The countdown until the Baltimore Ravens get back out there at training camp is getting closer. As the time goes, we are going through the Ravens roster from 90 to one to look at which players will impact games the most. We are onto the top 53 players, so we are onto the players who should make the roster.
Today, we look at number 51, center Sam Mustipher.
Baltimore Ravens 2023 roster ranking: No. 51 Sam Mustipher
Sam Mustipher was a UDFA with the Chicago Bears back in 2019. After spending a year on the practice squad, he was thrown into the mix back in 2020 due to injuries. He held his own for seven starters, and that led to him being the starter for the following two seasons.
Still, the issue is that the Chicago Bears saw their team fall apart, mainly because of their offensive line was a major issue. So, for Mustipher, it was a win because he earned himself a career in the NFL as a UDFA. For the Bears, it was a loss because they had a weakness at center.
Sam Mustipher fits in much better on the Baltimore Ravens. As we noted, he has proven that he belongs in the NFL. The issue is that he may not belong as a starter. As a reliable backup, you would love to have a guy who is just 27 years old and has 40 career starts. In an emergency, you can do a lot worse than this.
Still, he is number 51 for a reason. Tyler Linderbaum is entering his second season. He is a former first-round pick, and he is expected to be the long-term future at center. Barring health, Sam Mustipher will not play a single snap all season. He is for emergency purposes only.
Patrick Mekari may be the backup at left tackle, but he can play left tackle in a pinch. So, if Linderbaum got hurt in the game, they may keep Mekari active and let Mustipher be inactive to save a roster spot. He may only dress on gamedays if an injury occurs. So, that is good for putting him at 51st on this list.