Let’s take an early look at the Ravens projected roster for the 2020 season. We took a long look at draft prospects we thought fit the Ravens, and detailed analyses of those players can be found here. The Ravens did a solid job and all but one of their selections had made our list.
With that information in mind, we’ll take a preliminary look at the Ravens projected roster for 2020. The Ravens added ten players in the just-concluded NFL draft, and have purportedly signed 20 more undrafted free agents. Here’s a look at the 53 players for the Ravens projected roster for 2020.
Ravens Projected Roster: Offense
We are estimating 24 offensive player slots.
Quarterbacks
Three projected Slots: Lamar Jackson, Robert Griffin III, and undrafted Tyler Huntley. We believe Huntley possesses traits more closely tracking Lamar Jackson than Trace McSorley, noting that Huntley improved nicely last year.
Running Backs
Four Projected Slots: Mark Ingram, Justice Hill, Gus Edwards, and J.K. Dobbins
Fullback
One Slot: Patrick Ricard
Offensive Line
Eight Slots: Ronnie Stanley, Bradley Bozeman, Matt Skura, Patrick Mekari, Orlando Brown, Jr., and Ben Powers are locks, leaving an open competition for the two remaining slots. Drafting rookies Tyre Phillips and Ben Bredeson have the inside tracks, with likely only veteran Andre Smith as competition. We consider each of the undrafted free agents as very unlikely prospects (Sean Pollard, Tristian Colon-Castillo, Will Holden, Daishawn Dixon, and R.J. Prince).
Tight Ends
Three Slots: Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, and Charles Scarff. There’s an open competition for that third and final slot, with undrafted free agents Jacob Breeland and Eli Wolf as serious long shots.
Wide Receivers
Five Slots: Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin, Willie Snead IV, and Devin Duvernay are locks. This leaves one slot, with sixth-round pick James Proche having the initial inside track. Indeed, given that the Ravens traded up to get Proche, he would have to be a major disappointment through training camp to not make the team. A good analysis of Proche can be found here.
Jaleel Scott and Chris Moore are the primary competition for Proche, although we believe Moore is likely a much longer shot than Scott if the Ravens have identified a strong special teams player to take Moore’s spot. The Ravens clearly do not consider Moore as a useful fifth receiver. We don’t see Antoine Wesley or Sean Modster, holdovers from the practice squad, as having any real chance to make the team (similarly so for undrafted Jaylon Moore, though, frankly, we know little about Jaylon).
Ravens Projected Roster: Specialists
As usual, there will be three designated specialists: Justin Tucker, sam Koch, and Morgan Cox. Tucker’s replacement is inconceivable. Koch still had a very solid year last year so, notwithstanding his age, we see him as a firm lock as well. And similarly so for Cox. It’s hard to see a newcomer breaking in here.
Ravens Projected Roster: Defense
We initially are projecting 25 available slots.
Defensive Line
Six Slots: Calais Campbell, Brndon Williams, Derek Wolfe and Justin Madubuike are locks. We consider Daylon Mack as a favorite for the fifth slot. This leaves fifth-round rookie Broderick Washington and Justin Ellis competing for the final spot, and we see Washington as the favorite at this point. By adding veterans Campbell and Wolfe, and presuming Mack shows well at the nose, Ellis’ value diminishes. In all, we believe Mack and Washington will fill in the fifth and sixth slots.
Outside Linebacker
Five Slots: Matthew Judon, Jaylon Ferguson, Tyus Bowser and Jihad Ward are locks here. Holdover Aaron Ayodele along with John Daka (who is probably too small) are reasonable longshots. However, we believe the Ravens will add a veteran here, either Pernell McPhee or Clay Matthews (or perhaps someone else), and we make not-yet-on-the-roster veteran as the likely fifth player.
Inside Linebacker
Four Slots: A.J. Fort, Patrick Queen, and Malik Harrison are locks. It is likely a very open competition for the fourth slot between Otaro Alaka, Jake Ryan and Chris Board, and we don’t believe there is a clear favorite at this point. We were very impressed with Alaka’s play last preseason and think he presents interesting possibilities. The challenge, among other things for Alaka, is that he is essentially a rookie and we question whether the Ravens would fill three-fourths of their inside linebacking corps with players who have no NFL experience.
Cornerback
Five Slots: This group is essentially set. Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Jimmy Smith, Tavon Young, and Iman Marshall are locks. If the Ravens keep a sixth corner then Anthony Averett has the clear edge as we think the undrafted free agent cornerback group is suspect.
Safety
Five Slots: Four of these spots are locked in, with Earl Thomas, Chuck Clark, DeShon Elliott and Anthony Levine Sr. We believe Geno Stone has a clear edge over Jordan Richards for the fifth slot.
One Remaining Slot
At this point, the roster total is 52 players. There would be one more slot left, no doubt with a special teams focus. The competition there is probably between Jordan Richards and perhaps Chris Moore at this point. We think kick return De’Anthony Thomas will have a shot as a pure return man (he’s not really in the wide receiver competition). The key there is whether any of the rookie wide receivers can challenge for the returner role.
