Ravens’ recent draft picks face uncertain future in 53-man roster prediction

After Week 1 of NFL preseason action, teams are beginning to get an understanding of which rookies and fringe-roster players will contribute the most in the regular season. For the Baltimore Ravens, many of these contributors flashed, and although others disappointed, there is still time for them to make a name for themselves. That clock is ticking, though.

Teams have two games left to go before they must start making roster cuts. That is plenty of reps, but the end of the month is fast approaching. Here is what the initial 53-man roster could shape out to look like for the Ravens after Week 1 of preseason.

Quarterback (2): Lamar Jackson, Cooper Rush

This position is self-explanatory. Lamar Jackson is coming off a career year where he tallied 41 touchdowns and 4,172 yards through the air, and another four touchdowns and 915 yards on the ground. In 2025, he is looking to finally lead his team to the Super Bowl.

Backing him up is Cooper Rush, who signed with Baltimore for $6.2 million over two years. He struggled in his preseason debut against the Indianapolis Colts, going 2/4 for 16 yards and an interception. However, he was a stable backup with the Dallas Cowboys over the past several seasons.

Running Back (4): Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, Patrick Ricard

This running back trio could be the NFL’s most lethal in 2025. Derrick Henry is the most feared back in the league and pairs nicely with veteran Justice Hill, who is a tremendous option to have on third downs as both a pass catcher and blocker. Keaton Mitchell is ready to take this unit to the next level.

In his rookie campaign in 2023, Mitchell torched opposing defenses for 8.4 yards per carry (47 rushes for 396 yards). He was a step slower in 2024, coming off a freak injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he tore his ACL, PCL, LCL, and hamstring. Against the Colts, he looked back up to speed, running for 68 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

Second-year player out of Marshall, Rasheen Ali, misses the cut here, as Mitchell could steal the kick return job, too. Although Ali had the bigger play there on Thursday night, he might be forced out the door due to the limited number of roster spots.

Wide Receiver (6): Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Devontez Walker, Tylan Wallace, LaJohntay Wester

The Ravens almost always keep six wide receivers, and these have been the top six for the entire offseason. DeAndre Hopkins could be the missing piece, adding a physical threat next to Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.

Off the bench, Devontez Walker is breaking out in camp and could be a key rotational piece alongside Tylan Wallace. The final spot goes to LaJohntay Wester, who is running away with the punt return job by the looks of it. He ran one back for a touchdown against Indianapolis and was efficient in the other reps he got, finishing with 104 punt return yards.

Tight End (3): Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar

This is another position where the Ravens should be the best this year. Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely are considered the best tight end duo in football, and Charlie Kolar is a talented weapon who can be a key contributor if he gets the playing time.

Unfortunately, Likely is recovering from a minor fracture in his foot, which puts his status for Week 1 of the regular season in jeopardy. It sounds like there is a chance that he is ready to go, but in the case he is not, Kolar should be able to handle the workload.

Offensive Line (9): Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Joe Noteboom, Ben Cleveland, Corey Bullock, Carson Vinson

The starting offensive line is pretty cut and dry. Ben Cleveland was giving Andrew Vorhees a run for his money, but head coach John Harbaugh mentioned Vorhees has taken the lead in that competition. The questions come down to the final two or three linemen.

Here, Baltimore keeps nine offensive linemen, focusing on players with versatility to play inside positions. Vorhees and Cleveland have yet to show NFL-caliber traits, and Daniel Faalele has been inconsistent. 

In relief, Baltimore could keep Joe Noteboom and Corey Bullock, who both provide versatility. Bullock steals a roster spot from Nick Samac and Garrett Dellinger after an impressive camp, and at this point, Emery Jones Jr. is likely to land on injured reserve.

Interior Defensive Line (6): Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington Jr., Aeneas Peebles, John Jenkins, Brent Urban

The defensive line room has quickly become crowded. The starting trio of Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, and Broderick Washington Jr. is set in stone, but the rotational spots are up for grabs.

The two veteran signings, John Jenkins and Brent Urban, take roster spots. Jenkins appears to be the team’s go-to run stuffer next to Jones, and Urban comes back for another season with the Ravens to play across the line of scrimmage and knock passes down.

Rookie sixth-round pick Aeneas Peebles also sneaks in, offering firepower up the middle as an energetic pass rusher. That leaves early preseason standouts C.J. Ravenell and Basil Okoye as the odd men out.

EDGE (5): Kyle Van Noy, Odafe Oweh, Mike Green, Tavius Robinson, Adisa Isaac

Baltimore’s pass rush group has the chance to be as explosive as any team in the league in 2025. Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh are coming off career years with 12.5 and 10 sacks, respectively. Mike Green is already looking like a bona fide star, Tavius Robinson is getting a ton of hype from the coaching staff, and Adisa Isaac had an electric start to the preseason.

While the potential of David Ojabo is intriguing, there is no room for him in Baltimore. Injuries can be cruel, and they derailed a possibly outstanding Ravens career. Hopefully, he can catch on elsewhere.

Inside Linebacker (5): Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan, Jake Hummel, Jay Higgins

The Ravens are still looking for Patrick Queen’s replacement. Trenton Simpson failed to fill the void in 2024, but he is once again assuming the role alongside All-Pro Roquan Smith. 2025 fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan will also compete for snaps, and Jake Hummel takes Chris Board’s place on the special teams unit. The real intrigue is centered around the undrafted free agent Jay Higgins.

Higgins was the best player on Baltimore’s defense against the Colts. He intercepted a pass and knocked two away, one of which was the game-winner. He is an electric player and one of those guys the Ravens must find a way to keep on their roster.

Cornerback (7): Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, Jalyn Armour-Davis, T.J. Tampa, Reuben Lowery

Unlike last year, this year’s pass defense should be elite. They gave up the second-most yards in 2024, but the additions of Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie should vastly improve the unit. Nate Wiggins is expected to have a massive second-year leap, as well.

Jalyn Armour-Davis and T.J. Tampa will be searching for snaps in 2025, but the talent is there. Armour-Davis could also see snaps at safety. Finally, Reuben Lowery clinches the final corner spot. Earlier in the offseason, he had an uphill climb, but season-ending injuries to rookies Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam have given him every chance to make the final cut.

Safety (3): Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Sanoussi Kane

On paper, the Ravens only keep three safeties here, but their positionless secondary will allow them to draw up various schemes. Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks are all-around players themselves, and it is sounding increasingly likely that Armour-Davis will get looks at the position.

In this prediction, Sanoussi Kane gets the nod over Beau Brade. Both second-year pros have been impressive, but Kane has had the edge over Brade for the duration of the offseason, and as of now, it should stay that way.

Special Teams (3): Nick Moore, Tyler Loop, Jordan Stout

These are the only three specialists left on the roster. Tyler Loop beat out undrafted rookie John Hoyland for the starting kicker job and has only earned more belief since. Nick Moore is back for another year, and Jordan Stout is in a prove-it year, as he has yet to show consistency.

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