Upgraded wide receiver corps plus stouter defense foster ’23 optimism.
A year ago, at this time, I stated that the Baltimore Ravens were at a perilous and delicate fork in the road. Quarterback Lamar Jackson had yet to sign a long-term extension, the rest of the American Football Conference was getting stronger, and injuries to key personnel (including Jackson) prevented a talented roster from breaking through the conference’s postseason logjam. A year later, that fuzzy picture looks a lot more clear.
Although Jackson has missed the homestretch of the last two seasons with injuries, he is reportedly fully healthy as the entire roster reports to camp early next week, armed with a five-year contract extension to boot. The team also fulfilled general manager Eric DeCosta’s promise to “keep swinging” as far as upgrading the often-troublesome wide receiver position, drafting Zay Flowers in the first round, and adding veteran free agents LaQuan Treadwell, Nelson Agholor, and Odell Beckham, Jr. Plus, if running back J.K. Dobbins can perform to his potential over a full season, it would lessen the need for Jackson to expose himself in the run game and, by association, keep him relatively free from injury.
Defensively, a unit that ranked just inside the top ten in total yards allowed and third against the run – one that was also one of only four teams to allow less than 20 points per game in 2022 – could return as many as 11 of its 12 principal starters from last year (corner Marcus Peters being the exception). It could also herald the return of injured veterans such as nose tackle Michael Pierce and safety Marcus Williams.
The full health status of return specialist Devin Duvernay will also be key for the always-critical field-position game, providing yet another speedy option in the receiving game and an end-around run outlet. On top of all that, the 90-man training camp roster has 29 rookies and first-year players, nearly a third of the total, a necessary element in the heavy-turnover, salary-cap, parity-ridden world of the NFL, where inserting new faces in just the right places to provide youth, depth, and speed can often make the difference between holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy and holding an empty playoff bag.
As camp opens, here’s my best guess as to how the initial 53-man active roster will look after the September 2 cutdown deadline.
Jackson at his best (photo, Baltimore Sun)
QUARTERBACKS (3) – Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, Anthony Brown: Believe it or not, this was one of my biggest question marks when constructing this roster. No, it had nothing to do with Jackson’s status; he’s the face of the franchise and one of the league’s best when healthy. In fact, he might be relied upon to throw more this year, given his additional targets and the alleged need not to run or scramble nearly as much. The question for me was: a third quarterback? It’s something the Ravens haven’t done often under John Harbaugh, but upon acquiring Jackson, they constructed what they felt was a revolutionary offense, and it was… four years ago. They’d like to see that kind of magic happen again, and Brown and Huntley are insurance policies that can help them not drop off much if Jackson goes down again.
RUNNING BACKS (4) – J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Patrick Ricard: In the salary-cap NFL world, versatility is a plus, and Ricard has it many times over. But he had to be listed somewhere, so he’s here with the rest of the running backs. Blocking, receiving, running, the burly Ricard can do it all as one of the league’s best in that role. Dobbins, when healthy, is a slasher who can go inside or outside, and Edwards’ between-the-tackles ability is well-known. Hill is an occasional kick returner and good change-of-pace back whose tenacity to stick around when others are doubting him is well-documented.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6) – Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay, Odell Beckham, Jr., Zay Flowers, Nelson Agholor, LaQuan Treadwell: John Harbaugh is a head coach who likes to have multiple options at multiple positions, and he certainly has them in this room, with first-round picks and marquee talent galore. The odd men out here are former draftees Tylan Wallace and James Proche, draft picks who contributed mightily on special teams. However, the position logjam and injuries are contributing to the end of their time as Ravens. Duvernay is now the main slot guy, assuming Proche’s punt-return role, giving him both punt- and kick-return duties. If Beckham is fully healthy from his Super Bowl 56 injury, this unit could go from one of the league’s worst to one of its best.
