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Ravens' roster projection includes surprising Super Bowl XLIX star

The Baltimore Ravens open training camp on July 27 at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Maryland. Here's a 53-man roster projection:

QUARTERBACK (2): Joe Flacco and Ryan Mallett

For the past seven years, the Ravens have kept only two quarterbacks heading into the regular season. That streak won't end this season.

RUNNING BACK (2): Terrance West, Danny Woodhead and Kenneth Dixon (suspended)

West's hold on the starting job was strengthened after Dixon's four-game suspension, and Woodhead will prove valuable in the passing game. Buck Allen was a non-factor by the end of last season, and the Ravens don't need to carry another tailback if they go with Lorenzo Taliaferro as their fullback.

FULLBACK (1): Lorenzo Taliaferro

The Ravens are looking to replace Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. Taliaferro, a converted tailback, is currently in the lead, but he will have to hold off undrafted rookie Ricky Ortiz.

WIDE RECEIVER (6): Jeremy Maclin, Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman, Chris Moore, Michael Campanaro and Chris Matthews

Maclin, Wallace, Perriman and Moore are the only locks. Campanaro has to convince the team he can be explosive in the return game as well as remain healthy. Matthews, who surprisingly broke out for the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl three seasons ago, makes the team by being a core special teams player.

TIGHT END (4): Benjamin Watson, Nick Boyle, Crockett Gillmore and Maxx Williams

Watson and Boyle are competing for the starting job after Dennis Pitta re-injured his hip. Gillmore has shown flashes of generating yards after the catch, but he has struggled to stay healthy. Williams, who is coming off knee surgery, avoided the Physically Unable to Perform list to start camp.

OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Ronnie Stanley, Alex Lewis, John Urschel, Marshal Yanda, James Hurst, Ryan Jensen, De'Ondre Wesley and Nico Siragusa

Keeping only eight linemen is risky, but this is how the Ravens started last season. Baltimore can do this because of its linemen's versatility. Rookie fifth-round pick Jermaine Eluemunor is a developmental player who could become the 53rd man on the roster if the team doesn't think he'll make it to the practice squad or he doesn't end up on injured reserve.

DEFENSIVE LINE (7): Brandon Williams, Carl Davis, Brent Urban, Michael Pierce, Bronson Kaufusi, Chris Wormley and Willie Henry

Barring injury, this is the easiest position to project, outside of quarterback. The Ravens have invested heavily here. Six players were drafted in the fourth round or higher over the past five years.

LINEBACKER (10): C.J. Mosley, Terrell Suggs, Kamalei Correa, Albert McClellan, