While the Baltimore Ravens tend to be a very strong drafting organization, every team has their misses. When it comes to the third round, it feels like that’s been Baltimore’s kryptonite, and one of their more notable busts in recent years is 2021 third-rounder Ben Cleveland.
Given the atrocity that was the Ravens’ offensive guard situation, Cleveland had shot after shot to carve out a starting role. That never happened, and on January 1, a significantly disappointing tenure finally ended in his release.
It didn’t take long for him to land with the Los Angeles Chargers, and with how many former Ravens have played for the Chargers in the past, that team may have been Cleveland’s best shot at redemption. Unfortunately for him, he’s already run out of time. On Monday, Los Angeles released Cleveland.
Baltimore Ravens fans shouldn’t be shocked at all by Ben Cleveland’s Chargers release
If you’re a Ravens fan, this shouldn’t come as a shock at all. If 2025 starting guards Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees were horrendous, then Cleveland was absolutely appalling to watch. He was that bad.
When you’re drafted in the third round by a team that has really only had one stable guard in the past five years (Kevin Zeitler), there’s some expectation that you can at least make consistent starts. Cleveland made a total of…seven starts. He did appear in 64 games, but that was mainly as a special teamer, and with his massive frame, that was pretty much the only thing he was good at.
Cleveland’s three-game suspension in 2025 due to a DUI arrest was the last straw for Baltimore, as he was waived immediately after it ended. Rightfully so, too. Many debated if he deserved that deal he signed in the previous offseason, and clearly, he wasn’t deserving.
Initially, it looked like Cleveland’s career had a chance at revival. With the Chargers, he was back under the coaching of another Harbaugh in Jim Harbaugh. Alas, even after signing a futures contract this past offseason, it took just under seven months before his time had already run its course there. He didn’t even make it to training camp either.
It’s still possible that Cleveland rebounds and finds a way onto a roster in the middle of camp. Despite his seemingly endless struggles, the experience can be valuable.
At this point, though, he might be nothing more than an extra body rather than someone with a realistic shot at making a 53-man roster. At the very best, he’ll sneak onto a practice squad this year. However, with the way things are going, that’s looking more unrealistic by the day.
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