The Ravens may not have much mystery left in the top half of the roster, but a handful of camp decisions still matter for how this team opens the season.
That’s where the real tension lives right now: not in the starting lineup, which appears mostly settled, but in the spots where a few young players are trying to carve out roles and a couple of veterans are trying to hold theirs. Injuries could still change the picture, but as things stand, this is shaping up to be one of the quieter summers Baltimore has had from a roster standpoint.
The biggest issue on the board is center, though it hardly feels like a true battle. Ethan Pocic looks like the answer there after being signed while he was still working back from Achilles surgery, and the Ravens were not alone in showing interest.
The fact that he got a few series in the preseason opener only reinforced that view. Danny Pinter appears to be the next man up, able to move between center and either guard spot, while Andrew Vorhees does not seem to be in that same lane.
Pocic should be treated like the starter unless something changes.
Receiver is more fluid. With tight end depth thin and the rookie tight ends still functioning more like wideouts than full-time tight ends, Baltimore looks likely to lean heavily on 11 personnel early.
They were in that look on 75% of their snaps Saturday, and it sets up a situation where three receivers will be on the field often. The exact trio can shift based on down, distance and opponent, but the real competition appears to be between Ja’Kobi Lane and Devontez Walker for that third spot in the mix.
Walker drew offseason attention as someone who might challenge Rashod Bateman for a starting job, but the way this offense is built suggests Lane and Walker are the names to watch. If Lane keeps producing, he’ll get plenty of chances on Sundays no matter what the depth chart says.
Some of the other “battles” are more about survival than suspense. Tyler Loop is one of them.
The second-year kicker has been missing enough that Jesse Minter keeps getting asked about it, and Minter continues to downplay the concern and point to field position and conditions. On Monday, he said, “I feel good about where Tyler’s at,” but the reality is simpler: Loop is the only kicker on the roster, so the job is his until it isn’t.
If he keeps missing in a dome this weekend or can’t handle kicks from 50-plus, the Ravens may have to bring in competition and turn this into something real.
The tackle picture feels similar. Carson Vinson looks like the third tackle, with Emery Jones potentially getting more work at tackle in the second preseason game if the staff wants to see more there.
There may be some thought about developing Jones as more of an interior option, but the group behind the top names all comes with similar experience and a similar skill set. That makes it hard for anyone to separate.
Baltimore seems to prefer Vinson, and unless injury forces the issue, this is probably the shape of the depth chart.
Outside linebacker is the clearest of the bunch. Tavius Robinson is the starter opposite Trey Hendrickson, and that doesn’t appear to be in dispute.
Robinson won’t play in the preseason games because the staff sees him as too important and already ready to go. Zion Young, meanwhile, will get plenty of run in the exhibitions, but the gap is obvious.
Robinson is stronger setting the edge, more powerful and more polished as a pass rusher.
“T-Rob exemplifies everything in terms of what it means to be a Baltimore Raven,” outside linebacker coach Harland Bower said. “He is violent-minded.
He plays with his hair on fire. He does every little thing right.
“By the way, he is one of the best humans on the football team. Again, you cannot lose with a guy like that. He is an unbelievable young man to coach, and I am really excited to be able to work with him every day."
Young will have to earn his way over time. Week 1 is not the deadline.
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Ravens Faith In Tyler Loop Is Facing Real Pressure Now
Tyler Loops early run with the Ravens has already carried the kind of scrutiny that comes with every kicker job in Baltimore, where one miss can quickly turn into a bigger conversation. Late-season misses in 2025 only sharpened the attention on his leg, especially from distance, but the team has kept showing patience as it evaluates whether he can be the answer under pressure.
Jesse Minter has pointed to Loops work in camp as a reason for optimism, and the Ravens have continued to back him without making an immediate change. Still, the lack of long-range consistency has made the situation worth watching, and if the struggles linger, Baltimore may be pushed to test the market and bring in some real competition. [Read more 🡒]
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For Baltimore, his influence was as much about how he carried himself as what he accomplished. The Ravens and their leadership paid tribute to him, underscoring the way he shaped the teams culture and the reach of his Brigance Brigade Foundation, which supported ALS patients and their families. In a building that has seen its share of memorable figures, Brigance stood out as one of the most revered. [Read more 🡒]