Baltimore Beatdown
The final preseason game is over and cutdown day looming. In this final roster prediction, the Ravens stick with their typical 25 offensive, 25 defensive, and 3 specialist model they stubbornly stick to year-in and year-out. That has consequences up and down the roster, which we will get into in this full breakdown.
Lamar Jackson, Cooper Rush
Simple stuff here. Lamar Jackson is the perennial MVP candidate and Cooper Rush is the newly paid backup. Rush had his cleanest game in Week 3 and looks to be an easy fit who can let Derrick Henry and the weapons win games with a strong defense if the worst happens. Devin Leary is the likely practice squad quarterback.
Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, Rasheen Ali
The top three were never in question. But Rasheen Ali seems to have forced himself onto the roster with strong performances in every preseason game. Harbaugh noted after the Commanders game how Ali is a starter on every single special teams unit. Keeping four running backs prevents the Ravens from carrying 10 offensive linemen in the 25/25/3 model and prevents extra players on defense from making the roster as well. Ali and Keaton Mitchell will be the likely kick return duo as well.
Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Pat Ricard
The only question in this room is where Isaiah Likely lands. Likely’s status is unknown for week one, but there is still hope he can play against Buffalo. That leads us to believe that Likely is not a real IR candidate. But if Likely’s status following week one remains in question, there is a chance the Ravens could start Likely on the IR, which would force him to miss the first four weeks of the season. If Likely does land on the IR, it could open up an extra spot for an offensive lineman or another defensive piece.
Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Tylan Wallace, Devontez Walker, LaJohntay Wester
This is potentially the best wide receiver room the Ravens have ever had in their franchise. The top three are easy locks and will take most of the load for the season. The real question coming in was who could get game-day activations, assuming one would have to be a healthy scratch this season. But Walker had maybe the best summer of all the wideouts and looks to be a special teams player, and Wester has seemingly won the punt returner job. All six of these receivers will be active on game day.
Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Joseph Noteboom, Ben Cleveland, Corey Bullock, Carson Vinson
Left guard was one of the two starting positions that might have been truly up for grabs this season. Andrew Vorhees did the same thing he did last year and came in and won it. The rest of the line stays the same. Noteboom...
