Projecting Ravens’ 53-man roster: Where should a veteran addition be considered?

When the Baltimore Ravens take the field for their first full-squad practice of training camp Wednesday, there won’t be a ton of roster ambiguity.

Their top two quarterbacks and running backs are in place. Their top six wide receivers, top eight offensive linemen, top five defensive linemen and top four tight ends, cornerbacks and safeties are set. So too is their kicking battery.

Five-plus weeks of training camp, two sets of joint practices and three preseason games have a way of sparking just as many roster questions as answers. Some players surprise, some disappoint. Veterans are added and subtracted. Trades are occasionally made. And there are far too many injuries influencing the roster construction for all 32 teams.

The Ravens have until Aug. 30 to cut their roster from 90 to the requisite 53. Plenty of factors will emerge to impact their decision making. Until then, this is the best guess on what their roster could look like come Aug. 31.

Quarterback (2)

Who makes the cut?: Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley

Long shots: Skylar Thompson, Joe Fagnano

Biggest question: Who gets the practice squad quarterback spot between Thompson and Fagnano? Waiving Diego Pavia last week makes it a two-quarterback race.

Fact to consider: The Ravens have kept more than two quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster just once in the past five seasons. Team decision makers clearly don’t think it’s a prudent use of roster space.

Outlook: Huntley was re-signed as Jackson’s primary backup after nearly saving the Ravens’ season last year, leading Baltimore to wins over playoff-bound Chicago and Green Bay teams. The Ravens will want at least one quarterback on their practice squad, and that will come down to either the veteran Thompson or the rookie Fagnano. If it comes down to experience, Thompson will get the spot. If the Ravens want a developmental young quarterback, it will be Fagnano.

Running back (4)

Who makes the cut?: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali, Adam Randall

Long shot: Dontae McMillan, Elijah Tau-Tolliver

Biggest question: Will the Ravens have space for four backs? If they don’t, Ali and Randall’s battle for the No. 3 role will be one of the more intriguing roster competitions.

Fact to consider: Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle was part of a Bears offensive staff last year that used a two-running back rotation. If that’s the case in Baltimore, the No. 3 role will essentially be a special teams spot. Ali played 55 percent of the team’s special teams snaps last year.

Outlook: Randall was owner Steve Bisciotti’s hand-picked draft selection. Randall has every reason to feel good about his roster chances. Still, keeping four backs isn’t ideal if only two of them have offensive roles. The Ravens cutting a rookie fifth-round pick is far from unprecedented, so it would behoove Randall to embrace special teams and outplay Ali. He needs to show he can be relied on as a pass catcher and in blitz pickup. If he does, it would be much easier for the Ravens to move on from Ali.

Wide receiver (6)

Who makes the cut?: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Devontez Walker, Ja’Kobi Lane, Elijah Sarratt, LaJohntay Wester

On the bubble: Dayton Wade, Chris Moore

Long shot: Cornelius Johnson, Xavier Guillory, Cortez Braham Jr., Octavian Smith Jr.

Biggest question: Are the Ravens comfortable enough with their young receivers to not add a veteran? The addition of a Stefon Diggs or Deebo Samuel would likely mean the subtraction of Walker or Wester and limited opportunities for Lane and Sarratt.

Fact to consider: Bateman, Walker and Wester combined for just 25 catches last year. The Ravens are banking on a Bateman bounce-back and young receivers coming of age.

Outlook: If the Ravens don’t add here and also stay healthy, there’s really only one thing to decide. Are they bullish enough on Wester as their punt returner for him to secure a spot? Walker is set to absorb a bigger role, and Lane and Sarratt, third- and fourth-round picks, respectively, will be in the mix. Wester would enter close to lock territory with no summer missteps. Wade has flashed in practices, but he’d have to play awfully well to get in the 53-man mix.

Tight end (4)

Who makes the cut?: Mark Andrews, Durham Smythe, Matt Hibner, Josh Cuevas

Long shot: Lucas Scott, Ty Pezza

Biggest question: Who out of Hibner and Cuevas will emerge as a bigger part of the offense? There’s probably room for one of Hibner and Cuevas to earn immediate offensive snaps.

Fact to consider: The Ravens have traditionally carried three tight ends and a fullback. They won’t have a fullback this year, so having four true tight ends doesn’t create any ramifications elsewhere.

Outlook: There is not a whole lot of ambiguity here, either. It remains to be seen how Doyle utilizes the two rookie tight ends. However, barring injuries, they’ll be on the 53-man roster and their ability to contribute on special teams will probably impact how much they are relied on come Week 1.

Offensive line (9)

Who makes the cut?: Ronnie Stanley, John Simpson, Ethan Pocic, Vega Ioane, Roger Rosengarten, Emery Jones Jr., Carson Vinson, Danny Pinter, Andrew Vorhees

On the bubble: Jovaughn Gwyn, Corey Bullock, Evan Beerntsen, Hakeem Adeniji

Long shot: Gerad Lichtenhan, Nick Dawkins, Diego Pounds

Biggest question: From purely a roster standpoint, how will the Ravens fill out the last two or three reserve spots? Assuming Pocic is healthy, the starting group and top reserves are mostly set.

Fact to consider: Of the 16 offensive linemen on the roster, eight were added this offseason. The influx of new faces will create plenty of competition.

Outlook: In a perfect world, the Ravens would keep 10 offensive linemen, and they could do that by going with three running backs or five wide receivers. Vinson and Jones will be the reserve tackles, with Jones having the flexibility to move inside. Pinter is the likely backup for Pocic. That would leave one or two spots for Vorhees, a 17-game starter last year; Gwyn, who followed offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford from Atlanta; Bullock, who made last year’s roster and Beerntsen, a rookie seventh-round pick. Gwyn and Vorhees have the edge.

