9 Observations from Ravens' Depth Chart before first pre-season game

2023 Ravens Depth Chart: 3 Observations about the Defense

1. Rock Ya-Sin is down injured but holding onto the CB2 role

The Ravens handed the former Las Vegas Raider a nice deal this offseason to play opposite CB1 Marlon Humphrey and that's not going to change barring an unexpected turn of events.

Yes, Ya-Sin is currently injured and most probably will miss some pre-season reps both on the training fields and inside and away from M&T Bank Stadium in actual games. It will take a miracle for the trailing men to snatch the role from him but don't rule it out entirely.

Sophomore Jalyn Armour-Davis has looked hella strong and is listed as the second-string CB behind Ya-Sin.

Another interesting quirk: Pepe Williams is ahead of Arthur Maulet, though the DC doesn't feature a role for nickel corners and that's where Maulet should be deployed.

2. No surprises in the second line of D-Men

Chalky line, expected roles. All of Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, Roquan Smith, and Patrick Queen are expected to start game on defense behind a three-man front of tackles.

There is a chance veteran Tyus Bowser ends up getting starting reps when/if he gets back to the ground following his current stint in the PUP list and out of comission, but the future of the Ravens defense goes by the aforemented four defenders so the more playing time they can get, the soonest, the best for the franchise.

3. The Ravens knew what they were doing by extending Broderick Washington

Baltimore extended Washington to a three-year deal on Wednesday and although that happened after the DC was originally released, it aligns with BW's role on the defensive line as the PR team of the Ravens has him listed as the starting DE of the Flock D.

The two other most prominent options would have been Justin Madubuike and Michael Pierce, but it looks like the DT interesting got the benefit of the doubt here but getting slotted in the defensive end position instead with the team relying more on the other two to man the inside part of the line.

This feels like a fluid rotation, though, so don't set those roles and players in stone until we watch them all together on the field.

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