June 30, 2025 • 41 mins
Team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing go through each position group following minicamp and discuss how they could see the roster shaping up, the toughest decisions, and best battles.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink here
with Garrett Downing, and we are in the fourth of
July week and really the month that the NFL goes
on its annual vacation before training camp starts. But Garret,
and I to Gruden Grinders, that's right, I said too.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, okay, give you credit for this one to pass.
For this week.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Yeah, we are going to break down the full Ravens
depth chart and make some early predictions on how we
could see this fifty three man roster shaking out. So, Garrett,
I think we can start with saying we're in agreement
that this roster is absolutely loaded, and so there really
(00:47):
are not many starting positions up for grabs, and honestly,
there's not many positions period up for grabs on this
fifty three man roster, and it just keeps getting and
there's still people talking about, well, could they add another safety,
because they add another pat stars, they add another guard,
right like you do any of that stuff. Goodness gracious,
(01:09):
it's gonna be nearly impossible for the back end guys
of this roster to make the fifty three.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
So anyway, yeah, there's a lot of conversation when you
go back to mandatory mini camp and the Ravens added
Jay Alexander and a lot of notable And we've been
saying this honestly for a little while, even really before
Jaiu Alexander, but a lot of conversation around the Ravens
roster and the point that like there's just no holes.
I mean, Field Yates had a take on this on
(01:35):
ESPN where he basically broke it down and just said,
there's like no holes on this roster when you look
at it now. It's early, it's July. Now, there's a
long way to go. You can never predict injuries like
you can throw out all the disclaimers. But as it's
constructed right now, I think the Ravens top to bottom,
you can make really good case. So they have the
best roster in the league. And so credit to Eric
Takasa and his staff for building this and putting it
(01:57):
in a position where they can go out and compete
and win a lot of games. But I do think
it's going to be really challenging to make the team.
And then consider the fact that the Ravens had eleven
draft picks, right, that's the number and DaCosta even said
before the draft, like it would be tough for all
eleven of those guys to make the team. And you're
going to get into that point here pretty soon once
(02:17):
training camp begins, where those guys are competing for those spots.
But as we're going to talk about here, I think
it is going to be challenging for all eleven to
end up making it on the fifty three. And those
are the hard decisions that the Ravens are going to
have to make here.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Let alone the undrafted rookie free agency. Everybody wants to
talk about, it's really tough for them to make it.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Right and like we and then you go back a
year where those guys who made it as undrafted rookies
and you're like, oh man, we're excited about these players.
But now it's like, well, now you've got eleven draft
picks pushing them very time.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
You have really a long jam of young talent, and
like the Ravens their last few drafts, you go top
to bottom and they have hit and not necessarily all
players who are starters yet or whatnot, but like a
lot of talented players who have flashed and who you
want to give opportunities to and to get an opportunity
(03:09):
you first of all got to make the fifty three
man roster. Yeah, so or the practice s guard I suppose.
But let's jump into this, Garrett. Let's start. We'll start
with the easy one here at quarterback. Obviously, we know
who the top two guys are going to be, with
Lamar Jackson and Cooper Rush, who the Ravens signed this offseason.
And they've been impressed with Cooper. Of course they've been
impressed with Lamar. But I don't expect them to keep
(03:33):
three quarterbacks on the fifty three men roster. We just
got done and talked about a tight it is and
this is not the year to keep three. So that
would mean Devin Leary could be their practice s gud
quarterback if he doesn't, you know, end up getting an
opportunity elsewhere if he balls out in the preseason.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Let's say, Yeah, the Ravens invested in backup quarterback this
year with the Cooper Rush addition in free agency, and
that's they've gone different routes with that in past years.
With they've gone the veteran route with a guy like
RG three. If you go back, they've gone the young
route with Tyler Huntley who was here for several.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Years, the veteran route obviously, just the past couple of
years of Josh Johnson exactly super.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Beats with Josh Johnson. So they've they've gone a different
couple different directions. But the Cooper Rush signing was really
like the first time that they paid, you know, a
decent chunk of money in free agency to bring in
a veteran backup. And Cooper Rush has played a lot
of games and won a lot of games in his career,
so I think that he's off to a good start
here this offseason. But I think that I'm with you.
(04:35):
I think it's gonna be two quarterbacks, and it's obviously
going to be those two guys.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Yep. All right, let's go to running back, and we
know it's Derrick Henry Justice Hill leading the way as
the one two guys, and then Keaton Mitchell has been
the standout or one of the standouts certainly of OTA's
in mini camp, and I think he's got a pretty
strong hold on the number three running back spot in
my opinion, as well as probably being the leading kick returner.
(05:00):
And so I think Keaton has a chance to make
some more noise this season.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah, I think the Ravens probably keep three true running backs.
Of course Patriverkar is the fourth guy in that room
as a full back and he's on the team, but
I think they probably keep three running backs. The question
that you'll have there is Keiton, Mitchell verse Rasheen Ali.
If you're only keeping three, of course, you could keep
four running backs, but then it's as we just talked about,
you have this logjam and it's going to be difficult
(05:26):
to keep some of the you know, you look at cornerback.
You have two late round cornerbacks that you added this year. Like,
if you're going to keep four running backs, then you
could end up knocking both those guys off the team.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Well, in last year down the stretch, the Ravens had
four healthy corner oh sorry for healthy running backs on
the fifty three men roster. But part of that was
because you know, I say healthy, that was kind of
an air quotes with Keaton because he wasn't all the
way back. He was on the fifty three. You had
you had to carry him because he wanted to couldn't
lose him. But you really needed Rashin Ali because Keaton
(05:57):
was still kind of working his way back from that knee.
I think now if Keaton stays healthy and continues to
prove as he looks to be all the way back
and ready to be a relied upon contributor and backup
as well as complimentary piece that's top two guys, then
I don't think you need for.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Yeah, everything that I've seen from Keaton Mitchell says that
he's going to be back to much closer to where
he was as a rookie. And I've just been so
encouraged by what we've seen from him this offseason. Like
I'm with you, if I'm naming one guy that like
really jumped out to me and how he looked during
the off season program, he probably is the one that
I'm pointing to, because you just wonder, you wonder when
(06:36):
a guy has as a devastating needs ory, do you
ever get back to that speed that made him so unique?
And he certainly looks at and he said that as well,
that he's back to the speed and the player that
he was as a rookie. So he like it was
so quick, like his moment as a rookie was quick
because he got hurt. So you know, right as he
(06:57):
kind of emerged as a difference maker, but you go
back to those few games where he was playing at
a high level before that injury, like he changed his offense.
I think that there's like I don't want to do
too much revision his history here, but like I think
there's a chance that the Ravens went the super Bowl
that year of Keaton says healthy down the stretch like
he has, he had that type of game breaking ability
and I think he's a lot closer to that to
that player right now.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Yep, I agree with that, all right, Moving on to
wide receiver this one again, I don't think it's particularly
difficult to forecast save Flowers for Sean Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins
or your top three. Beyond that, you have Tyler Wallace,
who the Ravens re signed this past offseason or this offseason,
and Devontes Walker, who again was another OTA's in mini
camp standout, just like Keaton Mitchell. And then I would
(07:41):
expect that the rookie six round pickla Jente Wester, who
is the leading candidate to be the punt returner, would
take that sixth spot. But that that's probably the biggest
competition right there is West the sixth spot. Western would
be competing with guys like, you know, a Date Wade,
Anthony Miller, the veteran who also made some playees. But
(08:05):
I think that Western's special team's ability, those guys would
have to beat out Wester as a returner, Yeah, Wade
or Miller, And I think that's probably Malik Cunningham, you
could throw him in there. I think that's probably a
tall order.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Yeah. I think that the Ravens drafted Wester with the
hope that he would be the team's starting parker return Like,
he has that ability. He did it in college. He's
got really top end speed and just his his actility
is shiftiness. He's sent that Zay Flowers mold. No one
does it quite as well as Day, but he's in that.
He's in that mold. Anthony Miller like is a guy
that that he ended up like he was catching passes
(08:42):
in the playoffs last year for this team. Yeah, and
he's somebody that like when we were having this conversation
a year ago, he was kind of in a similar
spot to where he is and you kind of glance
over him on the roster and then he just he
made plays over the course of he was on the
practice squad. He was training can't blast, like he was
making plays, like, man, this is Anthony Miller, Like he's
he looks pretty good. And then he was on the
(09:02):
practice squad. And then when Zay Flowers goes down and
they need someone to come up and you know, take
snaps in the playoffs, he was there and able to
do that and didn't shy away from the moment for
a guy that like hadn't really played much all year.
So maybe practice squad is the destination for him again
as the veteran exemption there. But like, I'm just not
(09:23):
ruling him out. I think he's a talented player there.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
I agree. You know another veteran player that like in
the wide receiver room is Keith Kirkwood. Yeah, like you,
I just I just think he's a pretty good player.
