OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens open the 2024 NFL regular season against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 5 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta enjoys repeating the mantra of his predecessor Ozzie Newsome: They don't have to field a team until Week 1 and can make moves up until that point. Last year, DeCosta made two key signings at pass rusher after training camp started, adding Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy during the summer.
Do the Ravens have more moves left in them this year? It wouldn't be surprising if Baltimore brought in a veteran at either the offensive line, wide receiver, outside linebacker or safety. The biggest obstacle right now is limited salary cap space.
Here is the 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (2): Lamar Jackson, Josh Johnson
Jackson, the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, is entering his seventh season. Johnson, 38, takes over as the primary backup and replaces Tyler Huntley, who had been Baltimore's No. 2 quarterback for the previous three seasons. The biggest decision is whether to keep rookie sixth-round pick Devin Leary as the third quarterback on the 53-man roster or see if they can get him to the practice squad. It will come down to his performance in the preseason for Leary, who has a very strong arm but threw a lot of interceptions in the spring.
RUNNING BACKS (4): Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali, Patrick Ricard (FB)
The pecking order in backfield is clear cut. Henry, the team's top free-agent addition, is looking to become the first Raven to go over 230 carries since Justin Forsett in 2014. Hill, one of the most unheralded players on the roster, will be the top backup, and Ali, the rookie fifth-round pick, will serve as the No. 3 back. Keaton Mitchell will start the season on injured reserve after tearing his ACL in December. The Ravens are hoping he'll return at some point in the regular season, but team officials haven't given a timetable on when he'll be back.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Devontez Walker, Tylan Wallace, Deonte Harty
The four receivers who are guaranteed spots are: Flowers, Bateman, Agholor and Walker. Wallace should make it as a core special teams player. The sixth spot could be between Harty and Malik Cunningham, a college quarterback who has switched to receiver. This could come down to who is the team's best returner. Sean Ryan, who spent last season on the Ravens' practice squad, is also a name to watch.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar
This is the easiest position to project for the Ravens. Baltimore brings back its top three tight ends from last season including a healthy Andrews, a three-time Pro Bowl player who was sidelined for seven games with a severe ankle injury. Likely would the be the No. 1 tight end for many teams.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Ronnie Stanley, Tyler Linderbaum, Patrick Mekari, Daniel Faalele, Andrew Vorhees, Josh Jones, Roger Rosengarten, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Ben Cleveland
There are eight players who likely have earned spots already, including two returning starters in Stanley, the left tackle, and Linderbaum, a Pro Bowl center. Vorhees, Faalele, Rosengarten, Jones and Aumavae-Laulu are battling for starting jobs. Mekari will be the "sixth lineman" and serve as the top backup at left tackle and center. If the Ravens keep nine linemen, it probably will come down to Cleveland, a third-round pick in 2021, or Nick Samac (broken leg in November), a rookie seventh-round pick who has been limited all spring.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (5): Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Travis Jones, Brent Urban, Broderick Washington
The Ravens bring back their top five linemen from last year. This group is headlined by Madubuike, an All-Pro who recorded a career-high 13 sacks last year. There could be competition at nose tackle between Pierce and Jones. Josh Tupou, who has played in 65 games for the Bengals, could be a fallback option if injuries occur.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (7): Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, David Ojabo, Malik Harrison, Adisa Isaac, Tavius Robinson, Malik Hamm
This is a young group. Van Noy, 33, is the only outside linebacker over 26. Injuries could play a factor. Ojabo, who has played in five games in his first two seasons, had surgery to repair a partially torn ACL in November. Isaac, a rookie third-round pick, was sidelined all spring with a hamstring injury. Hamm, who spent all of last season on injured reserve, gets one of the final spots on the roster.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (3): Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Chris Board
Simpson steps in for Patrick Queen, who signed with the rival Steelers, and starts next to Smith, a first-team All-Pro the last two seasons. Board takes over the role left by Del'Shawn Phillips, who was a backup inside linebacker and core special teams player. Josh Ross, who has been with the Ravens for the last two seasons, has a chance to make the roster because of his value on special teams.
CORNERBACKS (7): Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Nate Wiggins, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Arthur Maulet, Ka'dar Hollman, T.J. Tampa
The top three corners are Humphrey, Stephens and Wiggins, the team's first-round pick. The Ravens believe Maulet is underrated. It looks like Hollman, an under-the-radar signing this offseason, will be a core special teams player. Damarion Williams, who has struggled to stay healthy, needs a strong camp to create a spot at a log-jammed position.
SAFETIES (4): Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Eddie Jackson, Sanoussi Kane
The Ravens addressed the No. 3 spot behind Hamilton and Williams by signing Jackson, a former Pro Bowl defender, on the first day of training camp. Kane, a rookie seventh-round pick, will make the team for his impact on special teams. Ar'Darius Washington has a shot at making the team if he can stay healthy. Beau Brade are two on-the-bubble prospects to keep an eye on.
SPECIALISTS (3): Justin Tucker (K), Jordan Stout (P), Nick Moore (LS)
There is no drama here. Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, and Stout is coming off a season in which he ranked in the top half in punting average (47.8), punts inside the 20-yard line (28) and punts inside the 10 (nine). Moore is back as Baltimore's long-snapper after missing all of last season with an Achilles injury.