Pundits Predict How Ravens' Toughest Roster Decisions Will Shake Out
The Ravens' abundance of roster-worthy players was on full display in their 30-3 rout of the Washington Commanders in Saturday's preseason finale. Now comes the hard part.
Not every deserving player will make the 53-man roster, which has to be set by Tuesday at 4 p.m.
"We have a lot of tough decisions to make for sure over the next couple of days, and we'll see how it shakes out," Head Coach John Harbaugh said after the game.
Hensley, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer, and The Baltimore Sun’s Brian Wacker made their final roster projections. Here are their takes on three players perceived to be on the bubble:
S Beau Brade
Hensley: Out
"It seemed like a near-certainty that Beau Brade would make the team as the No. 3 safety at the start of training camp. But Sanoussi Kane and Reuben Lowery, an undrafted rookie who has been a ball magnet, have moved past Brade on the depth chart.
Zrebiec: Out
"Brade was a core special-teamer last year, and the Ravens already have some special teams roles to fill. But Brade being on the field late in the fourth quarter of the final two preseason games doesn't bode well. If he makes the team, it's going to have to be on special teams."
Shaffer: In
"Brade's special teams ability should give him the nod for one of the Ravens' final roster spots. The former River Hill and Maryland standout entered Saturday having played at least four preseason snaps on the kickoff coverage, kickoff return, punt coverage, punt return and field goal block teams, according to PFF. He was active as a rookie last season, and Special Teams Coordinator Chris Horton could use some continuity after losing several key contributors this offseason."
Wacker: Out
"Lowery's ascent has included going from training camp darling to surpassing second-year safety Beau Brade, who has played late into the past two preseason games and been behind the undrafted rookie on the depth chart. … Still, Baltimore could decide to keep Brade and instead try to stash [undrafted rookie cornerback] Keyon Martin on its practice squad, calling him if needed during the season."
ILB Jay Higgins IV
Hensley: Out
"Undrafted rookie Jay Higgins IV has been a playmaker in the preseason and he provides value on special teams. But, in order for Higgins to make the team, the Ravens would have to release OLB David Ojabo or cut their 11th defensive back."
Zrebiec: Out
"Higgins, an All-American at Iowa, has created two preseason turnovers and shown that he should have been drafted despite size/speed concerns. … It may come down to the Ravens keeping an extra inside linebacker or an extra defensive back, and it's tough to deny cornerback Keyon Martin.
Shaffer: Out
"Higgins recorded a hurry in the third quarter [Saturday] one play before ILB Chandler Martin broke up a pass, continuing their impressive preseasons. The Ravens have a proud tradition of finding diamond-in-the-rough inside linebackers and developing them into solid starters. But their roster is deep enough that both could end up waived."
Wacker: Out
"Undrafted rookies Jay Higgins IV and Chandler Martin have played well all summer, made plays and garnered plenty of deserved attention. But when it comes down to a final roster spot or two, other factors — such as special teams and a greater need in the defensive backfield — mean there likely isn't room for a fifth inside linebacker."
CB Keyon Martin
Hensley: In
"Martin, who made plays on defense in the second preseason game, makes the cut because of his impact on coverage and return teams."
Zrebiec: In
"Keyon Martin, who was signed after a tryout at the rookie minicamp, has come out of nowhere in recent weeks. All he's done is make plays. The Ravens love hoarding young corners. They also know that Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie and Jalyn Armour-Davis have all had major issues staying healthy over the years, and they missed some time this summer. Keyon Martin gives the Ravens some coverage in the slot, where they don't have a ton of depth."
Shaffer: Out
"Undrafted rookie nickel back Keyon Martin emerged as a preseason playmaker, recording a safety against the Cowboys and returning an interception for a touchdown Saturday, but his smaller frame (5-9, 170 pounds) limits his special teams potential. He played just five snaps there against the Cowboys [on Aug. 16-, though he was more active Saturday."
Wacker: In
"Martin, an undrafted rookie who only landed in Baltimore after a tryout, has starred of late with a few splash plays to go with steady performance. Martin would also provide depth in the slot."
Six Ravens Makes ESPN's Top 100, But Lamar Jackson Falls Two Spots
The Ravens have six players in ESPN’s Top 100 rankings for the 2025 season, but Lamar Jackson's placement is questionable.
Jackson, who was No. 2 last year, dropped to No. 4 in the rankings despite coming off one of the greatest statistical seasons in history.
The list was determined by 10 analysts and insiders who ranked players based on expected performance for the coming season. It's different from the NFL Top 100 rankings, which are determined (and the countdown is still ongoing) by players based on 2024 performance.
"Jackson has an excellent shot at surpassing his career highs of 4,172 yards and 41 touchdown passes, both of which he set in 2024," ESPN's Jamison Hensley wrote. "The Ravens not only return his top five targets from last season, but they also added five-time Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Jackson, one of the best dual threats in NFL history, said this summer that he feels just as fast as his rookie year. Could he become the first player to produce 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season?"