Like you talk about guys who make plays out there
and practice and stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
And like he was a practice squad lest year too, exactly.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
I think this is not I'm getting a little bit
off on a tangent here, and it's not something that
most fans are really anything about. But like it's also
important to have good players on your practice squad because
it makes during the weeks like in season mode, right,
Like we talk about these guys in the off season
there and their battle to compete for the fifty three
(10:02):
man roster, and then once the fifty three man roster set,
we stopped talking about him completely, And like anybody that's
on the practice squad, that's actually when the work kind
of starts for those guys, because they played an important
role in keeping the starters and the guys on the
fifty three man roster sharp for game preparation. Yeah, you know,
Anthony Miller and Keith Kirkwood are simulating Jamar Chase and
(10:23):
t Higgins in the week leading up to the Bengals game,
and like that's an important role. And so it also
matters to have good players not only for death and
as we saw when Zay Flowers went down at the
end of the year and Anthony Miller got promoted to
fifty three and made plays in the playoffs and stuff
like that, Like it's important for depth, but it's also
(10:44):
important just for being on the practice squad in that role.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yeah. Well, the other one who was on the practice
squad last year was Malte Conningham too, and again converted
quarterback from Louisville, and he's been playing receiver now for
a few years, but he was on the practice squad.
So you have you have a bunch of guys back
who were on the fifty three, and you have three
guys a receiver who were on the practice squad from
last year and Anthony Miller, Malely Cunningham and Keith Kirkwood
so and didn't wade last year as well. So like
(11:10):
that's a that's a competitive group. I mean, I think that,
like honestly, roster spots there for both both fifty three
and practice squad are gonna be tough to come by
at the receiver position.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Agreed, all right, tight end obviously again, know the top
three Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kohler, Sam Pitts,
Zair Mitchell Payton would are the other tight ends in
the room. We counted pat Ricard obviously among the running backs,
but he kind of acts as like a fourth tight end.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Also, he's that we need to put his own position
exactly on the roster.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Here exactly, So he's a pseudo tight end. Uh, But
I don't expect the Ravens to keep more than three
true tight ends.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Yeah, I think it's those three and that's like maybe
the best trio in the league. Yep. One of when
you look at Andrews, Cole Arden and Isaia likely do
you feel really good about that group? And all three
guys going into contract year, so it's good for them.
It's a big year for them, both individually and as
a unit.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Yep. All right, this is where it starts to get
a little more challenging. We dive into the offensive line,
and three rookie draft picks certainly make this a competitive
more competitive group as well as a lot of returning starters.
For returning starters, well kind of five, so let's go
through it. Obviously, you have Ronnie Stanley left guard is
(12:31):
a competition right now between Andrew Vorhees and Ben Cleveland. Center,
Tyler Liderbaum's on the roster, Daniel fo lele Is you're
projected starting right guard, and then Roger Rosengarten at right tackle.
So let's just say the four guarantees there, Okay. Forhes,
I certainly expect to be on set's five. Ben Cleveland
(12:52):
is competing with him for a starting role. I would
say that he's really your top backup guard right now,
is especially until Emery Jones is the rookie through round
pick is healthy.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
That's kind of the the thing that complicates the most.
I think this this offensive line discussion at this point
is we haven't seen Emory Jones on the field yet.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Sure, yeah, so I think he's gonna be He's gonna
be three three.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
But there's like multiply multiple layers to the conversation. Like
first is who ends up winning the left guard job.
I think that right now I'd projected for Hees ends
up being that guy, Like that's my expectation right now,
But I'm not like counting Cleveland out of that mix,
like those guy's rotated and and I think that, I mean,
Cleveland's played games in his career as well. For He's
(13:39):
of course won that job out of camp, So I
think it's gonna be Forhees, but I think that Cleveland's
gonna push him. So that's the first question. And then
the second question is like who you can count on
as your backup guard and can you can you if
you were to say Bhees wins the starting job, could
you cut Cleveland uh and and go with some of
those other guys and to feel really good at that point,
(14:01):
about Emory Jones being a backup.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
And the complicating factor there is not only has he
not practiced yet, but he was a college tackle.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Yeah, there's so like you project.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Him to be a very good guard and he might
eventually be the Ravens starting guard, but he hasn't played it.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yeah, in practice or at a game. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
I think it would be tough to go into the
regular season even if Emory Jones. Let's you know, John
Harwal said he expects him to be on the field
at some point during training camp. Let's just say he
enters training camp midway through and you've seen a couple
two to three weeks of practice from Memory Jones, and
he's gotten some preseason game reps at guard. Let's just say,
it's still tough to go into the season and say
(14:44):
he's our top backup at right end, left guard.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah, like if he needed him to step in in Buffalo,
you know, exactly, do you have confidence that he could
do that? Tough? For That's that's tough.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Ye. So for that reason, I think I would probably
my early actual would be that Bank Cleveland if he
doesn't win the starting job. Obviously, if win starting job,
he's on the fit three. Even if he doesn't, I
think he's the top backup guard. Yep. So with he wore,
he's anamer Jones on. That's six. Now that we're at
(15:14):
I think we both would agree that Carson Vincent, the
fifth round pick, who's more of a developmental piece, but
somebody that the Ravens are really excited about this future.
He's on. I would say, So that's seven. And then
then things brought Josephom. I think he's a veteran backup tackle.
He's your top backup tackle. That's eight. He's on. Okay,
(15:37):
So now you get down to nine and ten and
it starts to get more difficult. Here. Dellinger, Garrett Dellinger,
the seventh round pick, is in that mix. Nick Semak,
a seventh round pick from last year who's a center
slash guard. He's practiced summit guard, but primarily a center.
(15:58):
He's in that mix.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Samak was on the fifty three last year, really didn't play,
but like he was on the fifty three last year, right,
and he's your backup center. So like now you could
you could go the route like benk Cleveland's taking snaps
at center as well, so you could say he's our
backup center. Garrett Dellinger could maybe be a backup center option,
(16:21):
but I think that like Sameac, seems to be the
favorite in the backup center race at this point, right.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
I think the question in part is can you can you?
Is there a backup guard who's good enough to also
be your backup who's reliable enough and you feel good
about enough to also be your backup center that would
be helpful, whether that's Ben Cleveland, whether that's Dellinger, or
whether Samak is a good enough guard. Yeah, that he
(16:53):
not only provides depth at center, but also guard because
if you have to keep same Ax strictly as your
backup center. Plus two backup guards in Cleveland and Dellinger,
let's just say, all right, that's three backup spots right there.
Plus note Boom is a fourth backup, plus Vincent is
a fifth backup. That's five backup spots. Yeah, it's a lot.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Yeah. Also, no, Lion, I mean there's seventeen offensive linement
right now, it's.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Plus Emory Jones. Sorry, that's six. Yeah, it's gonna be
six backup spots, and I think you only have room
for five. I think that you probably you can probably
keep ten. And if you will get to this, when
we get to the defensive side, if you want to
keep an extra defensive player, you could try to get
away with nine on the offensive line.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Right, but then you're going to make sure that one
of those nine, if you were to go that route.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
A center guard. That's correct.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
So let's just let's just.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Review that, Okay, who you would kind of point at
point two right now? Ronnie Stanley voor He's baum fo
a Leiley Rosengarten. That's five, Emery Jones is six, Vincent
is seven, Note Boom is eight.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Nine.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
I would probably say the leading contenter would be Cleveland
at nine, which would then leave a tenth spot up
for grabs between Dellinger and Samak.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Yeah, that's probably how I would forecast it.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Yeah, and again depending on how things are looking from
a health standpoint, how things are looking from a who's
playing well standpoint, I think that's gonna be a large
factory determining whether you go nine or ten or even
if you needed at like an eleven.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
But that would be tough, that would be really tough.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah, it'd be tough to make that happen. But I
think that those are the things that will alter whether
how many of those spots go to the offensive lineman
that that's on the offensive side of the ball. Offensive
line is both the most interesting, the most open competition,
I think for a starting job and for the spots.
(19:05):
That's when we're having this conversation when we're doing our
official this is the pre fifty three man but like
when we're doing the real official fifty three man prediction
at the end of camp, I think that's going to
be like the toughest battle as we're talking through it.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Yeah, I agree. All right, let's take a break and
when we come back, we'll go on the other side
of the ball and break down the defensive depth chart
and give you some predictions on that side of the ball,
which is gonna get trickier in the offensive side.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Are you listening to the Lounge podcast where you're coming
to you from the Sea Geek studio. We also want
to mention our partners at Draft King Sportsbook. They are
an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens. Draft
King Sports with the crown is yours. All right, so
let's take a look at the linebackers here as we
take as we're breaking down the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
You want to go inside linebacker first and then we'll
get outside.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Yep, we can do inside linebacker. Rokwan Smith Trenton Simpson
projected as your top two players there and then Jake
Hummel and Teddy Buchanan friend uh yes, friend of the
lounge shot Teddy stopped by last week and as uh,
go back and check out that episode. You haven't do
us already. I liked him. I mean, we're coming out,
you come out of the interview and the death chart.
(20:13):
So if we do Trent Simpson next week, then all
of sudden we were saying trans Simpson the death chart.
But honestly, like, I think the Ravens have four inside linebackers,
so I think those are the four. I think it's
roquand Trenton, Uh, Jake Humbell, and Teddy Buchanan. I think
that Trenton is the leading contender for that week's side
linebacker job next to Roquan, But I do think he's
(20:34):
gonna get pushed. I like what I've seen from Buchanan
and Humble is a little bit more of a wild card.
Didn't see a ton of him this offseason, but like
He's a veteran player primarily like special teams, but he
can certainly factor. We were saying the same thing about
Chris bord and Malie Harrison a year ago, and both
of this guys ended up playing important defense and snaps.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Well too, not, I mean, I think more about Chris Board. Yeah, certainly.