Defensive line (6)

Who makes the cut?: Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Calais Campbell, John Jenkins, Broderick Washington Jr., Aeneas Peebles

On the bubble: C.J. Okoye, Rayshaun Benny

Long shot: David Olajiga, Aaron Graves, Dion Wilson Jr.

Biggest question: Can the Ravens count on Madubuike to regain pre-neck injury form? He was placed on the physically unable to perform list on Saturday but is officially cleared to practice.

Fact to consider: Campbell, who turns 40 in September, played a career-low 46 percent of his team’s defensive snaps last season. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has already spoken with Campbell about reducing his workload.

Outlook: Madubuike is the biggest question here, but hardly the only one. Travis Jones is recovering from a pectoral injury. Campbell is dealing with a personal matter. Washington played three games last year and needed Achilles and elbow surgeries. Jenkins is 37. It’s hard to handicap the roster decisions with so much unknown. However, the Ravens kept Washington despite speculation that they’d move on, making him and Jenkins the likely top two reserves. They’d have room for maybe one more, and that competition will probably come down to Peebles, Okoye and Benny. Peebles diversifies the group a little more with his pass-rush ability.

Outside linebacker (4)

Who makes the cut?: Trey Hendrickson, Mike Green, Tavius Robinson, Zion Young

On the bubble: Adisa Isaac

Long shot: Kaimon Rucker, Ethan Burke

Biggest question: Will the Ravens add another veteran to this mix? General manager Eric DeCosta has done it several times before with pass rushers, and options like Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Van Noy and Haason Reddick are available.

Fact to consider: A third-round pick in 2024, Isaac has played just four games in two seasons, and he’s been limited this offseason as he recovers from elbow surgery. He’s running out of time.

Outlook: Assuming there is no vet addition and no significant injury, the only question here is whether the Ravens feel like they have room for a fifth edge rusher. They would like to give Isaac a little more time to get healthy to show what he can do. However, keeping five edge rushers probably means keeping one fewer defensive lineman or defensive back. The addition of another veteran would mean cutting into Green’s snaps and/or limiting Young’s role, which is probably why it won’t happen.

Inside linebacker (4)

Who makes the cut?: Roquan Smith, Teddye Buchanan, Trenton Simpson, Jay Higgins IV

On the bubble: Carl Jones Jr.

Long shot: Dominic DeLuca, Reid Williford

Biggest question: How long will Buchanan be sidelined and/or limited? Rehab from a December 2025 knee injury has gone extremely well, and Buchanan is way ahead of schedule. However, it will still take time before he’s 100 percent.

Fact to consider: The Ravens have a lot of special teams snaps to replace with Jake Hummel’s departure in free agency. The Ravens claimed Carl Jones off waivers last season precisely because of his special teams ability.

Outlook: If Buchanan is ready for the start of the season, the Ravens’ decisions come down to whether Higgins or Carl Jones is the best fit for the No. 4 inside linebacker role. Special teams will factor, and while it’s not impossible that the Ravens could keep five inside linebackers, that feels excessive, given their depth needs elsewhere.

Cornerback (6)

Who makes the cut?: Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Bilhal Kone, Chandler Rivers

On the bubble: Keyon Martin, Robert Longerbeam, Marquise Robinson

Long shot: Amani Oruwariye, Matthew McDoom, Lardarius Webb Jr.

Biggest question: What young cornerback separates himself with strong play this summer? Humphrey, Wiggins, Awuzie and Tampa are the top four, leaving one or two spots for a group that includes two 2025 draft picks (Kone and Longerbeam), one 2026 draft pick (Rivers) and a guy in Martin who played in 13 games last year.

Fact to consider: Team decision makers are aware that keeping cornerbacks healthy has been a struggle, and all of the team’s top cornerbacks have dealt with injuries in recent years. Will this lead to the team keeping an extra corner?

Outlook: This might very well be the position competition to watch. Kone was well on his way to earning defensive snaps last year when he sustained a season-ending knee injury. Martin is a guy who continues to impress. Marquise Robinson is a young player who has stood out on defense and special teams. Rivers feels like close to a lock as a fifth-round pick. That would mean four or five corners competing for one or two spots.

Safety (5)

Who makes the cut?: Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Jaylinn Hawkins, Keondre Jackson, K’Von Wallace

Long shot: Jahquez Robinson, Silas Walters

Biggest question: Do the Ravens have room for a fifth safety? Keondre Jackson’s special teams prowess makes him a virtual lock, but it’s hard to put Wallace in that category.

Fact to consider: As the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers, Jesse Minter used three-safety looks regularly. Hawkins is essentially considered a starter, and the Ravens will have to be comfortable with their fourth safety.

Outlook: The Ravens may have the best safety trio in football. They added needed depth by signing Wallace, who has made 20 career starts. When you plan to regularly have three safeties on the field, keeping five makes a lot of sense.

Specialists (3)

Who makes the cut?: Tyler Loop, Ryan Eckley, Nick Moore

Biggest question: Do the Ravens feel they need to bring in competition for Loop? They’ve abstained from doing it, but summer struggles could change that.

Fact to consider: The Ravens typically bring in an extra kicker to help in training camp and ease the burden from their primary kicker. However, they may be focused on getting Loop as many reps as possible.

Outlook: Loop will be one of the most scrutinized Ravens this summer. Unless they add competition in the coming weeks, there’s no decision to make here. Their kicking battery is set.