Which Positions Could Ravens Look to Upgrade in Wake of Roster Cuts?
The Ravens' initial 53-man roster didn't produce many surprises, but there is likely to be some tweaking before the season opener at the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 5.
"General Manager Eric DeCosta will be poring over the list of players cut by other teams — maybe to find depth at edge rusher or running back? — and working to finalize the practice squad," The Baltimore Banner's Jonas Shaffer wrote. "That work never ends."
Another position group that could see additions/subtractions is the offensive line. The Ravens kept 10 offensive linemen, but the unit likely remains a work in progress.
"Whether talking about the starting five or reliable backups, this group still has plenty of questions and concerns, so you'd expect DeCosta and the personnel department to explore outside options to try to improve the depth at the very least," Baltimore Positive’s Luke Jones wrote.
The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec expressed a similar opinion but said there might not be many viable players available.
"There certainly appears to be room for upgrades — whether it's at guard or even in the ninth and 10th spots, currently occupied by rookie seventh-round pick Nick Samac and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu," Zrebiec wrote. "Finding quality offensive line help at this time of year, though, is a challenge."
As for the Ravens' roster cuts yesterday, Zrebiec said the only move that could be remotely categorized as a surprise was veteran wide receiver Anthony Miller being released.
"It says a lot for how predictable this year's cutdown day for the Ravens was that the most surprising cut was a wide receiver who signed with the team about midway through training camp and hasn't caught a pass in an NFL regular-season game since 2021," Zrebiec wrote. "The reality was that there were no real surprises this year for the Ravens, who had a good number of their moves on perceived 'bubble' guys impacted by injuries.
"Miller was practicing well and moving around the field at a different speed than many of the other Ravens receivers. Baltimore had some uncertainty at wide receiver beyond its top three of Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor, and you could have made a case for Miller, a former Chicago Bears second-round pick, to get one of those final spots."
Baltimore Beatdown’s Zach Canter said the biggest disappointment was undrafted rookie wide receiver Dayton Wade not making the team.
"Outside of Tylan Wallace, Wade was by far the most consistent and flashy wide receiver in preseason," Canter wrote. "Deonte Harty made the roster as a returner despite not showing much during camp or preseason and offering little as a receiver. Hopefully Wade can sneak through waivers to wind up on the practice squad."
Former Raven Tony Jefferson Makes Chargers' 53-Man Roster, Tyler Huntley Makes Browns Roster
Former Ravens safety Tony Jefferson's comeback bid a year after announcing his retirement has cleared the first hurdle, as he made the Los Angeles Chargers' 53-man roster.
Jefferson, who started 35 games for the Ravens from 2017-2019 and was a scouting intern for the team last year, had an outstanding preseason for the Chargers.
He suffered a major knee injury five games into the 2019 season and spent the entire 2020 season out of football before the Ravens gave him his first real chance back in the league (after the San Francisco 49ers barely gave him any playing time) late in the 2021 season. Jefferson played with the New York Giants in 2022 after being released by the Ravens in training camp.
Another former Raven who was considered to be on the roster bubble, quarterback Tyler Huntley, made the Cleveland Browns' roster. Huntley is joined on the 53-man roster by starter Deshaun Watson and backups Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Huntley and Winston reportedly are on the trade block.
Shaun Wade, James Proche, Miles Boykin Among Ex-Ravens Cut
A number of former Ravens were cut yesterday.
Perhaps the most surprising was cornerback Shaun Wade by the New England Patriots. The Ravens selected Wade in the fifth round in 2021 but traded him to the Patriots before the start of the regular season.
Wade played in 14 games last season, including six as a starter.
Here's a look at other ex-Ravens who were cut:
- Buffalo Bills: QB Anthony Brown, WR Andy Isabella
- Miami Dolphins: DT Isaiah Mack
- New York Giants: WR Miles Boykin
- Cleveland Browns: WR James Proche
- Pittsburgh Steelers: DB Anthony Averett
- Indianapolis Colts: WR Laquon Treadwell, TE Eric Tomlinson
- Denver Broncos: RB Tyler Badie, C Sam Mustipher
- Washington Commanders: QB Trace McSorley, CB Kyu Blu Kelly
- Green Bay Packers: LB Kristian Welch
- San Francisco 49ers: CB Rock Ya-Sin