You know we'd already had played fair amount of defense before.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
That, significant defensive snaps. Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
I mean, I'm saying that we knew Malie Harrison was
going to be part of the inside linebacker defensive rotation
and bored We were like, he's going to be a
special teamer. Borda ended up playing a lot of defensive snaps.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Yeah, So could Humble do the same thing? Knoxampling that
out yep? And I also think there could be maybe
a mix there. I don't necessarily know that it's going
to be one guy that's taken one hundred percent of
the snaps away.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
It was next to next to Roquan.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I mean, Roquan is going to take a hundred. But
I don't know that it's going to be a similar
dymynamic to what we had with ro Kuwan and Patrick
Queen a few years ago. I think it could be
more of a shared role potentially next to.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Him, between Simpson and Buchanan.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Yes, between Simpson and yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
I agree with that. All right, outside linebacker, and this
is difficult. I think that we have some obvious ones.
Uh oh, way, van Ney, Mike Green, the rookie Tavius
Robinson are four shoe ins there. Then you get to
a d Isaac and David Ajabo. Those are tougher questions.
(22:05):
So to me, can you keep both? I would love
to keep both those guys. That would be six outside linebackers.
That's a lot. You know, this is where we go
back to the conversation we're having about O line. To me,
if can you get away with only keeping nine offensive linemen,
(22:25):
that frees up an extra spot for an outside linebacker.
This is again where I just don't fans talking about
signing another outside linebacker. I just I'm having trouble getting
it down.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
You want these six guys to make the team, You
want these six guys on and you're wondering, how can
I get all six right?
Speaker 1 (22:42):
The question essentially, you know, Isaac was a third round
pick last year, who has done when he's been on
the field, he's flashed. Like I haven't seen nothing, no
indications from him that like it's been like disappointing.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
There's been nothing that says time to closed the ideasa
Isaac chapter. No exactly.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Yeah, guy dealt with a multitude of injuries last year
and then Ojava. I think that's more of the question, right,
is like he was kind of healthy last year and
didn't you know, he was a healthy scratch at times
during the last season. He had an opportunity and didn't
quite have that breakout third season that we were hoping
(23:24):
for after really his rookie season was a wash. His
second season was pretty much a wash with a knee injury.
Now he was kind of still coming back from that
to a degree in year three, but you know, he
was healthy enough and didn't necessarily have that breakout year.
(23:45):
I'm still really intrigued by David Ajaba in the talent,
his second round pick, who could have been a first
round pick. The talent, you know, and you forget also
like he was just a kind of a raw player
when he came into the league, regardless of his injury. Yeah,
and so like you know, I'm not closing the book
on David Ajabo, and I think the way he practices
this summer will in large degree to dictate whether he's
(24:09):
on the fifty three man roster or not, or whether
the trade you know where he lands. Uh. But like me,
I'm trying to find a way for that guy on
the fifty three man roster because, like I just I
just feel like he's got it in him.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
This is where you start having conversations where it's like
a lot of times we look at the position and
you'll say, like it's going to be going back to
offensive line, then Cleveland or Nick Samak as an example.
In reality, it could be a situation where it's like
David Ajabo or Ben Cleveland exactly. That's exactly the conversation exactly.
(24:48):
And those are those are tough calls. I I like
the I'm with you, like I like the idea of
finding a way for a Joba to make this team.
And I want to see him in training when the
Pats are on. I want to see him in the preseason.
I think that all that's going to go a long
way and determining like do you do you go heavy
at outside linebacker because the job is just too good
(25:09):
to cut.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Well, and and it's it's kind of a position group
similar to cornerback, where it's you can't have too many
pass rushers, you know what I mean? Like I could
see that same refrain for that position group.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Yeah, I'm with you. And like, how is Isaac fully healthy?
Like I know he's been healthy this offseason, but like
when he gets on for when you again the paths
come on, you're going through training camp, does he hold
up over the course of training camp. I think you
want to keep guys fresh at that position. You want
to have plenty of depth there. You just don't want
(25:43):
to find yourself, Like you don't want to find yourself
in week ten being like we're calling guys up off
the practice squad and find guys off the street to
come in and rush the pastor because I know you
struck goal with Kyle van Noy coming off the street
and balling off the couch, but like that's hard to
come by, yep. And I don't think you want to
find yourself in a spot where you're you're hard press
at that position, especially if you feel like a job
(26:04):
was still a really good player who has an opportunity
to reach his potential this year.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
The flip side of this argument is are you cannibalizing
snaps from some other other young players that you want
to get experience? Right? Like the more you keep if
you say, all right, we're keeping David a Jabo on
the fifty three, is he gonna be game day A
game day active? You know? And b Like you're like, okay,
you're keeping them because you want him to get snaps? Well,
(26:29):
a Jaba is taking snaps? A that means maybe Oway
now unless they use three outside linebacker sets or whatever,
right and move guys inside and all that stuff, Like, okay,
does that mean Oway or Vani's off the field? And
if not, does that mean Mike Green's off the field?
Like I kind of want to see my Green ball
out too. Talk about second round pick, who's talented Mike Green?
(26:49):
You know, I want I want him to get snaps?
You know, I want a DC Isaac to get snaps
because you're never gonna know unless he gets out there
in place. And so like, if you just keep all
of those young talented guys, Mike Green's obviously on the
fifty three, yeah, but if you keep both Isaac and
her Jabo, then like, are there are enough snaps to
(27:11):
go around, even if there's them a realistic chance to
have the breakout that we want them to have.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
There's not enough snaps to go around.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
But you just want it for dem You want it
just to have depth.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
And it's like, hey, if you need it, here's a
really good player coming off the bench who can go get.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
The quarterback right.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
So you're not gonna have six guys that are playing
a considerable, deserable amount of snaps. It's just that there's
not enough. There's not enough snaps. But I like the
idea of depth there and keeping the door open, yep,
especially if these guys play well in training camp in
the preseason, like you and I both expect them to.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
And I'll conclude this by saying, like I think that
there's a lot of believers in David Ajabo in this building.
I just I just do like they took a chance
with him, they have faith in him, and like I
think they want to see that. I know they want
to see that come to fruition and for that to
to hit.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Look when we sat down with Eric Costa after the
draft and he went through this position group and he
pointed out, like we had the second with sacks in
the league last year, and we have everyone coming back
and like he he called out, you know, he mentioned
a Jobo specifically as a guy like you know, we
know the story here, but we still have a lot
of belief in him, and so I think that there's
(28:24):
there's credence to the point that you're making.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Yep, all right, let's turn it to the secondary and
this is gonna be another tough group here. Start with safety. Yeah, sure,
let's start with safety, all right. Obviously Kyle Hamilton and
Malachi Starks are your two projected starters. Behind them, with
our Darius Washington injured and dealing with his achilles, he'll
(28:49):
still be kept on the pup list or not what
was it pup or he'll be on injured reserve, one
of those lists, one of those injuries. I got to
review all the rules around that again. So he'll be
on the sideline the beginning of the year. Possible that
he gets activated later in the year, which could cause
a little bit of a roster shuffle if he's able
to come back. But for now, really your number three
(29:11):
and four guys would be Sanoosy Kane and bow Braid.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Yeah, I think safety is like when you're just talking
about who makes the fifty three, I think that one's
a little bit more clear cut than corner because I
think it's those four guys. Now there's you know, there's
a little bit of crossover. Like Jalen arber Davis, for example,
took some snaps at safety this offseason, so like, is
he a corner or safety? I still look at him
(29:35):
as a corner, but he's he's doing a little cross training.
But I think those are your four safety So you
have your clear starters and you have two guys that
can come in and be a third safety if needed
or just provide death.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Right. Bo Braid made the fifty three last year as
an undrafted rookie was one of the better best stories
really of ross or cutdowns. Is safety a spot where
an undrafted rookie could have a chance. You have two
undrafted rookies at safety, KeAndre Jackson of Illinois State and
Desmond Igbinoson from Rutgers.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Well, look, you mentioned the two six to two safeties,
the big guys. Like another guy in the secondary as
an undrafted rookie who's intriguing is Ruben Lowry. This is
a corner. I think he may have taken some safety
snaps too, but like he's just made a bunch of plays. Yeah,
he's come up with back there, and like, yeah, when
you look at I mean he's he's undersized in the
(30:29):
sense when you look when you compare him for those
six to two guys, I mean Ruben Lowry's five nine
to two o four. But a guy from Tennessee Chattan Nouga,
who again he makes plays in practice. And if when
you look at the safeties who have made the Ravens
as undrafted players, like they they have followed this path
of man. This guy just keeps making plays like ar
Darius Washington did that, Bo Braid did that, and then
(30:51):
he got into the training the preseason last year and
he elevated again. It's like make a play a day,
come up with picks, catch the coach's attention. Even just
undrafted guys like like Geno Stone was a guy who
just made plays and you're like, this guy's a little
too good to just pass up.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
So yeah, I think I think that Sinoussi had a
had a good OTAs in Mini camp. Bo unfortunately dealt
with an injury suffered near the end of OTAs, but
he returned from mini camp. I think both guys are
probably probably going into training camp saying my roster spot
is not a lock. Yeah, you know, and especially Bo
(31:29):
is probably looking at these these other undrafted rookies are
looking at Bow and saying, he did it last year,
why can't I do it this year? Yeah, Like I'm
sure he's not saying I'm locked and loaded. Yeah, And
so I think that there's a competition there for that
fourth spot on the fifty three. And I will say
that I think safety, to me is the most likely
(31:50):
position where the Ravens could still add another veteran free agent. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
I don't know that I see them adding someone, but
I think that if they didn't feel like if one
of the if Sanousi or Bo were to miss time
at all in camp because of an injury, or if
they just didn't feel like they were getting out of
them what they want, then then yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
But John Harbolo is very complimentary of Sanusi the job
that he's done.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
I think those are probably your I think it's probably
those four, like as we're sitting here today, I think
it's probably those four guys.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
At safety with Ardarius waiting in the wings.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
With Ardarius waiting, and then a little bit of flexibility
for some of the guys at corner like a Jalen
Armor Davis who can play you have Marlin who plays
in the nickel slot so often, so like different position,
but like I think that you just have a little
bit of flexibility there, and the addition of Jay Alexander
gives you that option to move guys around even a
little bit more, both both Marlin and Jalen Armor Davis.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
Yep, I would agree with that assessment. All right, let's
go to cornerback. Yeah, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jay Alexander,
and Cheetoh Ouzie.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Theo's your top four.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Beyond that you go to Jalen Armor Davis, TJ. Tampa
and then the two six round rookies in blacone and
then Robert Longerbeam. Yeah, those are your main competitors, I
would say, for what would be six spots, eight guys, Yeah, exactly,
And so it gets tight right that that's like do
(33:16):
you keep I don't think you're keeping eight. I don't
think you can keep all eight, right, I can keep
seven right?
