The days are getting closer to training camp as we start to break down the top players on the Baltimore Ravens roster. We started at 90 and now are into the top 53 players who may be impacting games on Sunday.
Today the focus is on number 53, cornerback Ar'Darius Washington.
Baltimore Ravens 2023 roster ranking: No. 53 Ar'Darius Washington
Ar'Darius Washington is entering his third NFL season, all of them with the Baltimore Ravens. He was a former UDFA who has stuck around for a few years now. Still, while he has held down his job, and he has gotten the call-up to the NFL at times, he has just 32 career defensive snaps and 52 career special teams snaps.
Most of his career has been on the practice squad. Still, as shown by his ranking, the team would like to see a step and it may be with him spending a year on the roster. The chance will be in his hands.
Washington has moved around from free safety to the slot. When you look at the safety depth chart, it is currently pretty thin. Brandon Stephens will technically play safety, and Geno Stone will back up Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton. However, Washington is the clear fifth safety if they so happened to keep one.
Then, in the slot, you can argue Kyle Hamilton will play there, and then Pepe Williams beat out Washington last year. Still, you can argue that Washington would be third in the slot. The fact that Hamilton is getting slot snaps makes keeping a fifth safety more sensible, or the fact that Hamilton will not play the slot makes having Washington as the backup slot more sensible.
Both factors led to Ar'Darius Washington sticking on the roster this time around. Of course, if they feel they need more help on the outside, they bring in a depth safety, or Washington does not earn it, he may not make the roster. Beyond that, in a perfect world where everyone is healthy, he still is fighting to avoid being inactive, even if he is in the top 53. It is a nice start to move up the roster, but he needs to show more to get inside the top 50 next year.