The Baltimore Ravens wrapped up their offseason program on Thursday and open training camp on July 28 at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Maryland. Here’s a 53-man roster projection.
Quarterbacks (2): Joe Flacco and Ryan Mallett. Comment: For the past six years, the Ravens have kept only two quarterbacks heading into the regular season.
Running backs (4): Justin Forsett, Buck Allen, Kenneth Dixon and Terrance West. Comment: Forsett, Allen and Dixon are locks. West gets the nod over Lorenzo Taliaferro because he's been running ahead of him this offseason. Trent Richardson is a long shot.
Fullback (1): Kyle Juszczyk. Comment: He led all NFL fullbacks with career highs in receptions (41), receiving yards (321) and touchdown catches (four).
Wide receivers (6): Steve Smith Sr., Breshad Perriman, Mike Wallace, Kamar Aiken, Chris Moore and Keenan Reynolds. Comment: Reynolds has been one of the standout players in offseason practices, which gives him the edge over oft-injured Michael Campanaro and Kaelin Clay for the receiver-returner role. Jeremy Butler makes the team if the Ravens keep seven receivers because of his upside at receiver and his impact on special teams.
Tight ends (4): Benjamin Watson, Maxx Williams, Crockett Gillmore and Dennis Pitta. Comment: Darren Waller should make the team on his special-teams ability alone, but how many teams have ever carried five tight ends? Nick Boyle has to serve a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Offensive line (8): LT Ronnie Stanley, LG John Urschel, C Jeremy Zuttah, RG Marshal Yanda, RT Rick Wagner, Alex Lewis, James Hurst and Ryan Jensen. Comment: The biggest question here is whether Hurst and Jensen can keep the final two spots on the offensive line group. The Ravens would want a better option at the No. 3 tackle position but Hurst looks like the choice right now.
Defensive line (7): Brandon Williams, Timmy Jernigan, Bronson Kaufusi, Lawrence Guy, Carl Davis, Brent Urban and Willie Henry. Comment: This is perhaps the deepest group of young talent that the Ravens have ever had at this position. It would be tough to keep only six linemen.
Linebackers (8): Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil, C.J. Mosley, Kamalei Correa, Zachary Orr, Za'Darius Smith, Albert McClellan and Matthew Judon. Comment: Undrafted rookie Victor Ochi still has a good shot to make this team but the Ravens might try to store him on the practice squad. Time is running out on Arthur Brown, a 2013 second-round draft pick, to develop.
Defensive backs (10): S Eric Weddle, S Lardarius Webb, CB Jimmy Smith, CB Shareece Wright, CB Tavon Young, CB Will Davis, S Kendrick Lewis, CB Jerraud Powers, S Anthony Levine and CB Terrence Brooks. Comment: The decision to go with Brooks over Matt Elam, a 2013 first-round pick, is based on his ability to play multiple positions in the secondary and his contribution on special teams. The upgrade at cornerback with Powers and Young makes Kyle Arrington expendable.
Specialists (3): PK Justin Tucker, P Sam Koch, LS Morgan Cox. Comment: Tucker, Koch and Cox have all made the Pro Bowl over the past two seasons.