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Six? Right? Those are those are the questions that they.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
Again this one comes down to the how many outside
linebackers and how many offensive linemen are you keeping. I
think these those are the three position groups where it's
a numbers game.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
H m hmm. That that is gonna be That is
gonna be tough because it's like you may find yourself
in this position where you say, okay, it's blocone or
Robert Longerbeam the two six round rookies. Whoever ends up
looking better? Sure, I mean you.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Could keep everything else than that's seven if you're picking
between one of.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
You also could be in a spot where you say
it's Jalen Arbor Davis or TJ.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Tampa.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Potentially if you were to say we need to get
down to six corners for some reason.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
Or you keep both those guys in neither of the
six rounds.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Neither do them right, right, So there's they have a
little bit of flexibility there. I think that they're going
to consider. I think they're gonna consider positional flexibility.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Or like you're saying, Jalen Arbor Davis, does he take
the fourth safety spot and another corner spot?
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Exactly? That's all that is part and that that and
that may be why like Jalen Arber Davis is like, yeah,
I'll take some snaps of safety, like I want to
show that I can play any of these positions. And
he's a really smart player too, so like having an
understanding and as you're going into his fourth year, like
just a knowledge of the defense and that experience, I
think it makes it a little bit easier for a
guy to take additional snaps at safety and corner. So
(34:51):
he may be looking at it as like I'm just
trying to find my way on any way possible. Give
me any of these spots so that I know. I
said earlier that I thought offensive line was probably the
toughest position to predict. I might be changing my answer
here to corner, especially with the Jai Alexander addition. The
Ravens typically go a little heavier at corner and just
(35:12):
secondary in general because of the old adage like you
can never have too many of them. And I really
believe that you don't want to be you don't want
to be caught like you just don't want to be
caught red handed at corner if guys get hurt. We've
seen what happens there, yep.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
So and they really like those two six round rookies
I know. That's like you think sixth round pick. Okay,
you know, yeah they're not and they aren't a lock,
but you're like, maybe you can cut them, maybe you
can sneak them even on the practice card, maybe they can.
But like I think those two guys BK Like he
has the traits and I like the dude. I look
(35:45):
at him, I'm like, that looks like an NFL corner
right there. Longer beam is he's telling you, well, yeah, yeah,
I know. And and look go back to last year
TJ Tampa. They Raves was really excited to get him
in the fourth round. A lot of people saying like
this guy should have been a second round pick, and
the Ravens get him in the worth he could be
one of the steels and really didn't see much of
him last year he dealt with a hernia injury. So
like it's kind of a similar story with him compared
(36:07):
to with disa Isaac. Like basically the redier ear as
a rookie, but he's got potential as well. He's a
bigger corner, six one, two hundred pounds, so a bigger guy.
But man, it's I just think what I think is
gonna come down to there like health is going to
be really critical and like consistency they want when you're
(36:29):
looking at guys like in those in those spots they
want to have. They want to feel like if we
need you to step in and hold your own like
you can do it, like you know.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
It's not gonna moment, it's not gonna be too big
for you. So like Jalen armor Davis, this is a
guy that like has shown potential, just hasn't been able
to stay healthy. But I don't think the moment's going
to be too big for him play college ball at Alabama.
Like he's he's he's ready in that sense, but it's
a health question for him. For for the rookies, like it's.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
More of a question I mean Cone West Western Michigan, Yeah, Rutgers.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
I mean you have a question of like are you
are you ready if needed and so, and then if
if you end up getting cut, could we get you
on the practice squad. That's like the second piece of
that equation. The Ravens have tried that with guys in
recent years where they've tried they've had some late round
corners where they've taken swings at Sean Wade was one
of them. He ended up he's a fifth round pick,
(37:21):
ended up in New England.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Traded to New England.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
Yeah, traded, but but you know, at the deadline, right
at the roster cut down and didn't play any games here.
And then the one from Stanford Kye Blue Kelly yep,
And he was another one late round pick who ended
up not making it at a camp. So they've taken
some swings with late round corners and then some of
those guys haven't made it, so.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
They generally get picked up by other teams. That's kind
of the thing I think it is. I think it
can be a challenge to sneak a cornerback onto the
practice squad because everybody around the league is looking for
corners and you can't have you enough of them, you know.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
And the Raves have a good track record of drafting
and developing them. And so I think that like this
and this roster is so good that like other teams
are gonna look at like who the Ravens are cutting
and being like, Okay, they added your Alexander. Exactly who
spot did Alexander take exactly Exactly? That's gonna be that guy.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
Absolutely, that's gonna be the case. Absolutely. Anytime any team
makes an addition around the league, you're like, all right,
who's that bumping and is that guy of interest to us?
Speaker 2 (38:22):
Right? So I think that it made the competition there
much more difficult. But I also think that other teams
are going to be taking notice of that. All right,
So let's take a look at the defensive line here,
nom Dei, Matabik, Project Washington, Travis Jones. Those your top three.
John Jenkins, the big nose tackle is basically Michael Pierce replacement.
He's on, and Anias Peebles defensive lineman rookie I think
(38:47):
is gonna be on as well.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
Right, I would expect that those five make it, and
not that all five necessarily will be game day actives.
I think that could be matchup related. You know, if
you're facing heavier run team, then John Jenkins is active.
If you're facing maybe a heavier passing team than a
NSP ables is a game they active because you want
his past rush ability inside and so but I think
(39:12):
five make the team. I mean, Brent Urban, you know,
was also on this fifty three man roster last year
and remains as a free agent.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
Yeah, so that's what we think there for the defensive line,
and then just to close us out there, specialist Nick
Moore and Jordan Stout are the long snapper and punter.
The debate here is at kicker, Tyler Loop or John
Hoyland or a veteran who's not on the team. At
this point. The two rookies are battling it out over
the course of the offseason program, and I think they'll
battle it out in training camp, but they're still I.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
Would flint that one of them is the Ravens kicker.
That's my expectation.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
I think Tyler Loop has the is the Ozon favorite
for the job. He was a guy that was drafted.
Ravens made it clear he was He was the one
that they wanted. Randy Brown, the kicking coach, uh toward
the country the World tour, Yeah, the World Tour and
landed on Tyler Loop is the guy that he wanted.
So I think that all signs are that he would
end up being the guy. But there's a competition there, yep.
(40:07):
And I do think that, like depending on how those
guys do in training camp into preseason. That's the other
one that if you feel like you need to bring
in a veteran for some competition. That's the other spot.
As we look at this roster that I think that,
like you could, I.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
Don't think you're keeping two fifty kickers on the fifty
three one.
Speaker 2 (40:27):
Spot for him, yea.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
If they bring a veteran, it's it's a replacement.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
Yeah. And so you know, I think Loop's gonna win
that job. And and you know that he'll have to
prove himself this summer, but I think that he likely
ends up winning that job.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Yep. I would agree, all right, you gotta e laminate it.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
No, not yet, not yet. This is this is in pencil.
This is in pencil. There's as far from Lamen. There's
a lot of football to be played this summer. But
I think that, as I said off the topic, I
think this team is rock solid. I think the roster
is in really good shape. And I think that the
Ravens are gonna have some tough decisions when they get
down to it.
Speaker 1 (41:02):
The Ravens practice squad might be able to be some teams.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
It's gonna be good. I mean, you're gonna look at it.
I mean, like I mentioned it, when you're looking at
some of these positions, you know, like i'd like to
find a way for him onto the practice squad. I'd
like to find a way for him on to the
practice squad. I like there's gonna be there's gonna be
good players that aren't able to make it on this
fifty three, which is the case every year, but I
think it's maybe even more so this season. And that's
a really good spot to be.
Speaker 1 (41:24):
Yep, totally agree. Well, thanks for listening. Enjoy your Fourth
of July break here.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
Hope you're all
Speaker 1 (41:31):
Out having fun but still tuning in for the lens
of course, so subscribe, leaves the rating and review, and
we will be back with you soon.
