The Ravens are finally back on the field, and the preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles gives Baltimore’s roster hopefuls an immediate stage. Head coach Jesse Minter has already said he plans to rest a number of starters, which shifts the attention where preseason usually belongs anyway: the backups, the bubble players, and the guys trying to force their way onto the 53-man roster.
For a handful of Ravens, this first game matters a lot more than the rest. Corey Bullock, Jovaughn Gwyn, Aeneas Peebles, Kaimon Rucker and Robert Longerbeam all have something specific to prove right away.
Bullock is one of the more interesting names in that group. He made the 53-man roster last season, but after the offseason overhaul along the offensive line, he’s no longer sitting comfortably.
He doesn’t appear to be a real factor in the center battle, and he may be the fifth option at guard. Even so, Minter has said Bullock will get work at both center and guard during the preseason, and that kind of flexibility is exactly what could keep him in the mix.
The competition around him includes Andrew Vorhees, Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn, so Bullock has to show he can beat out that crowd if he wants to stick again.
Gwyn may have even more riding on Saturday night. The center job is the biggest starting battle still unresolved, and while Ethan Pocic’s arrival once made the answer seem obvious, age, injuries and the timing of that signing have opened the door back up.
Pocic, Pinter and Gwyn are all in the hunt, but Gwyn has the most to gain. Pocic brings experience, Pinter had seemed to be the early leader before Pocic joined the picture, and Gwyn has been stuck behind both.
A strong outing against the Eagles would give him a real boost, especially with the background of having played under offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford with the Atlanta Falcons for the past three years.
On the defensive side, Peebles has the kind of skill set that can jump off the screen in August. He’s undersized for an interior lineman, but his burst, speed and motor make him dangerous on passing downs.
The problem is opportunity. He spent most of his rookie year in John Harbaugh’s doghouse, and now the expectation is that Jesse Minter will put him in positions to be more effective.
That only matters if Peebles shows he belongs in the rotation in 2026. Preseason is where he has to start making that case.
Rucker is another player with a clear lane in front of him. He spent last season on the practice squad, but now he’s fighting for one of the precious roster spots.
The top four outside linebackers are already locked in, which leaves the fifth spot as a battle between Adisa Isaac, Rucker and undrafted rookie Ethan Burke. Isaac is healthy again, but injuries have followed him through his NFL career.
That gives Rucker a real chance if he comes out fast and makes things uncomfortable for the team’s decision-makers.
Then there’s Longerbeam, who faces one of the tougher climbs on the roster. Baltimore’s cornerback room is loaded with young players, and Longerbeam is part of that group.
He was a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he still has work to do just to move up the depth chart. Most of his competition centers on Bilhal Kone, another second-year player coming back from a major injury.
Longerbeam’s size complicates things too, since he’s a 5-foot-11 corner with boundary traits. He can slide inside to the slot, but that puts him in direct competition with Keyon Martin and Chandler Rivers.
Against Philadelphia, he needs to stand out.
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