The Ravens’ roster math gets tight fast once you start trimming toward 53, and in this projection the biggest calls come on the edges of the roster - literally and figuratively.
At quarterback, the group is straightforward on the surface: Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley are in, while Joe Fagnano gets squeezed out despite a preseason that has put him third in the NFL in passing yards and fifth in passer rating. That kind of production is hard to ignore from a developmental quarterback, but the case against carrying a third passer is just as clear here. A roster spot at this point is more valuable on a player who can help immediately at a premium spot, and Fagnano’s path would be to get back onto the practice squad if Baltimore can keep him.
The defensive line picture also hinges on patience. Nnamdi Madubuike is not rushed back in this version; instead, he goes on short-term IR so the Ravens can avoid forcing the issue before he’s truly ready.
The idea is to protect him from reinjury and from having to play with a restricted workload. That move would also leave room for Baltimore to work out a handshake agreement with John Jenkins and bring him back through the practice squad, preserving veteran depth while Madubuike finishes his recovery.
One of the more interesting roster choices is at outside linebacker, where Baltimore is projected to keep six. Trey Hendrickson, Zion Young, Mike Green and Tavius Robinson are the main rotation, but Ethan Burke and Kaimon Rucker both earn spots for different reasons.
Burke has shown he can rush off the edge, reduce inside, work from a two-point stance and drop into coverage, and his size gives him added special teams value. Rucker has flashed designated-pass-rusher upside and gives the Ravens another developmental speed-rush option.
The roster, as built here, avoids exposing either young edge defender to waivers, even if that means carrying what looks like extra depth on paper.
Here’s how the full 53 comes together in this projection:
Offense - 24
QB: Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley
RB: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Adam Randall
WR: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Ja’Kobi Lane, Devontez Walker, LaJohntay Wester, Elijah Sarratt
TE: Mark Andrews, Josh Cuevas, Matthew Hibner, Durham Smythe
OL: Ronnie Stanley, Roger Rosengarten, Vega Ioane, John Simpson, Jovaughn Gwyn, Ethan Pocic, Carson Vinson, Diego Pounds, Emery Jones Jr.
Defense - 26
DL: Travis Jones, Calais Campbell, Aeneas Peebles, Rayshaun Benny, Broderick Washington
LB: Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Jay Higgins, Teddye Buchanan
OLB: Trey Hendrickson, Zion Young, Mike Green, Tavius Robinson, Ethan Burke, Kaimon Rucker
CB: Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Chandler Rivers, Keyon Martin, Bilhal Kone
S: Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Jaylin Hawkins, Keondre Jackson
Specialists
K: Tyler Loop
P: Ryan Eckley
LS: Nick Moore
On offense, the Ravens keep their core intact with Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews and a deep enough supporting cast to round out the group. On defense, the secondary stays loaded with Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins anchoring the back end, while the front seven is built to keep pressure coming from multiple directions.
This version of Baltimore’s roster is built around flexibility, patience and the kind of pass-rush depth that can keep a defense from having to live on the blitz.
In Other News...
Lamar Jackson Situation Is Becoming A Bigger Ravens Problem
With the 2023 season drawing near, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens still have not landed on a new contract, and the uncertainty is starting to hang over a team built around its quarterback. Baltimore already used a maximum restructure to carve out cap room, a clear sign of how much it wants to keep the roster intact while also trying to resolve one of the NFLs most important contract situations.
The pressure only gets heavier because Jacksons deal carries a no-trade clause and a no-tag clause, which limits the Ravens flexibility down the line and leaves them staring at a sizable cap hit in 2027. With two years left on the current contract, the team still has time, but the chatter around the league has been consistent: if Baltimore wants to keep Jackson from ever reaching a true open market, it may have to make him the highest-paid quarterback in football. [Read more 🡒]
A Few Young Ravens May Already Be Losing Their Roster Spots
The final preseason game is usually the last chance for fringe players to make a case, but Baltimore does not seem to be treating this one like a referendum. Head coach Jesse Minter has limited player participation, and the Ravens appear to have a firm handle on what their 53-man roster will look like unless injuries change the picture. For some younger players, including a few recent draft picks and late-round selections, the battle may already be over.
That reality is especially notable in the linebacker group, where general manager Eric DeCostas recent draft choices have not produced much momentum. Several of those players are now being viewed more as depth options or practice squad candidates than serious roster contenders, which says plenty about how quickly camp can narrow the field. Unless there is a late twist, Baltimores focus in the preseason finale may be less about sorting the roster and more about confirming what it already knows. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Final Cuts Could Decide More Depth Than Fans Realize
The final days of roster cuts have become more than a formality in Baltimore, with the Ravens using this stretch to sort out not just who makes the 53-man roster but also how much depth they can stash on the practice squad. The decisions are being shaped by health, performance and positional fit, with players such as Joe Fagnano, Corey Bullock and Gerard Lichtenhan among those being weighed as the team tries to balance immediate help with developmental upside.
There is also a veteran linebacker possibility still hanging over the deadline, a reminder that the last few moves may not be limited to fringe names and camp standouts. For a roster built with an eye toward sustaining a long season, the real question is how many of these end-of-summer evaluations turn into pieces Baltimore can actually count on once the injuries and attrition start to hit. [Read more 🡒]