Welcome into Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink here
with Garrett Downing, and we are in the fourth of
July week and really the month that the NFL goes
on its annual vacation before training camp starts. But Garret,
and I to Gruden Grinders, that's right, I said too.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, okay, give you credit for this one to pass.
For this week.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Yeah, we are going to break down the full Ravens
depth chart and make some early predictions on how we
could see this fifty three man roster shaking out. So, Garrett,
I think we can start with saying we're in agreement
that this roster is absolutely loaded, and so there really
(00:47):
are not many starting positions up for grabs, and honestly,
there's not many positions period up for grabs on this
fifty three man roster, and it just keeps getting and
there's still people talking about, well, could they add another safety,
because they add another pat stars, they add another guard,
right like you do any of that stuff. Goodness gracious,
(01:09):
it's gonna be nearly impossible for the back end guys
of this roster to make the fifty three.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
So anyway, yeah, there's a lot of conversation when you
go back to mandatory mini camp and the Ravens added
Jay Alexander and a lot of notable And we've been
saying this honestly for a little while, even really before
Jaiu Alexander, but a lot of conversation around the Ravens
roster and the point that like there's just no holes.
I mean, Field Yates had a take on this on
(01:35):
ESPN where he basically broke it down and just said,
there's like no holes on this roster when you look
at it now. It's early, it's July. Now, there's a
long way to go. You can never predict injuries like
you can throw out all the disclaimers. But as it's
constructed right now, I think the Ravens top to bottom,
you can make really good case. So they have the
best roster in the league. And so credit to Eric
Takasa and his staff for building this and putting it
(01:57):
in a position where they can go out and compete
and win a lot of games. But I do think
it's going to be really challenging to make the team.
And then consider the fact that the Ravens had eleven
draft picks, right, that's the number and DaCosta even said
before the draft, like it would be tough for all
eleven of those guys to make the team. And you're
going to get into that point here pretty soon once
(02:17):
training camp begins, where those guys are competing for those spots.
But as we're going to talk about here, I think
it is going to be challenging for all eleven to
end up making it on the fifty three. And those
are the hard decisions that the Ravens are going to
have to make here.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Let alone the undrafted rookie free agency. Everybody wants to
talk about, it's really tough for them to make it.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Right and like we and then you go back a
year where those guys who made it as undrafted rookies
and you're like, oh man, we're excited about these players.
But now it's like, well, now you've got eleven draft
picks pushing them very time.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
You have really a long jam of young talent, and
like the Ravens their last few drafts, you go top
to bottom and they have hit and not necessarily all
players who are starters yet or whatnot, but like a
lot of talented players who have flashed and who you
want to give opportunities to and to get an opportunity
(03:09):
you first of all got to make the fifty three
man roster. Yeah, so or the practice s guard I suppose.
But let's jump into this, Garrett. Let's start. We'll start
with the easy one here at quarterback. Obviously, we know
who the top two guys are going to be, with
Lamar Jackson and Cooper Rush, who the Ravens signed this offseason.
And they've been impressed with Cooper. Of course they've been
impressed with Lamar. But I don't expect them to keep
(03:33):
three quarterbacks on the fifty three men roster. We just
got done and talked about a tight it is and
this is not the year to keep three. So that
would mean Devin Leary could be their practice s gud
quarterback if he doesn't, you know, end up getting an
opportunity elsewhere if he balls out in the preseason.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Let's say, Yeah, the Ravens invested in backup quarterback this
year with the Cooper Rush addition in free agency, and
that's they've gone different routes with that in past years.
With they've gone the veteran route with a guy like
RG three. If you go back, they've gone the young
route with Tyler Huntley who was here for several.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Years, the veteran route obviously, just the past couple of
years of Josh Johnson exactly super.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Beats with Josh Johnson. So they've they've gone a different
couple different directions. But the Cooper Rush signing was really
like the first time that they paid, you know, a
decent chunk of money in free agency to bring in
a veteran backup. And Cooper Rush has played a lot
of games and won a lot of games in his career,
so I think that he's off to a good start
here this offseason. But I think that I'm with you.
(04:35):
I think it's gonna be two quarterbacks, and it's obviously
going to be those two guys.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Yep. All right, let's go to running back, and we
know it's Derrick Henry Justice Hill leading the way as
the one two guys, and then Keaton Mitchell has been
the standout or one of the standouts certainly of OTA's
in mini camp, and I think he's got a pretty
strong hold on the number three running back spot in
my opinion, as well as probably being the leading kick returner.
(05:00):
And so I think Keaton has a chance to make
some more noise this season.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah, I think the Ravens probably keep three true running backs.
Of course Patriverkar is the fourth guy in that room
as a full back and he's on the team, but
I think they probably keep three running backs. The question
that you'll have there is Keiton, Mitchell verse Rasheen Ali.
If you're only keeping three, of course, you could keep
four running backs, but then it's as we just talked about,
you have this logjam and it's going to be difficult
(05:26):
to keep some of the you know, you look at cornerback.
You have two late round cornerbacks that you added this year. Like,
if you're going to keep four running backs, then you
could end up knocking both those guys off the team.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Well, in last year down the stretch, the Ravens had
four healthy corner oh sorry for healthy running backs on
the fifty three men roster. But part of that was
because you know, I say healthy, that was kind of
an air quotes with Keaton because he wasn't all the
way back. He was on the fifty three. You had
you had to carry him because he wanted to couldn't
lose him. But you really needed Rashin Ali because Keaton
(05:57):
was still kind of working his way back from that knee.
I think now if Keaton stays healthy and continues to
prove as he looks to be all the way back
and ready to be a relied upon contributor and backup
as well as complimentary piece that's top two guys, then
I don't think you need for.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Yeah, everything that I've seen from Keaton Mitchell says that
he's going to be back to much closer to where
he was as a rookie. And I've just been so
encouraged by what we've seen from him this offseason. Like
I'm with you, if I'm naming one guy that like
really jumped out to me and how he looked during
the off season program, he probably is the one that
I'm pointing to, because you just wonder, you wonder when
(06:36):
a guy has as a devastating needs ory, do you
ever get back to that speed that made him so unique?
And he certainly looks at and he said that as well,
that he's back to the speed and the player that
he was as a rookie. So he like it was
so quick, like his moment as a rookie was quick
because he got hurt. So you know, right as he
(06:57):
kind of emerged as a difference maker, but you go
back to those few games where he was playing at
a high level before that injury, like he changed his offense.
I think that there's like I don't want to do
too much revision his history here, but like I think
there's a chance that the Ravens went the super Bowl
that year of Keaton says healthy down the stretch like
he has, he had that type of game breaking ability
and I think he's a lot closer to that to
that player right now.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Yep, I agree with that, all right, Moving on to
wide receiver this one again, I don't think it's particularly
difficult to forecast save Flowers for Sean Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins
or your top three. Beyond that, you have Tyler Wallace,
who the Ravens re signed this past offseason or this offseason,
and Devontes Walker, who again was another OTA's in mini
camp standout, just like Keaton Mitchell. And then I would
(07:41):
expect that the rookie six round pickla Jente Wester, who
is the leading candidate to be the punt returner, would
take that sixth spot. But that that's probably the biggest
competition right there is West the sixth spot. Western would
be competing with guys like, you know, a Date Wade,
Anthony Miller, the veteran who also made some playees. But
(08:05):
I think that Western's special team's ability, those guys would
have to beat out Wester as a returner, Yeah, Wade
or Miller, And I think that's probably Malik Cunningham, you
could throw him in there. I think that's probably a
tall order.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Yeah. I think that the Ravens drafted Wester with the
hope that he would be the team's starting parker return Like,
he has that ability. He did it in college. He's
got really top end speed and just his his actility
is shiftiness. He's sent that Zay Flowers mold. No one
does it quite as well as Day, but he's in that.
He's in that mold. Anthony Miller like is a guy
that that he ended up like he was catching passes
(08:42):
in the playoffs last year for this team. Yeah, and
he's somebody that like when we were having this conversation
a year ago, he was kind of in a similar
spot to where he is and you kind of glance
over him on the roster and then he just he
made plays over the course of he was on the
practice squad. He was training can't blast, like he was
making plays, like, man, this is Anthony Miller, Like he's
he looks pretty good. And then he was on the
(09:02):
practice squad. And then when Zay Flowers goes down and
they need someone to come up and you know, take
snaps in the playoffs, he was there and able to
do that and didn't shy away from the moment for
a guy that like hadn't really played much all year.
So maybe practice squad is the destination for him again
as the veteran exemption there. But like, I'm just not
(09:23):
ruling him out. I think he's a talented player there.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
I agree. You know another veteran player that like in
the wide receiver room is Keith Kirkwood. Yeah, like you,
I just I just think he's a pretty good player.
