3 Ravens position battles are already won but 3 are still up for grabs

The Baltimore Ravens have had a hot start to training camp. There were a whole lot of changes made this offseason, and thus far, most of them are proving to be worth the investment.

After such a horrendous 2025 campaign, the Ravens had more areas to fix than they would’ve liked. However, they turned over pretty much every stone, filling need after need, and putting together a roster that looks as strong as an ox.

With all those improvements, there are several position battles to watch in camp. Through the first week of action, a few appear to be already sorted out. A number of others, though, remain up for grabs.

Crucial position battles are starting to take shape at Baltimore Ravens training camp

Won: Third-string QB

Baltimore’s third-string quarterback isn’t a huge deal—when you have Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley, you’re set. Still, with injuries ravaging through the team in 2025, every piece of depth is critical. In all likelihood, it’ll be Skylar Thompson who sticks around as that piece to back up Huntley.

Thompson had a fairly easy road to the QB3 spot. He was battling two undrafted rookies for positioning on the depth chart, and after Diego Pavia was waived, it was down to Thompson and Joe Fagnano. While Thompson has flashed, Fagnano hasn’t done much of note.

Barring any trade ahead of the regular season, Thompson should be the third-stringer.

Up for grabs: Center

The Ravens appeared to have their center position decided when they signed veteran Ethan Pocic in June. Nothing’s a given, though. The coaching staff has made it abundantly clear that it’s an open competition.

While Pocic has the experience over Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn, Pinter and Gwyn had the time throughout the offseason to impress Baltimore’s coaching staff. Last time he spoke, Eric DeCosta sounded convinced by Pinter, and Gwyn is entering his fourth straight season with Dwayne Ledford as his offensive line coach. That’s something to keep an eye on.

And for what it’s worth, in the team’s unofficial depth chart ahead of preseason action, the center position is clearly unsettled.

Won: Offensive guard

Was this ever a battle? Not necessarily. The Ravens signed John Simpson to a three-year, $30 million contract and drafted Vega Ioane in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Those are two pieces that were going to demand starting reps.

However, Simpson has had his fair share of struggles, and Ioane was unproven entering the summer stretch. It appears both have locked down every starting rep there is to have along the offensive line, and for Ioane, he’s passing every test thrown his way. There’s not much uncertainty there anymore.

With their investments being validated, there’s a little less reason to be worried about the offensive line entering 2026.

Up for grabs: Backup slot corner

For the most part, the Ravens’ cornerback section of the depth chart is settled. Their starters should be the same as last year’s, Kyle Hamilton will rotate down there from his safety spot, and T.J. Tampa is the go-to backup on the boundary. But when it comes to the backup slot option, there’s a lot to think about.

Truly, the competition is between two guys: Keyon Martin and Chandler Rivers. They’re two feisty young corners eager to make their mark.

For Martin, he obviously has a year of experience on Rivers. He made great efforts on special teams in 2025 and also had a sporadic impact on the defensive side of the football. The coaches loved him then, and the new coaching staff is already loving him, too.

In Rivers’ case, he was considered a steal coming out of the 2026 NFL Draft. It may have been a bit of a slow start, but he’s really coming into his own. As a result, he’s starting to get the recognition he deserves over the past week.

Won: Backup running back

Justice Hill is healthy, and he’s ready to remind everyone why he’s the RB2 in Baltimore. Despite the team drafting Adam Randall in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, he hasn’t made much progress in his climb up the depth chart. For Hill, though, he’s trending toward being a key piece of the offense.

Hill has the edge on everyone behind Derrick Henry because he’s as versatile as can be. He can run, he can catch, he can block—he does it all at a respectable level. And even with the coaching shift, his importance to the team remains as clear as ever.

Maybe Randall gains ground later in the year as he continues to learn the position, but for now, Hill’s the backup to Henry, and it’s not particularly close.

Up for grabs: WR3

This is the one that has everyone excited. The Ravens lack proven depth behind Zay Flowers, so it’s crucial that someone breaks out in camp and starts banging the table for targets. It sounds like we’re getting that.

Ja’Kobi Lane has been stealing the show at every step of the way. It seems evident that he’s the pack leader. But the dust hasn't settled yet—he’s just a rookie and needs to do more than make plays on the practice field.

Racing to the finish line alongside Lane are Devontez Walker and Elijah Sarratt. Walker has had a strong camp of his own, and Sarratt is finally starting to emerge over the last few days. Sure, they’ve likely fallen behind Lane, but there’s so much potential between those three that it’s a battle that Baltimore should let ride out until the end of preseason.

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