The Baltimore Ravens Face Hard Decisions For 53 Man Roster

The Baltimore Ravens, just like any NFL team, will have to make hard decisions when finalizing the 53 man roster. There are several positions in which the Ravens have a surplus of talent.

The Baltimore Ravens are running back and tight end heavy. It’s almost ridiculous. There are six running backs trying to make this team. Not counting the suspended Nick Boyle the Ravens have five tight ends vying for a spot.

Typically an NFL team carries three backs and three tight ends on their active roster. That means the Ravens most likely have to do some shaving at these positions.

At the running back position, Trent Richardson is the most likely cut. Here’s a player that had to get into shape just to get a chance. Richardson has been hampered by injuries this offseason. He also failed to accomplish much with the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders. After that Richardson it gets tricky.

The Ravens drafted Kenneth Dixon and Buck Allen in back to back years. Both have potential to be a star. It’s hard to imagine them or Justin Forsett being cut. The Ravens will have to cut the player they are least invested in. Since the Ravens did not draft Terrence West he may be the next one on the chopping block. But will the Ravens keep Lorenzo Taliaferro? That would give the Ravens four running backs.

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Ben Watson, Crockett Gillmore and Maxx Williams should be safe. The Ravens signed Watson to be a difference maker. They drafted Gillmore and Williams to be the future stars of the position.

Then there was Dennis Pitta and Darren Waller. Waller is the most likely to be cut. Waller came into the league as a project receiver from Georgia Tech. The Ravens moved him to tight end. But with a good bit of help at the tight end position can they keep a project player?

The Ravens have to reevaluate their stance on Dennis Pitta’s return. Did the Ravens think about Pitta’s comeback saga as an emotional one, did it tie Ozzie Newsome’s hands? This is a player who had back to back season ending hip injuries. The Ravens moved on from a personnel standpoint. Keeping four tight ends and four running backs just is not happening. If Pitta stays, Taliaferro has to go.

The Ravens will have a hard time keeping seven wide receivers if they don’t trim down at the two positions they have stock piled. The top four receivers (Steve Smith Sr., Kamar Aiken, Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman) are locks for the roster. It’s hard to imagine the Ravens would let go of Chris Moore or Keenan Reynolds, who they drafted months ago. Does this mean good bye to Michael Campanaro? It seems like it would be in the Ravens best interest to find a way to keep seven receivers. Like previously stated, that means a hard decision or two at other positions.

Ladies and gentleman, through 500 words, we have not even gotten to the defense. That tells you a lot about the Ravens offensive position battles. On the defensive side of the football, life is a little more complicated. In a world where you cannot have enough defensive backs, the Ravens should not have to make many cuts in the secondary. We might see the end of Matt Elam’s stay in Baltimore, but I think these positions really take care of themselves.