The Ravens took another hit to their interior offensive line depth Monday when Corey Bullock was claimed off waivers by the Panthers, trimming one developmental name from a group that was already under strain.
Bullock, a Maryland product, had been viewed at one point as a possible future starter at center. That path never really opened this summer.
He missed time in both the offseason and preseason because of injury and didn’t seriously get into the battle for the job. Now he’s headed to Carolina, while the rest of Baltimore’s youngsters and veterans made it through waivers, leaving the Ravens in position to build out that 16-man practice-squad unit.
Baltimore did not place any waiver claims of its own, according to sources. One player the Ravens likely had some level of interest in, Saints-waived kicker Blake Grupe, was claimed by the Jets. Because the waiver order now runs in reverse draft order, New York was positioned ahead of Baltimore for any claim.
The Ravens may still be active in the free-agent market, especially with some needs staring them in the face. Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin, who has ties to Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle from their time in Denver, cleared waivers. Baltimore currently has only three running backs on its 53-man roster, so McLaughlin is one name they could have interest in, along with others, as they look to strengthen the roster in the coming days.
Bullock arrives in Carolina as a former undrafted free agent, joining a Panthers team that was hit hard by preseason injuries.
For Baltimore, the bigger issue remains at center. The Ravens still haven’t officially named a starter, though it would be a major surprise if recently signed veteran Ethan Pocic wasn’t the guy. Pocic is working his way back from an Achilles tear and logged 30 snaps in the last preseason game.
Danny Pinter had been the toughest competition for that spot and was putting together a strong camp before a season-ending injury during joint practices with the Vikings ahead of the second preseason game. Jovaughn Gwyn, a low-level free-agent addition, brings experience mainly as a special-teams piece for the Falcons and has just 11 career center reps, though he did work with the starters throughout camp, including the final preseason game. The regular starters sat those games out, but Gwyn was among the players who saw action first.
Gwyn also has a connection to offensive line coach and run game coordinator Dwayne Ledford from their time together in Atlanta. Even so, handing him the job would be a gamble in a brand-new offense with so many moving parts and a 30-year-old coordinator who has never called plays in a regular-season game. Pocic, by contrast, has nearly 6000 NFL snaps on his resume.
Baltimore is clearly still hunting for more depth on the interior line, and the same goes for linebacker and running back. The Ravens also appear headed for a kicking competition, with Tyer Loop struggling in the preseason games and still needing to prove he can be accurate from distance as he enters his second season.
In Other News...
Ravens Face A Nervous Wait As Young Talent Hits Waivers
The Ravens have trimmed their roster to 53, and the hard part is only beginning. After releasing more than two dozen players, Baltimore now has to sit through the NFL waiver process while other teams sort through the same cuts, and the next move is already lined up with a 16-man practice squad waiting to be filled.
For a team that has spent the summer sorting out young talent at the margins, the real tension is which of those cut players make it back to Baltimore once waivers clear, and which ones are gone for good. Several names are considered legitimate claim risks, while the Ravens are also lining up possible practice squad additions if the board breaks their way. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Just Turned Tyler Loops Job Into A Real Battle
The Ravens added another layer to a kicking competition that was already worth watching, signing veteran Jake Moody to the practice squad as they continue sorting out the spot. Moody brings NFL experience from San Francisco, Chicago and Washington, and his familiarity with Ravens coaches Jesse Minter and Declan Doyle gives the move a little extra intrigue beyond a simple depth add.
Baltimore also filled out the practice squad with several other players as it looks to strengthen depth across key positions, but the kicking job is the part that now has a real test attached to it. For Tyler Loop, the message is clear: the organization is not content to let the position settle without another look, and every rep from here carries more weight. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens 53-Man Roster Leaves Two Big Week 1 Questions Open
The Ravens came out of roster cutdown day with a Week 1 group that answered plenty of the obvious questions, but not all of them. Baltimore kept defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan on the initial 53-man roster despite limited practice time, a sign the team was willing to carry some uncertainty into the opener while also preserving depth at key spots. The front office also used the deadline to shuffle the edges of the roster, designating players to return from injured reserve and making trades that sent nose tackle C.J. Okoye and offensive tackle Diego Pounds elsewhere.
What stands out is how much of the roster picture still feels unfinished even after the official cutdown. The Ravens also held onto undrafted rookies Joe Fagnano and Ethan Burke, a reminder that the team is still willing to bet on upside while trimming other hopefuls loose. For a roster built to contend right away, the real question now is not just who survived the first wave of decisions, but which of these early moves will matter once Week 1 arrives and the game-day health report starts to shape the lineup. [Read more 🡒]