Like you talk about guys who make plays out there
and practice and stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
And like he was a practice squad lest year too, exactly.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
I think this is not I'm getting a little bit
off on a tangent here, and it's not something that
most fans are really anything about. But like it's also
important to have good players on your practice squad because
it makes during the weeks like in season mode, right,
Like we talk about these guys in the off season
there and their battle to compete for the fifty three
(10:02):
man roster, and then once the fifty three man roster set,
we stopped talking about him completely, And like anybody that's
on the practice squad, that's actually when the work kind
of starts for those guys, because they played an important
role in keeping the starters and the guys on the
fifty three man roster sharp for game preparation. Yeah, you know,
Anthony Miller and Keith Kirkwood are simulating Jamar Chase and
(10:23):
t Higgins in the week leading up to the Bengals game,
and like that's an important role. And so it also
matters to have good players not only for death and
as we saw when Zay Flowers went down at the
end of the year and Anthony Miller got promoted to
fifty three and made plays in the playoffs and stuff
like that, Like it's important for depth, but it's also
(10:44):
important just for being on the practice squad in that role.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yeah. Well, the other one who was on the practice
squad last year was Malte Conningham too, and again converted
quarterback from Louisville, and he's been playing receiver now for
a few years, but he was on the practice squad.
So you have you have a bunch of guys back
who were on the fifty three, and you have three
guys a receiver who were on the practice squad from
last year and Anthony Miller, Malely Cunningham and Keith Kirkwood
so and didn't wade last year as well. So like
(11:10):
that's a that's a competitive group. I mean, I think that,
like honestly, roster spots there for both both fifty three
and practice squad are gonna be tough to come by
at the receiver position.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Agreed, all right, tight end obviously again, know the top
three Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kohler, Sam Pitts,
Zair Mitchell Payton would are the other tight ends in
the room. We counted pat Ricard obviously among the running backs,
but he kind of acts as like a fourth tight end.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Also, he's that we need to put his own position
exactly on the roster.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Here exactly, So he's a pseudo tight end. Uh, But
I don't expect the Ravens to keep more than three
true tight ends.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Yeah, I think it's those three and that's like maybe
the best trio in the league. Yep. One of when
you look at Andrews, Cole Arden and Isaia likely do
you feel really good about that group? And all three
guys going into contract year, so it's good for them.
It's a big year for them, both individually and as
a unit.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Yep. All right, this is where it starts to get
a little more challenging. We dive into the offensive line,
and three rookie draft picks certainly make this a competitive
more competitive group as well as a lot of returning starters.
For returning starters, well kind of five, so let's go
through it. Obviously, you have Ronnie Stanley left guard is
(12:31):
a competition right now between Andrew Vorhees and Ben Cleveland. Center,
Tyler Liderbaum's on the roster, Daniel fo lele Is you're
projected starting right guard, and then Roger Rosengarten at right tackle.
So let's just say the four guarantees there, Okay. Forhes,
I certainly expect to be on set's five. Ben Cleveland
(12:52):
is competing with him for a starting role. I would
say that he's really your top backup guard right now,
is especially until Emery Jones is the rookie through round
pick is healthy.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
That's kind of the the thing that complicates the most.
I think this this offensive line discussion at this point
is we haven't seen Emory Jones on the field yet.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Sure, yeah, so I think he's gonna be He's gonna
be three three.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
But there's like multiply multiple layers to the conversation. Like
first is who ends up winning the left guard job.
I think that right now I'd projected for Hees ends
up being that guy, Like that's my expectation right now,
But I'm not like counting Cleveland out of that mix,
like those guy's rotated and and I think that, I mean,
Cleveland's played games in his career as well. For He's
(13:39):
of course won that job out of camp, So I
think it's gonna be Forhees, but I think that Cleveland's
gonna push him. So that's the first question. And then
the second question is like who you can count on
as your backup guard and can you can you if
you were to say Bhees wins the starting job, could
you cut Cleveland uh and and go with some of
those other guys and to feel really good at that point,
(14:01):
about Emory Jones being a backup.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
And the complicating factor there is not only has he
not practiced yet, but he was a college tackle.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Yeah, there's so like you project.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Him to be a very good guard and he might
eventually be the Ravens starting guard, but he hasn't played it.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yeah, in practice or at a game. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
I think it would be tough to go into the
regular season even if Emory Jones. Let's you know, John
Harwal said he expects him to be on the field
at some point during training camp. Let's just say he
enters training camp midway through and you've seen a couple
two to three weeks of practice from Memory Jones, and
he's gotten some preseason game reps at guard. Let's just say,
it's still tough to go into the season and say
(14:44):
he's our top backup at right end, left guard.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah, like if he needed him to step in in Buffalo,
you know, exactly, do you have confidence that he could
do that? Tough? For That's that's tough.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Ye. So for that reason, I think I would probably
my early actual would be that Bank Cleveland if he
doesn't win the starting job. Obviously, if win starting job,
he's on the fit three. Even if he doesn't, I
think he's the top backup guard. Yep. So with he wore,
he's anamer Jones on. That's six. Now that we're at
(15:14):
I think we both would agree that Carson Vincent, the
fifth round pick, who's more of a developmental piece, but
somebody that the Ravens are really excited about this future.
He's on. I would say, So that's seven. And then
then things brought Josephom. I think he's a veteran backup tackle.
He's your top backup tackle. That's eight. He's on. Okay,
(15:37):
So now you get down to nine and ten and
it starts to get more difficult. Here. Dellinger, Garrett Dellinger,
the seventh round pick, is in that mix. Nick Semak,
a seventh round pick from last year who's a center
slash guard. He's practiced summit guard, but primarily a center.
(15:58):
He's in that mix.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Samak was on the fifty three last year, really didn't play,
but like he was on the fifty three last year, right,
and he's your backup center. So like now you could
you could go the route like benk Cleveland's taking snaps
at center as well, so you could say he's our
backup center. Garrett Dellinger could maybe be a backup center option,
(16:21):
but I think that like Sameac, seems to be the
favorite in the backup center race at this point, right.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
I think the question in part is can you can you?
Is there a backup guard who's good enough to also
be your backup who's reliable enough and you feel good
about enough to also be your backup center that would
be helpful, whether that's Ben Cleveland, whether that's Dellinger, or
whether Samak is a good enough guard. Yeah, that he
(16:53):
not only provides depth at center, but also guard because
if you have to keep same Ax strictly as your
backup center. Plus two backup guards in Cleveland and Dellinger,
let's just say, all right, that's three backup spots right there.
Plus note Boom is a fourth backup, plus Vincent is
a fifth backup. That's five backup spots. Yeah, it's a lot.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Yeah. Also, no, Lion, I mean there's seventeen offensive linement
right now, it's.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Plus Emory Jones. Sorry, that's six. Yeah, it's gonna be
six backup spots, and I think you only have room
for five. I think that you probably you can probably
keep ten. And if you will get to this, when
we get to the defensive side, if you want to
keep an extra defensive player, you could try to get
away with nine on the offensive line.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Right, but then you're going to make sure that one
of those nine, if you were to go that route.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
A center guard. That's correct.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
So let's just let's just.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Review that, Okay, who you would kind of point at
point two right now? Ronnie Stanley voor He's baum fo
a Leiley Rosengarten. That's five, Emery Jones is six, Vincent
is seven, Note Boom is eight.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Nine.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
I would probably say the leading contenter would be Cleveland
at nine, which would then leave a tenth spot up
for grabs between Dellinger and Samak.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Yeah, that's probably how I would forecast it.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Yeah, and again depending on how things are looking from
a health standpoint, how things are looking from a who's
playing well standpoint, I think that's gonna be a large
factory determining whether you go nine or ten or even
if you needed at like an eleven.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
But that would be tough, that would be really tough.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah, it'd be tough to make that happen. But I
think that those are the things that will alter whether
how many of those spots go to the offensive lineman
that that's on the offensive side of the ball. Offensive
line is both the most interesting, the most open competition,
I think for a starting job and for the spots.
(19:05):
That's when we're having this conversation when we're doing our
official this is the pre fifty three man but like
when we're doing the real official fifty three man prediction
at the end of camp, I think that's going to
be like the toughest battle as we're talking through it.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Yeah, I agree. All right, let's take a break and
when we come back, we'll go on the other side
of the ball and break down the defensive depth chart
and give you some predictions on that side of the ball,
which is gonna get trickier in the offensive side.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Are you listening to the Lounge podcast where you're coming
to you from the Sea Geek studio. We also want
to mention our partners at Draft King Sportsbook. They are
an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens. Draft
King Sports with the crown is yours. All right, so
let's take a look at the linebackers here as we
take as we're breaking down the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
You want to go inside linebacker first and then we'll
get outside.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Yep, we can do inside linebacker. Rokwan Smith Trenton Simpson
projected as your top two players there and then Jake
Hummel and Teddy Buchanan friend uh yes, friend of the
lounge shot Teddy stopped by last week and as uh,
go back and check out that episode. You haven't do
us already. I liked him. I mean, we're coming out,
you come out of the interview and the death chart.
(20:13):
So if we do Trent Simpson next week, then all
of sudden we were saying trans Simpson the death chart.
But honestly, like, I think the Ravens have four inside linebackers,
so I think those are the four. I think it's
roquand Trenton, Uh, Jake Humbell, and Teddy Buchanan. I think
that Trenton is the leading contender for that week's side
linebacker job next to Roquan, But I do think he's
(20:34):
gonna get pushed. I like what I've seen from Buchanan
and Humble is a little bit more of a wild card.
Didn't see a ton of him this offseason, but like
He's a veteran player primarily like special teams, but he
can certainly factor. We were saying the same thing about
Chris bord and Malie Harrison a year ago, and both
of this guys ended up playing important defense and snaps.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Well too, not, I mean, I think more about Chris Board. Yeah, certainly.
