Ravens 53-Man Roster Prediction: Pre-Training Camp Edition
By Joe Serpico
Ravens Offense
QB: Joe Flacco, Ryan Mallett
RB: Justin Forsett, Javorius Allen, Kenneth Dixon, Lorenzo Taliaferro
FB: Kyle Juszczyk
WR: Steve Smith, Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman, Kamar Aiken, Chris Moore
TE: Ben Watson, Maxx Williams, Crockett Gillmore , Dennis Pitta
OT: Ronnie Stanley, Ricky Wagner, Alex Lewis, Jake Long
OG: Marshal Yanda, John Urschel
C: Jeremy Zuttah, Ryan Jensen
The quarterbacks are a no-brainer with the news that Flacco will be at the opening day of practice. It is possible that we do not see him in a preseason game, and that will be an opportunity for Mallett to make another case that he has the tools to be a starter elsewhere in the NFL.
The skill positions are where things got interesting. It is not often that a team would enter the season with four running backs, six wide receivers and four tight ends, but the Ravens have talent at all three positions that will be tough to let go.
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Forsett and Dixon are the two sure things at running back. Forsett will be given the first crack at the starting job, but Dixon could be the heir down the road. He fits what Marc Trestman wants to do on offense.
Javorius Allen makes the roster as another pass-catching back, but Lorenzo Taliaferro is the last player to make my 53-man roster. The reasoning being that the Ravens do not have a short-yardage back and he fits that role if the team wants that power back. Taliaferro could also be left off the roster for another receiver or defensive player.
The wide receivers are essentially already set. Smith, Aiken, Perriman and Wallace will see most of the action. Moore will get worked in occasionally. I tried to keep Keenan Reynolds on the roster, but do not see a role for him on the active squad. He will start the season on the practice squad and we could see him down the road.
The more information we get about the tight ends, the more convinced I am that four will make the Week One roster. Williams and Watson will be here based on their contract situations. Gillmore was the starter most of last season and deserves to stick around. Pitta is the wild card, but I truly feel that the Ravens have waited this long for him so they will give him a chance.
The offensive line is the only shakeup since our last 53-man roster predictions following the NFL Draft. Eugene Monroe is out, and the Ravens signed former No. 1 overall pick Jake Long right before the start of training camp. While he is not currently on this list, keep an eye out for undrafted rookie Jarell Broxton as a potential sleeper. He could find his way into the competition at left guard.
Next: Defense