While all players would love to make the 53-man roster, it is only possible for so many. However, the dream lives on for a lot of players when the practice squad comes around. This is a great chance for the Baltimore Ravens to hang onto players who are young and up-and-coming, or players who may be ready to come in and play in a pinch when an injury occurs.
Which players on the Baltimore Ravens' current 90-man roster have great chances to stick back on the practice squad?
5. Tashawn Manning is a lock for the Baltimore Ravens practice squad
Tashawn Manning was one of the higher-rated UDFA rookies to come from the 2022 draft class. Manning started his career at Auburn but transferred to Kentucky, where he was able to play more and make his case for the NFL. He was invited to the NFL Combine, which shows that he had a strong chance of being drafted.
Now, he has a strong chance of making the Ravens practice squad. Of all of the offensive linemen, he was sixth in snaps behind Daniel Faalele, Ben Cleveland, Sam Mustipher, John Simpson, and Sala Aumavae-Laulu. So, the Ravens really needed to see those five, and right after that, they were getting Manning work.
Manning played 45 snaps in two weeks, all at right guard. Kevin Zeitler does not appear to be long for this roster after the 2023 season. Ben Cleveland is not the coach's favorite player, and Andrew Vorhees is coming off an ACL injury. All three of those situations will open the door for Manning, and give him a chance to make the team next season.
4. The Baltimore Ravens have to keep Travis Vokolek
After the second preseason game, some fans are wondering if Travis Vokolek will even make it to the practice squad. With two touchdowns in his most recent games, fans are excited, but he does have just five catches for 58 yards so far this preseason, and he was a UDFA, so this seems like a prime practice squad player.
Vokolek fits the mold of recent Ravens tight ends because he flashed as a passer but struggled mightily as a blocker this preseason. When looking at the Ravens roster, that is the last thing they need. They have Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar, who are all better pass-catching options. Kolar had more yards this preseason on fewer receptions than Vokolek.
Patrick Ricard will essentially be the blocking tight end, and the team needs him over Vokolek because they would not have a strong blocker otherwise. Even another strong performance from Vokolek should not hurt his chances of turning around and signing with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.
3. Melvin Gordon will circle back to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad
We are not sure how many running backs the Baltimore Ravens will carry, and we are not sure of the status of Keaton Mitchell, who may stick with the team. However, we are sure that Mitchell is ahead of Melvin Gordon, who feels like a lock to safely sign on the practice squad.
First, Gordon was on the practice squad with the Kansas City Chiefs late last year. He did not create buzz or get picked off, and he was fine with his role of helping a playoff team. That could be similar in Baltimore. More than that, between Gordon and Mitchell, it is easier to see Gordon stick around.
Mitchell has to clear waivers, so it would not be in his control if another team wanted him that bad. For Gordon, once he is cut, he ca sign wherever he chooses. That means that if he wanted to stay with the Ravens on the practice squad, he could sign there seconds after getting cut. This makes the team feel safer letting him go and bringing him back around.
2. The Baltimore Ravens have to keep Malik Hamm in the mix
Malik Hamm, the rookie UDFA from Lafayette, has made a name for himself in the preseason. He should have locked down a spot on the practice squad, and with the injury status of Tyus Bowser, the Ravens may even use him for an elevation or two early in the season.
Hamm has been filling into the Bowser role on the defense, which is a defined role. Hamm drops into coverage and rushes the passer in a variety of ways that match the skill set of Bowser.
Still, the Ravens started Tavius Robinson in the first preseason game and Jeremiah Moon in the second preseason game. Robinson is a rookie draft pick, so the UDFA has to work twice as hard to beat him. Moon is in his second NFL season and appears to have the coaches trust a tick more. This will push Hamm off of the 53-man roster but is a strong candidate to circle back to the practice squad.
He flashed enough for the Ravens but not enough to get claimed, and more than that, only so many teams value the fact that he has a specific skill set. Look for Hamm to come back in 2024 and compete for a spot after some time on the practice squad.
1. Josh Ross is a prime candidate for the Baltimore Ravens practice squad
Josh Ross is another former UDFA who should find his way onto the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. Last season, he was on the 53-man roster, an impressive feat for a rookie who was not drafted. He did have an edge of knowing the Mike MacDonald defense, but he was ascending nonetheless.
Then, an injury ended his year after just two seasons. This crushed his chances, but what was worse was seeing the Ravens trade for Roquan Smith and then draft Trenton Simpson in the months following his injury.
So, by the time he came back into the mix, he was two pegs down from before. Del'Shawn Phillips was also healthy that whole time, and he has been winning the coaches over for the past year. Phillips is still ahead of Simpson, let alone Ross, so Ross has almost no chance to make the roster.
Still, he has not done much to catch the eyes of any other teams, and he is still coming off the injury, so Baltimore knows his health status better than anyone. He knows the MacDonald and would stay in Baltimore if it came to it. He should be a lock for the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.