Andrews Comes Through … Again (photo, Pro Football Talk–NBCSports)
TIGHT ENDS (3) – Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar: As camp begins, there is no discernible fourth tight end on the roster, which is a bit troubling for a team that likes to get physical and run a lot of “12” personnel (one running back, two tight ends) formations. Nevertheless, Andrews firmly established himself in 2022 as one of the league’s best, leading the team by plenty with his 73 catches. New wideout help might reduce that total, but the team would benefit. They likely chipped in with 36 receptions and three scores, and Kolar could be a real sleeper on this team.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9) – Ronnie Stanley, John Simpson, Tyler Linderbaum, Kevin Zeitler, Morgan Moses, Patrick Mekari, Daniel Faalele, Sam Mustipher, Ben Cleveland: Fans of offensive line play yearn for another Jonathan Ogden, but someone like Edwin Mulitalo – who settled down a left-guard revolving door – would be welcomed as well. That spot is again a huge question, with veteran pickup Simpson the choice… for now. Draft pick Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, a sixth-round pick, could make the practice squad very well, but he could also be in the active mix. Linderbaum emphatically answered the center question with an outstanding rookie year. Despite his size, Ben Cleveland hasn’t developed fast enough, and the monstrous Faalele can play guard or tackle. The ultra-versatile Mekari is back, and seventh-round pick Andrew Vorhees is taking a de-facto redshirt year as he recovers from an injury.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6) – Michael Pierce, Justin Madabuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, Brent Urban, Angelo Blackson: Calais’ Campbell’s free-agent defection to Atlanta was stunning, but Justin Madabuike and Broderick Washington had previously softened that potential blow by raising the level of their games in 2022. Washington proved just as adept at knocking down passes and Madabuike attacked line gaps very well in his third season. Pierce is a proven gut stuffer, and Blackson has solid credentials from his Chicago days. Urban is in his second stint with the team and is a skilled kick-blocker—a good mix of youth and experience in this room.
Patrick Queen says, “No, you don’t!” (photo, NY Times)
LINEBACKERS (8) – Roquan Smith, Patrick Queen (inside), Tyus Bowser, Odafe Oweh (outside), David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson, Trenton Simpson, Kristian Welch: If there’s any noticeable omission here, it has to be Malik Harrison, who was a high draftee and once seen as a perfect partner to Queen on the inside. But the trade-deadline acquisition of Smith changed everything for this unit and the defense as a whole. Smith, already a standout in Chicago, became even better in Charm City at a position that has tried to fill Ray Lewis’ shoes for about a decade now. The outside pass rush got noticeably better, but it doesn’t seem likely Justin Houston will return, so it’s up to youngsters like the high-motor duo of Oweh and Ojabo to carry on at those spots. Bowser is a good coverage guy who can set the edge on run plays like Ravens of the past, including Courtney Upshaw and Jarret Johnson. Robinson and Simpson were two of the highlights of this year’s draft class and could also impress on special teams.
SECONDARY (11) – Marcus Williams, Kyle Hamilton (safeties), Marlon Humphrey, Rock Ya-Sin (cornerbacks), Damarion Williams, Kevon Seymour, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Brandon Stephens, Geno Stone, Ar’Darius Washington, Kyu Blu Kelly. The team is a bit thinner at corner than at safety, what with Marcus Peters’ free-agent defection and players such as Stephens, Williams, and Seymour getting thrown into the fire at different spots. Safety-wise, draftees Kelly and Stone provide solid depth to a thankfully healthy Williams and Hamilton, who had an eye-opening rookie season after being the team’s first-round pick. The key here could be Ya-Sin, a solid but journeyman-type veteran who has yet to break into the position’s elite.
Simply the best (photo courtesy Larry Brown Sports)
SPECIALISTS (3) – Justin Tucker (kicker), Jordan Stout (punter), Nick Moore (long snapper): The chemistry between Tucker and Moore is indisputable, and new punter/holder Stout had a fairly good season in both roles. The Ravens used a draft pick on a punter for the third time in their history, and Stout rewarded them with a 41-yard net average, only seven touchbacks, and 26 of 57 punts inside the coffin corner as he took over for the legendary Sam Koch.
