The Baltimore Ravens released their first "official" depth chart for the 2023 season on Wednesday ahead of the first pre-season game to be played by the Flock Nation against the Philadelphia Eagles next Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium.
It's worth noting that this depth chart was put together by the franchise's Public Relations staff, and not the coaches, so it's not that the names and roles are set in stone not align with the reality of the roster and the staff thoughts about the different players still part of the organization.
That said, it's an interesting exercise to review the first installment of the Ravens depth chart if only to know where things (at least to an extent and approximately) stand with just hours before the pre-season start with the first game and the regular season gets rolling in less than a month.
Parker Hurley already put together some instant reactions to the DC once the official release dropped.
Today, we're reviewing the depth chart once more in further detail to offer some different highlights and takeaways that could point toward the short-term direction of the team entering the 2023 season.
Let's start with the Special Teams of the 2023 Baltimore Ravens.
2023 Ravens Depth Chart: 3 Observations about the Special Teams
🚨 First Baltimore Ravens Depth Chart for the 2023 Season. Special Teams. pic.twitter.com/vjK52S7fpz
— Ebony Bird (@Ebony_Bird) August 10, 2023
1. GOAT Justin Tucker returns but gets to play along Tyler Ott's new face
The Ravens lost Nick Moore for the 2023 season with an Achilles' injury right before the start of camp.
The franchise quickly moved on and offered former Pro Bowl Long Snapper and Seattle Seahawk Tyler Ott a one-year deal to launch the ball toward Justin Tucker's direction.
It was a savage, sudden, and extraordinary move made by Baltimore and one that we will love next year.
2. Devin Duvernay is (even more of) a lock to make the final 53-man roster
Duvernay leads the way for the special team returners on both kicks and punts, which should be more than enough for him to have a guaranteed spot in the final roster to be submitted to the NFL by the Ravens at the end of August.
Duvernay, a wide receiver, is going to face stout competition for touches at the WR position with all of Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., and Rashod Bateman already ahead of him in the pecking order.
Having a sizable role in ST is surely going to help him make the cut if only because of the added value he brings to the table.
3. WR James Proche and UDFA RB Keaton Mitchell are very much in the bubble
Proche is in a precarious position when it comes to getting named a 53-man wideout. Consider him a worst-case-scenario Duvernay if you wish. That, though, might not be entirely bad if he can snatch a place among the top-of-the-order ST playmakers.
The same goes for UDFA RB Keaton Mitchell and the running back room. The backfield of the Ravens is hella loaded one month from kick-off.
Assuming J.K. Dobbins returns and plays, Mitchell will need to overtake at least veteran free-agent signee Melvin Gordon and fight against the likes of Justice Hill. If he can prove his talents as a returned he might have a slight advantage over MG3.