You know we'd already had played fair amount of defense before.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
That, significant defensive snaps. Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
I mean, I'm saying that we knew Malie Harrison was
going to be part of the inside linebacker defensive rotation
and bored We were like, he's going to be a
special teamer. Borda ended up playing a lot of defensive snaps.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Yeah, So could Humble do the same thing? Knoxampling that
out yep? And I also think there could be maybe
a mix there. I don't necessarily know that it's going
to be one guy that's taken one hundred percent of
the snaps away.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
It was next to next to Roquan.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I mean, Roquan is going to take a hundred. But
I don't know that it's going to be a similar
dymynamic to what we had with ro Kuwan and Patrick
Queen a few years ago. I think it could be
more of a shared role potentially next to.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Him, between Simpson and Buchanan.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Yes, between Simpson and yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
I agree with that. All right, outside linebacker, and this
is difficult. I think that we have some obvious ones.
Uh oh, way, van Ney, Mike Green, the rookie Tavius
Robinson are four shoe ins there. Then you get to
a d Isaac and David Ajabo. Those are tougher questions.
(22:05):
So to me, can you keep both? I would love
to keep both those guys. That would be six outside linebackers.
That's a lot. You know, this is where we go
back to the conversation we're having about O line. To me,
if can you get away with only keeping nine offensive linemen,
(22:25):
that frees up an extra spot for an outside linebacker.
This is again where I just don't fans talking about
signing another outside linebacker. I just I'm having trouble getting
it down.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
You want these six guys to make the team, You
want these six guys on and you're wondering, how can
I get all six right?
Speaker 1 (22:42):
The question essentially, you know, Isaac was a third round
pick last year, who has done when he's been on
the field, he's flashed. Like I haven't seen nothing, no
indications from him that like it's been like disappointing.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
There's been nothing that says time to closed the ideasa
Isaac chapter. No exactly.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Yeah, guy dealt with a multitude of injuries last year
and then Ojava. I think that's more of the question, right,
is like he was kind of healthy last year and
didn't you know, he was a healthy scratch at times
during the last season. He had an opportunity and didn't
quite have that breakout third season that we were hoping
(23:24):
for after really his rookie season was a wash. His
second season was pretty much a wash with a knee injury.
Now he was kind of still coming back from that
to a degree in year three, but you know, he
was healthy enough and didn't necessarily have that breakout year.
(23:45):
I'm still really intrigued by David Ajaba in the talent,
his second round pick, who could have been a first
round pick. The talent, you know, and you forget also
like he was just a kind of a raw player
when he came into the league, regardless of his injury. Yeah,
and so like you know, I'm not closing the book
on David Ajabo, and I think the way he practices
this summer will in large degree to dictate whether he's
(24:09):
on the fifty three man roster or not, or whether
the trade you know where he lands. Uh. But like me,
I'm trying to find a way for that guy on
the fifty three man roster because, like I just I
just feel like he's got it in him.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
This is where you start having conversations where it's like
a lot of times we look at the position and
you'll say, like it's going to be going back to
offensive line, then Cleveland or Nick Samak as an example.
In reality, it could be a situation where it's like
David Ajabo or Ben Cleveland exactly. That's exactly the conversation exactly.
(24:48):
And those are those are tough calls. I I like
the I'm with you, like I like the idea of
finding a way for a Joba to make this team.
And I want to see him in training when the
Pats are on. I want to see him in the preseason.
I think that all that's going to go a long
way and determining like do you do you go heavy
at outside linebacker because the job is just too good
(25:09):
to cut.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Well, and and it's it's kind of a position group
similar to cornerback, where it's you can't have too many
pass rushers, you know what I mean? Like I could
see that same refrain for that position group.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Yeah, I'm with you. And like, how is Isaac fully healthy?
Like I know he's been healthy this offseason, but like
when he gets on for when you again the paths
come on, you're going through training camp, does he hold
up over the course of training camp. I think you
want to keep guys fresh at that position. You want
to have plenty of depth there. You just don't want
(25:43):
to find yourself, Like you don't want to find yourself
in week ten being like we're calling guys up off
the practice squad and find guys off the street to
come in and rush the pastor because I know you
struck goal with Kyle van Noy coming off the street
and balling off the couch, but like that's hard to
come by, yep. And I don't think you want to
find yourself in a spot where you're you're hard press
at that position, especially if you feel like a job
(26:04):
was still a really good player who has an opportunity
to reach his potential this year.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
The flip side of this argument is are you cannibalizing
snaps from some other other young players that you want
to get experience? Right? Like the more you keep if
you say, all right, we're keeping David a Jabo on
the fifty three, is he gonna be game day A
game day active? You know? And b Like you're like, okay,
you're keeping them because you want him to get snaps? Well,
(26:29):
a Jaba is taking snaps? A that means maybe Oway
now unless they use three outside linebacker sets or whatever,
right and move guys inside and all that stuff, Like, okay,
does that mean Oway or Vani's off the field? And
if not, does that mean Mike Green's off the field?
Like I kind of want to see my Green ball
out too. Talk about second round pick, who's talented Mike Green?
(26:49):
You know, I want I want him to get snaps?
You know, I want a DC Isaac to get snaps
because you're never gonna know unless he gets out there
in place. And so like, if you just keep all
of those young talented guys, Mike Green's obviously on the
fifty three, yeah, but if you keep both Isaac and
her Jabo, then like, are there are enough snaps to
(27:11):
go around, even if there's them a realistic chance to
have the breakout that we want them to have.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
There's not enough snaps to go around.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
But you just want it for dem You want it
just to have depth.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
And it's like, hey, if you need it, here's a
really good player coming off the bench who can go get.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
The quarterback right.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
So you're not gonna have six guys that are playing
a considerable, deserable amount of snaps. It's just that there's
not enough. There's not enough snaps. But I like the
idea of depth there and keeping the door open, yep,
especially if these guys play well in training camp in
the preseason, like you and I both expect them to.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
And I'll conclude this by saying, like I think that
there's a lot of believers in David Ajabo in this building.
I just I just do like they took a chance
with him, they have faith in him, and like I
think they want to see that. I know they want
to see that come to fruition and for that to
to hit.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Look when we sat down with Eric Costa after the
draft and he went through this position group and he
pointed out, like we had the second with sacks in
the league last year, and we have everyone coming back
and like he he called out, you know, he mentioned
a Jobo specifically as a guy like you know, we
know the story here, but we still have a lot
of belief in him, and so I think that there's
(28:24):
there's credence to the point that you're making.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Yep, all right, let's turn it to the secondary and
this is gonna be another tough group here. Start with safety. Yeah, sure,
let's start with safety, all right. Obviously Kyle Hamilton and
Malachi Starks are your two projected starters. Behind them, with
our Darius Washington injured and dealing with his achilles, he'll
(28:49):
still be kept on the pup list or not what
was it pup or he'll be on injured reserve, one
of those lists, one of those injuries. I got to
review all the rules around that again. So he'll be
on the sideline the beginning of the year. Possible that
he gets activated later in the year, which could cause
a little bit of a roster shuffle if he's able
to come back. But for now, really your number three
(29:11):
and four guys would be Sanoosy Kane and bow Braid.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Yeah, I think safety is like when you're just talking
about who makes the fifty three, I think that one's
a little bit more clear cut than corner because I
think it's those four guys. Now there's you know, there's
a little bit of crossover. Like Jalen arber Davis, for example,
took some snaps at safety this offseason, so like, is
he a corner or safety? I still look at him
(29:35):
as a corner, but he's he's doing a little cross training.
But I think those are your four safety So you
have your clear starters and you have two guys that
can come in and be a third safety if needed
or just provide death.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Right. Bo Braid made the fifty three last year as
an undrafted rookie was one of the better best stories
really of ross or cutdowns. Is safety a spot where
an undrafted rookie could have a chance. You have two
undrafted rookies at safety, KeAndre Jackson of Illinois State and
Desmond Igbinoson from Rutgers.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Well, look, you mentioned the two six to two safeties,
the big guys. Like another guy in the secondary as
an undrafted rookie who's intriguing is Ruben Lowry. This is
a corner. I think he may have taken some safety
snaps too, but like he's just made a bunch of plays. Yeah,
he's come up with back there, and like, yeah, when
you look at I mean he's he's undersized in the
(30:29):
sense when you look when you compare him for those
six to two guys, I mean Ruben Lowry's five nine
to two o four. But a guy from Tennessee Chattan Nouga,
who again he makes plays in practice. And if when
you look at the safeties who have made the Ravens
as undrafted players, like they they have followed this path
of man. This guy just keeps making plays like ar
Darius Washington did that, Bo Braid did that, and then
(30:51):
he got into the training the preseason last year and
he elevated again. It's like make a play a day,
come up with picks, catch the coach's attention. Even just
undrafted guys like like Geno Stone was a guy who
just made plays and you're like, this guy's a little
too good to just pass up.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
So yeah, I think I think that Sinoussi had a
had a good OTAs in Mini camp. Bo unfortunately dealt
with an injury suffered near the end of OTAs, but
he returned from mini camp. I think both guys are
probably probably going into training camp saying my roster spot
is not a lock. Yeah, you know, and especially Bo
(31:29):
is probably looking at these these other undrafted rookies are
looking at Bow and saying, he did it last year,
why can't I do it this year? Yeah, Like I'm
sure he's not saying I'm locked and loaded. Yeah, And
so I think that there's a competition there for that
fourth spot on the fifty three. And I will say
that I think safety, to me is the most likely
(31:50):
position where the Ravens could still add another veteran free agent. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
I don't know that I see them adding someone, but
I think that if they didn't feel like if one
of the if Sanousi or Bo were to miss time
at all in camp because of an injury, or if
they just didn't feel like they were getting out of
them what they want, then then yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
But John Harbolo is very complimentary of Sanusi the job
that he's done.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
I think those are probably your I think it's probably
those four, like as we're sitting here today, I think
it's probably those four guys.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
At safety with Ardarius waiting in the wings.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
With Ardarius waiting, and then a little bit of flexibility
for some of the guys at corner like a Jalen
Armor Davis who can play you have Marlin who plays
in the nickel slot so often, so like different position,
but like I think that you just have a little
bit of flexibility there, and the addition of Jay Alexander
gives you that option to move guys around even a
little bit more, both both Marlin and Jalen Armor Davis.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
Yep, I would agree with that assessment. All right, let's
go to cornerback. Yeah, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jay Alexander,
and Cheetoh Ouzie.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Theo's your top four.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Beyond that you go to Jalen Armor Davis, TJ. Tampa
and then the two six round rookies in blacone and
then Robert Longerbeam. Yeah, those are your main competitors, I
would say, for what would be six spots, eight guys, Yeah, exactly,
And so it gets tight right that that's like do
(33:16):
you keep I don't think you're keeping eight. I don't
think you can keep all eight, right, I can keep
seven right?
