As the Baltimore Ravens cut the roster down to 53 we will slowly shift to their week one opponent. However, there are a few more notes to follow before we shift to a game week. What are some of the bigger-picture wins from the Ravens roster cuts?
4. Ben Mason has a clear path to the Baltimore Ravens roster in 2024
This was the plan all along, the Baltimore Ravens will say, when Ben Mason actually makes the roster in 2024. They drafted him back in 2021 because they thought he would be the replacement for Patrick Ricard. We are now in 2023, and that has not happened yet.
Mason was cut in 2021 and actually bounced around the NFL before coming back. He had short stints with the Patriots and Bears, so no, this was not how the Baltimore Ravens envisioned it when they drafted him.
Still, he did circle back, and he spent all of 2022 on the practice squad despite getting cut again. In 2023, he is back on the practice squad. Considering he did not get snagged all of last season and once again passed through waivers, it is hard to see anyone interested in Ben Mason in 2023.
So, he now gets to the roster into the offseason and into the 2024 season. Patrick Ricard would save the Ravens nearly $4M if they cut him, so this would become a bit of a no-brainer. The Ravens would be able to move on from Patrick Ricard, and finally, once and for all, Ben Mason will make the roster.
Ben Mason is a winner because if he does not make the roster in 2024, that will be the end of his time with the team. There will be no more Ricard blocking his path.
3. Keaton Mitchell is in the Baltimore Ravens long term plans
This one has been a bit more publicized than Ben Mason. Still, the UDFA is a huge winner. This is not just a win for this season, though, this has long-term implications. In fact, Mitchell still may end up on the IR and not playing at all this season. Even if he is healthy it is hard to see him being active.
He is not as refined as Justice Hill, and is not the return man that Devin Duvernay is, so his two best roles are booked on gameday. However, he has a great chance to be on the roster next season. Justice Hill will be signed, but the could save some money by moving on.
They probably will not because both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards are free agents after this year. There is a good chance that both of them will be gone. So, the need for Hill is there, but the Ravens would really look for Mitchell to step up here.
He has flashed as a rookie, but if he spends a full year with Dobbins and in the NFL facilities he could come into the 2024 season ready to earn a role that Dobbins had this year. So, even if you do not see Mitchell much this year, remember that he could be in the plans for next year in a big way.
1. and 2. The Baltimore Ravens kept two unproven cornerbacks
The Baltimore Ravens kept a surprising eight cornerbacks. With Kevon Seymour coming back, it is technically nine, but they may have to place a cornerback on IR to make room for Seymour. Right now, reports are that it will not be Arthur Maulet and Jalyn Armour-Davis.
These two were right on the chopping block as cut day approached. Armour-Davis missed the first two preseason games, and after missing the entire preseason in his rookie year, he was skating on thin ice. He did just enough to beat out Kyu Bu Kelly, who is now on the Seattle Seahawks.
Maulet did not even play in the preseason. Still, he had two things on his side. First, he is a veteran and started for the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, so the Ravens know what he is, unlike Armour-Davis. Second, the Ravens need slot cornerback in the worst way.
The odds are that the Ravens will place Pepe Williams in the IR, which only makes the need for Maulet much greater. Maulet could be in the starting lineup soon if they trust him over Ar'Darius Washington and he gets healthy enough. Armour-Davis stays in the plans for one more season at a time. Both are winners.