Well, that's a wrap on the Baltimore Ravens' preseason. They closed things out on an appropriately loud note, blowing out the Washington Commanders 41-3. All in all, the first preseason under Jesse Minter was pure dominance, as Baltimore outscored opponents 78-13.
More importantly, though, all eyes now shift toward Sunday's roster deadline, where the Ravens will finalize their 53-man roster. With that in mind, let's look at five bubble players who will be nervously awaiting Sunday at 6 PM.
5 Ravens under pressure as roster cutdown day looms
Rasheen Ali
Whether Rasheen Ali makes the final roster will come down to how many running backs the Ravens want to keep. If they keep four, he'll be on the roster. However, if they opt to keep three, Ali will be the odd man out. Of course, Derrick Henry and Justice Hill are ahead of Ali, but fifth-round pick Adam Randall should also get the nod over Ali. With Randall putting forth a solid showing in the Ravens' preseason finale, recording 70 all-purpose yards, Ali could be shown the door.
In his two seasons with the Ravens, Ali has mainly played on special teams, and that's a void Randall could surely fill. Rolling with just three running backs could allow the Ravens to bolster their offensive line depth and/or wide receiver depth. Both are areas of concern, adding to the possibility of Ali being cut.
Joe Fagnano
Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano was one of the biggest standouts in preseason for the Ravens. He delivered another gem on Friday, completing 19 of his 27 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. His poise in the pocket is frankly remarkable. I never thought that I'd say this before preseason, but the Ravens have a tough call to make at backup quarterback.
Keeping three quarterbacks wouldn't be conventional, but either him or Tyler Huntley could be used as a trade chip. The problem is that if you cut Fagnano, someone will quickly pick him up given his strong preseason play. Whether it's as a long-term backup for Lamar Jackson or a trade candidate, keeping Fagnano would make some sense for Baltimore.
Nevertheless, cutting Huntley, who is a dependable backup, would certainly be a surprise, and keeping three QBs would be a curious strategy given some of the other roster needs. Without a doubt, this will be one of the trickiest calls on Sunday. Whether it's in Baltimore or elsewhere, Fagnano has shown enough to be a backup QB, though.
Rayshaun Benny
Rayshaun Benny is in a tough spot. As a recent seventh-round pick, conventional wisdom would suggest that he should make the roster. Plus, he made his presence felt in preseason, recording a sack against the Minnesota Vikings and showcasing his run-stopping upside against the Commanders.
Unfortunately for Benny, the Ravens' defensive line is loaded. Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Calais Campbell, and John Jenkins are all shoo-ins. And since he sat out during the final preseason game, Broderick Washington's spot is seemingly secure. As such, it's likely between Benny and Aeneas Peebles for the final spot on the Ravens' D-line.
Peebles' pass-rushing upside could feasibly give him the edge over Benny. If he doesn't make the cut, Baltimore could look to keep him on the practice squad (assuming he clears waivers) and use his rookie season as a development year, meaning things wouldn't be too grim for him.
Ethan Burke
Undrafted rookie Ethan Burke captured the hearts of Ravens fans with his stellar preseason play. The 6-foot-6 pass rusher was constantly wreaking havoc. Most memorably, he recorded a forced fumble against the Commanders as well as a forced fumble and a sack against the Vikings. Furthermore, Burke has been a standout throughout training camp.
However, the question remains: Did Burke do enough to solidify a roster spot? With Trey Hendrickson, Mike Green, Zion Young, and Tavius Robinson, the Ravens have two established pass rushers and two blue-chip young players. Those guys are safe. It will be between Burke, Adisa Isaac, and Kaimon Rucker for a possible fifth or even sixth spot.
I firmly believe that Burke showed enough in preseason to earn a roster spot. Yet it remains to be seen if they'll give him the nod over the prestige of a former high pick in Isaac or perhaps simply stick with four pass rushers and a deeper middle/inside linebacker core. Hopefully, the Ravens could keep him on the practice squad if he doesn't make the final roster.
Adisa Isaac
Speaking of Isaac, he's one of the most well-discussed bubble players. The third-round pick in 2024 still has some level of upside. However, he's appeared in just four games across two seasons, battling numerous injuries. Now that he's fully healthy, the Ravens might want to keep him around and see what he can do.
Still, in terms of performance, both Burke and Rucker played better than Isaac in the preseason. Isaac closed out preseason on a high note, recording a sack in the fourth quarter. Entering Friday's game, though, Isaac hadn't recorded a single stat in over 30 preseason snaps. Not ideal, to say the least.
How much belief the Ravens have in Isaac will determine their course of action. Again, if it's between him and Burke, I'd go with the latter. Regardless, I understand not wanting to give up on a third-round pick who has been hampered by injuries, and it would be unfortunate to never truly see Isaac's potential.
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