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Six? Right? Those are those are the questions that they.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
Again this one comes down to the how many outside
linebackers and how many offensive linemen are you keeping. I
think these those are the three position groups where it's
a numbers game.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
H m hmm. That that is gonna be That is
gonna be tough because it's like you may find yourself
in this position where you say, okay, it's blocone or
Robert Longerbeam the two six round rookies. Whoever ends up
looking better? Sure, I mean you.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Could keep everything else than that's seven if you're picking
between one of.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
You also could be in a spot where you say
it's Jalen Arbor Davis or TJ.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Tampa.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Potentially if you were to say we need to get
down to six corners for some reason.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
Or you keep both those guys in neither of the
six rounds.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Neither do them right, right, So there's they have a
little bit of flexibility there. I think that they're going
to consider. I think they're gonna consider positional flexibility.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Or like you're saying, Jalen Arbor Davis, does he take
the fourth safety spot and another corner spot?
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Exactly? That's all that is part and that that and
that may be why like Jalen Arber Davis is like, yeah,
I'll take some snaps of safety, like I want to
show that I can play any of these positions. And
he's a really smart player too, so like having an
understanding and as you're going into his fourth year, like
just a knowledge of the defense and that experience, I
think it makes it a little bit easier for a
guy to take additional snaps at safety and corner. So
(34:51):
he may be looking at it as like I'm just
trying to find my way on any way possible. Give
me any of these spots so that I know. I
said earlier that I thought offensive line was probably the
toughest position to predict. I might be changing my answer
here to corner, especially with the Jai Alexander addition. The
Ravens typically go a little heavier at corner and just
(35:12):
secondary in general because of the old adage like you
can never have too many of them. And I really
believe that you don't want to be you don't want
to be caught like you just don't want to be
caught red handed at corner if guys get hurt. We've
seen what happens there, yep.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
So and they really like those two six round rookies
I know. That's like you think sixth round pick. Okay,
you know, yeah they're not and they aren't a lock,
but you're like, maybe you can cut them, maybe you
can sneak them even on the practice card, maybe they can.
But like I think those two guys BK Like he
has the traits and I like the dude. I look
(35:45):
at him, I'm like, that looks like an NFL corner
right there. Longer beam is he's telling you, well, yeah, yeah,
I know. And and look go back to last year
TJ Tampa. They Raves was really excited to get him
in the fourth round. A lot of people saying like
this guy should have been a second round pick, and
the Ravens get him in the worth he could be
one of the steels and really didn't see much of
him last year he dealt with a hernia injury. So
like it's kind of a similar story with him compared
(36:07):
to with disa Isaac. Like basically the redier ear as
a rookie, but he's got potential as well. He's a
bigger corner, six one, two hundred pounds, so a bigger guy.
But man, it's I just think what I think is
gonna come down to there like health is going to
be really critical and like consistency they want when you're
(36:29):
looking at guys like in those in those spots they
want to have. They want to feel like if we
need you to step in and hold your own like
you can do it, like you know.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
It's not gonna moment, it's not gonna be too big
for you. So like Jalen armor Davis, this is a
guy that like has shown potential, just hasn't been able
to stay healthy. But I don't think the moment's going
to be too big for him play college ball at Alabama.
Like he's he's he's ready in that sense, but it's
a health question for him. For for the rookies, like it's.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
More of a question I mean Cone West Western Michigan, Yeah, Rutgers.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
I mean you have a question of like are you
are you ready if needed and so, and then if
if you end up getting cut, could we get you
on the practice squad. That's like the second piece of
that equation. The Ravens have tried that with guys in
recent years where they've tried they've had some late round
corners where they've taken swings at Sean Wade was one
of them. He ended up he's a fifth round pick,
(37:21):
ended up in New England.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Traded to New England.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
Yeah, traded, but but you know, at the deadline, right
at the roster cut down and didn't play any games here.
And then the one from Stanford Kye Blue Kelly yep,
And he was another one late round pick who ended
up not making it at a camp. So they've taken
some swings with late round corners and then some of
those guys haven't made it, so.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
They generally get picked up by other teams. That's kind
of the thing I think it is. I think it
can be a challenge to sneak a cornerback onto the
practice squad because everybody around the league is looking for
corners and you can't have you enough of them, you know.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
And the Raves have a good track record of drafting
and developing them. And so I think that like this
and this roster is so good that like other teams
are gonna look at like who the Ravens are cutting
and being like, Okay, they added your Alexander. Exactly who
spot did Alexander take exactly Exactly? That's gonna be that guy.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
Absolutely, that's gonna be the case. Absolutely. Anytime any team
makes an addition around the league, you're like, all right,
who's that bumping and is that guy of interest to us?
Speaker 2 (38:22):
Right? So I think that it made the competition there
much more difficult. But I also think that other teams
are going to be taking notice of that. All right,
So let's take a look at the defensive line here,
nom Dei, Matabik, Project Washington, Travis Jones. Those your top three.
John Jenkins, the big nose tackle is basically Michael Pierce replacement.
He's on, and Anias Peebles defensive lineman rookie I think
(38:47):
is gonna be on as well.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
Right, I would expect that those five make it, and
not that all five necessarily will be game day actives.
I think that could be matchup related. You know, if
you're facing heavier run team, then John Jenkins is active.
If you're facing maybe a heavier passing team than a
NSP ables is a game they active because you want
his past rush ability inside and so but I think
(39:12):
five make the team. I mean, Brent Urban, you know,
was also on this fifty three man roster last year
and remains as a free agent.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
Yeah, so that's what we think there for the defensive line,
and then just to close us out there, specialist Nick
Moore and Jordan Stout are the long snapper and punter.
The debate here is at kicker, Tyler Loop or John
Hoyland or a veteran who's not on the team. At
this point. The two rookies are battling it out over
the course of the offseason program, and I think they'll
battle it out in training camp, but they're still I.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
Would flint that one of them is the Ravens kicker.
That's my expectation.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
I think Tyler Loop has the is the Ozon favorite
for the job. He was a guy that was drafted.
Ravens made it clear he was He was the one
that they wanted. Randy Brown, the kicking coach, uh toward
the country the World tour, Yeah, the World Tour and
landed on Tyler Loop is the guy that he wanted.
So I think that all signs are that he would
end up being the guy. But there's a competition there, yep.
(40:07):
And I do think that, like depending on how those
guys do in training camp into preseason. That's the other
one that if you feel like you need to bring
in a veteran for some competition. That's the other spot.
As we look at this roster that I think that,
like you could, I.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
Don't think you're keeping two fifty kickers on the fifty
three one.
Speaker 2 (40:27):
Spot for him, yea.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
If they bring a veteran, it's it's a replacement.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
Yeah. And so you know, I think Loop's gonna win
that job. And and you know that he'll have to
prove himself this summer, but I think that he likely
ends up winning that job.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Yep. I would agree, all right, you gotta e laminate it.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
No, not yet, not yet. This is this is in pencil.
This is in pencil. There's as far from Lamen. There's
a lot of football to be played this summer. But
I think that, as I said off the topic, I
think this team is rock solid. I think the roster
is in really good shape. And I think that the
Ravens are gonna have some tough decisions when they get
down to it.
Speaker 1 (41:02):
The Ravens practice squad might be able to be some teams.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
It's gonna be good. I mean, you're gonna look at it.
I mean, like I mentioned it, when you're looking at
some of these positions, you know, like i'd like to
find a way for him onto the practice squad. I'd
like to find a way for him on to the
practice squad. I like there's gonna be there's gonna be
good players that aren't able to make it on this
fifty three, which is the case every year, but I
think it's maybe even more so this season. And that's
a really good spot to be.
Speaker 1 (41:24):
Yep, totally agree. Well, thanks for listening. Enjoy your Fourth
of July break here.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
Hope you're all
Speaker 1 (41:31):
Out having fun but still tuning in for the lens
of course, so subscribe, leaves the rating and review, and
we will be back with you soon.
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