Predicting the Baltimore Ravens First Wave of Cuts
Aug 16, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Baltimore Ravens center Reggie Stephens (65) on the sidelines during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Baltimore beat Dallas 37-30. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
UPDATE:
The Ravens have made their roster moves to get to 75 players.
Waived: Omar Brown, Nicholas DiMarco, Richie Leone, David Mims, Marrio Norman, Deji Olatoye, Austin Spitler, LaQuan Williams, Mike Willie, Cierre Wood
Waived-Injured: Shaun Chapas, Brett Van Sloten
Injured Reserve: Kapron Lewis-Moore, Will Rackley, Brent Urban
End of Update
Right now, there are 90 players on the Baltimore Ravens’ roster. By 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, there will be 15 less, as teams are required to trim their rosters to 75 by that time.
Who will get the ax in Baltimore? Based on their quality of play and snap counts, we can make an educated guess.
Here are my predicted cuts.
Marrio Norman, DB
Norman has played just one single rep defensively this preseason. He was brought in from the Arena Football League as a camp body, nothing more.
Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB
Once a productive running back for the University of Michigan, off-the-field troubles derailed Fitzgerald Toussaint’s career. He has only received six reps for the Ravens, who have several better running backs to take the reps in the fourth preseason game.
Richie Leone, P
Richie Leone was a name to watch heading into camp, as Leone could possible have challenged the overpriced Sam Koch for a roster spot. That didn’t happen, as Leone failed to stand out. There is no reason to use up one of the 75 roster spots on an extra punter.
Brett Van Sloten, OL
Though Brett Van Sloten had a decorated career at Iowa, he failed to distinguish himself for the Ravens. He did not even garner many reps on the third-team, racking up just 17 snaps for the preseason.
Jace Davis, WR
Another camp body, Davis was never expected to seriously contend for a roster spot. He wasn’t bad in the preseason, but he needed to be exceptional to have a chance to make it past the first cuts.
LaQuan Williams, WR
The Ravens love LaQuan Williams for his work ethic and special teams play, but they have other players who can fill his role on special teams. Williams, the consummate professional, will be given a chance to catch on with another team earlier than many of his teammates. Odds are, another team will appreciate the chance to bring him into the system with one preseason game remaining.
Reggie Stephens, OL
Gino Gradkowski has looked pretty solid this preseason. Stephens has not done enough to challenge Gradkowski’s roster spot, so expect Gino to play most of the fourth preseason game while Stephens looks to catch on elsewhere.
Levi Brown, DT
The undrafted Levi Brown was another player who just didn’t get a chance to distinguish himself. With just 13 reps this preseason, Brown is a safe bet to get cut.
Omar Brown, S
Despite excelling in the past two preseasons, Brown has struggled this year. The Ravens finally know what they have in Brown, and unfortunately, it just isn’t enough to justify retaining him.
Jamie Meder, DT
Jamie Meder had an uphill battle to make the final roster, and like everyone else on this list, did not do enough to distinguish himself in his limited reps.
Deji Olatoye, CB
Deji Olatoye had an opportunity in a thin group of defensive backs, but he has failed to distinguish himself. He did not get a single rep against Washington.
Mike Willie, WR
The definition of a camp body, Mike Willie has not played a single offensive rep this preseason.
Nathan Overbay, TE
This could also be Phillip Supernaw, as both he and Nathan Overbay are tight ends who are long shots for the final roster. Neither has stood out, and both could very well be gone, but Overbay is the safer bet. Supernaw has done more in his short career.
In addition to these 13 cuts, expect the Ravens to put Kapron Lewis-Moore and Brent Urban on injured reserve, reducing the roster to 75.