both good candidates for Baltimore's practice squad.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Outside linebackers (6): Justin Houston, Tyus Bowser, Odafe Oweh, Pernell McPhee, Daelin Hayes, Jaylon Ferguson Cuts: Chris Smith Ferguson was on the roster bubble heading into training camp, and his spot was put in even more jeopardy after Houston was signed by Baltimore. However, the third-year outside linebacker has impressed throughout the preseason, and the way the Ravens' coaches talk about him makes it seem like he has a spot on the final 53-man roster. Smith has had a solid training camp and has played well in the exhibition contests, but is a victim of the numbers game, as he's on the outside looking in.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Inside linebackers (4): Patrick Queen, Malik Harrison, Chris Board, Kristian Welch Cuts: Otaro Alaka While losing L.J. Fort is a big blow to the Ravens' defensive and special teams units, they have the depth necessary to power through it. Players like Harrison, Board and Welch will be asked to step up in the veteran's absence, which they look to be up to the task of doing. There are situations where Baltimore could decide to cut Welch and try to sneak him onto their practice squad in order to have roster flexibility elsewhere, but keeping three inside linebackers is a bit of a risk. Alaka has been injured for most of training camp, so an injured reserve spot seems like it could be a real possibility for him.
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Cornerbacks (6): Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Jimmy Smith, Tavon Young, Anthony Averett, Chris Westry Cuts: None With Shaun Wade now in New England, Baltimore has one more roster spot to work with, as the rookie was expected to make the team by many. Westry has had an impressive training camp, but has had his ups and downs during preseason games. However, the 6-foot-4 cornerback ran a 4.31 unofficial 40-yard dash at his Pro Day in 2019. Those two traits along with his strong camp would likely get him stolen off of waivers, so the Ravens might have to play it safe and keep him on their 53-man roster.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Safety (5): Chuck Clark, DeShon Elliott, Brandon Stephens, Ar’Darius Washington, Nigel Warrior Cuts: Anthony Levine Sr., Geno Stone The trio of Washington, Warrior and Stone all deserve to make the Ravens' final team. However, with just two spots available in this scenario, the nod goes to Washington and Warrior. Washington has consistently made plays throughout training camp and the preseason, and has the versatility to play both safety and at the nickel, with the latter being the position that Shaun Wade was expected to develop in. Warrior has come on extremely strong after missing time earlier in training camp with an injury, and Baltimore seems to like him a lot. Stone has versatility as well and had an impressive game in Week 1 of the preseason against the New Orleans Saints, but didn't make much of an impact in the Ravens' final two preseason games. Plus, out of the three players, it seems like Stone might be the easiest to sneak onto the practice squad. Levine would be cut here, but would return to the team after cutdown day on a handshake-type agreement.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Specialists (3): Justin Tucker, Sam Koch, Nick Moore Cuts: Jake Verity Verity missed a 40-yard field goal and had an extra point blocked in Baltimore's final preseason game. While he could still be traded before cutdown day, if he's not there's no way he makes the Ravens' 53-man roster as long as Tucker is around. He could be a practice squad candidate if Baltimore can't find a trade partner for him.
1
1
