The Baltimore Ravens are less than a week away from final cuts. Next Tuesday, at 4 p.m. ET, all 32 NFL teams will be required to trim their rosters down from 80 to 53 players.
It’s a day that always features intrigue and concern for those who find themselves on the roster bubble. And this year will be no different.
That said, there is something to be said for the revised roster rules the NFL has implemented over the last couple of years.
The addition of a 16-man practice squad — one that allows veterans and not just young players — combined with the new 55-man game day rosters allow for plenty of roster shuffling.
That is to say that the initial 53-man roster matters much less than it has in the past. Plenty of the players cut next Tuesday will find their way onto the active roster at some point during the season.
And they may even spend more time on the active roster than some of their teammates that survive final cuts.
Simply put, being cut is hardly the end of the world. But there is something to be said for making the original 53-man roster. It’s a sense of pride — a reward for an impressive summer.
The three players on this list deserve that reward after making a strong case for a roster spot over the last couple of months.
Let’s take a look at three players on the roster bubble who deserve to make the team.