Projecting Ravens’ 53-Man Roster
With training camp coming up in just a few days and preseason getting set to start, there will be a lot of players trying to make their respective teams. Every roster has to be cut down from 80 or 90 to 53 so there will be several devastated faces, but that’s life.
Who will make the cut? Who will miss the cut? Let’s cut right to the chase and start the list:
Quarterbacks
1. Joe Flacco
2. Tyrod Taylor
3. Keith Wenning
Everyone knows that Flacco will be the starting quarterback, barring an injury. The big question that hovers over the Ravens is who the second quarterback will be. Wenning is a rookie that has performed well in practices and OTA’s so the Ravens have thought about moving him up the depth chart. However, I think the fact that Taylor has been on the team for three years and has more experience than Wenning will be enough to earn him the backup QB spot.
Running Backs
1. Ray Rice
3. Lorenzo Taliaferro
If Rice is suspended, Pierce and Taliaferro will probably split carries. As for Forsett, he will be the third running back until Rice returns. When Rice does return, he might find a home on the practice squad or will just be released.
Fullback
1. Kyle Jusczyk
There are no other candidates contending for this position.
Wide Receivers
1. Torrey Smith
2. Steve Smith
3. Marlon Brown
4. Jacoby Jones
5. Jeremy Butler
This is one of the trickiest on the roster. Jacoby Jones could overtake Marlon Brown for the number three spot, although it’s not likely. Jeremy Butler will have to work hard to make my prediction come true as there are three other receivers fighting for this spot. Third-year players Deonte Thompson and LaQuan Williams have both had previous stints with the team and are looking for a roster spot. The Raven just drafted Micheal Campanaro in the seventh round, and he will want his first shot in the NFL as soon as he can get it.
Tight Ends
1. Dennis Pitta
2. Owen Daniels
3. Crockett Gillmore
Phillip Supernaw is also a possibility here but I just don’t see the team keeping four tight ends on the roster. Pitta will get more snaps than Daniels, but offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak has said that he will still be featured in a big part of the offense.
Offensive Tackles
2. Ricky Wagner
3. Ryan Jensen
4. Jah Reid
Jensen and Wagner will fight it out for the right tackle position although Wagner definitely has the upper hand.
Offensive Gaurds
3. John Urschel
Urschel might miss the roster and be replaced by James Hurst, but I think he will snag the spot.
Centers
Zuttah got traded to Baltimore from Tampa Bay and will undoubtedly be the instant starter. Gradkowski and A.Q. Shipley are the candidates to make the second and probably final spot at center. It is possible that both players make the roster.
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Defensive Tackles
1. Haloti Ngata
3. Chris Canty
4. Timmy Jernigan
Even if Terrence Cody were healthy he would still probably miss the cut. Both Jernigan and Williams are high draft picks from the last two years so they won’t be kicked off the team.
Defensive Ends
3. John Simon
4. Brent Urban
Kapron Lewis-Moore, who was a rookie last year, can also snag the fourth spot here. This is also dependent on whether you consider McPhee a defensive end or a linebacker.
Outside Linebacker
This one was pretty easy to select as Dumervil and Suggs will undoubtedly be on either side of each other come opening day. Third-year man Courtney Upshaw was the Ravens’ second-round pick in 2011 and has yet to get a real chance, so it will be interesting to see how they use him.
Middle Linebacker
1. Daryl Smith
2. C.J. Mosley
3. Arthur Brown
4. Josh Bynes
One of the battles that you should keep a close eye on is the one at middle linebacker. Rookie C.J. Mosley and second-year linebacker Arthur Brown will battle it out for the second starting position. The Ravens have stated that Mosley is currently in the lead.
Free Safeties
2. Terrence Brooks
Although Stewart currently has the upper hand in this battle, Brook should be able to unseat him pretty soon because after all, you don’t normally trade up to draft a safety in the third round and not start him.
Strong Safeties
1. Matt Elam
2. Omar Brown
The final two spots are really up for grabs right now. Jeremy Miles is also a potential candidate there. However, Elam is the consensus starter here without a doubt.
Cornerbacks
2. Jimmy Smith
3. Aaron Ross
4. Chykie Brown
5. Asa Jackson
Jimmy Smith has emerged of late and has shown his first-round potential, earning him the number two spot. The last three are all interchangeable but those should be the cornerbacks on the final 53-man roster.
Specialists
Kicker: Justin Tucker
Punter: Sam Koch
Long Snapper: Morgan Cox
Nothing to say here as there is no other competition.
So what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy to state your mind in the comments below.