Unlike Hensley, ESPN's Mike Clay doesn't see Jackson bettering last season's performance. Clay projected Jackson to have 3,701 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, along with 145 carries for 889 rushing yards.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was No. 1, followed by Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, and Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett.
The Ravens were tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the third-most players on the list, behind the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (10) and Detroit Lions (eight).
Here's a look at the other Ravens who made the list, along with last year's ranking, comments from Hensley, and Clay's 2025 stats projections:
- S Kyle Hamilton (2024 rank: 47)
"Hamilton is one of the most versatile safeties in the game. Since he was selected in the first round in 2022, he is the only defensive back to total at least 15 tackles for loss, five sacks and five interceptions. With first-round pick Malaki Starks expected to play deep safety, Hamilton should line up closer to the line of scrimmage and disrupt more plays."
2025 projection: 108 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INTs, 8 PD
- RB Derrick Henry (NR)
"There are no signs of slowing down for Henry, who is the NFL's active leader in rushing yards (11,423) and touchdowns (106). Using his signature stiff arm and breakaway speed, he looked rejuvenated while playing alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has taken the defensive focus off Henry."
2025 projection: 326 carries, 1,529 yards, 15 TDs
- ILB Roquan Smith (38)
"At 27, Smith became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career tackles. His leadership has made him a difference-maker in the center of Baltimore's defense. Since the Ravens traded for Smith in the middle of the 2022 season, their defense has allowed the fewest points (18.0) and fewest rushing yards (93.2) in the NFL."
2025 projection: 158 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT
- C Tyler Linderbaum (NR)
"The only Pro Bowl center in Ravens history, Linderbaum led an offensive line that blocked for the NFL's No. 1 rushing attack and allowed the third-fewest sacks (24) last season. In his two Pro Bowl seasons (2023-24), Baltimore has totaled the second-most touchdowns (116) and fewest negative plays (476)."
- CB Marlon Humphrey (NR)
"After enjoying a bounce-back season in 2024, Humphrey joined Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis as the only players in Ravens history to produce at least 12 interceptions (19) and forced fumbles (15). Currently the longest-tenured Ravens defender, he could be part of the franchise's most talented secondary after the additions of cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Malaki Starks. Since drafting Humphrey in the first round in 2017, the Ravens have allowed the second-fewest touchdown passes (172) in the league."
2025 projection: 73 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INTs,14 PDs
Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike made the list of biggest snubs, which was compiled by league personnel evaluators.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer Sees a Ravens Team That's 'Loaded and Motivated'
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer attended the Ravens' final practice before the Commanders game. He used two words to describe what he saw from the Ravens: loaded and motivated.
"One thing that's pretty apparent with the group is how the disappointment of the last couple years — be it the heartbreaking divisional round loss in Buffalo last January, or the home AFC title game loss to the Chiefs the year before that — is being channeled by the leaders of the team," Breer wrote. "With guys like Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Roquan Smith, Tyler Linderbaum, Ronnie Stanley, Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey, among others, there's a level of heightened focus and intensity to camp.
"That isn't to say it wasn't there before. But the Ravens see themselves as having knocked on the door long enough, with six playoff appearances in seven years, plus four division titles and two No. 1 seeds in that span. It's time for the group, without a discernable hole on the roster, to break through."
Breer was especially impressed with Jackson's growth as a leader and passer.
"He's always led his own way, but has been more vocal this year, showing a certain urgency while being a little more demanding of his teammates," Breer wrote. "He's earned that and also held himself to a high standard — with his work as a drop-back passer, particularly in his accuracy and the speed with which he's processing. Believe it or not, after two MVP awards, and a season last year that many deemed worthy of a third, Jackson looks more complete than ever, which can be said for the team he leads, too."
Trenton Simpson Showed 'Glimpse of Player Ravens Have Been Waiting to See' in Preseason Finale
Inside linebacker Trenton Simpson was the Ravens' only starter to play in Saturday's game, and he looked like a player poised to make a leap in Year 3 after losing his starting job for the final five games last season.
Simpson deflected a pass that resulted in an interception and recorded 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and six tackles in the game.
The Baltimore Sun’s Josh Tolentino said it was possibly the 2023 third-round pick's best performance as a Raven and provided an exclamation point to his outstanding training camp.
"The preseason will soon be forgotten, but Simpson's impact against Washington was a glimpse of the player Baltimore has been waiting to see," Tolentino wrote. "He was decisive, disruptive and dependable."
Simpson began last season as the replacement for Patrick Queen, who had signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency, playing alongside All-Pro Roquan Smith. But Simpson's inconsistent play resulted in being replaced by Chris Board and Malik Harrison, both of whom left in free agency this offseason.
"Simpson's standout performance in the final exhibition might not have erased the doubts that emerged last season, but it showed a linebacker playing with urgency and confidence," Tolentino wrote. "If he can bottle that and carry this momentum into September, the Ravens' defense might once again have the inside tandem it needs."
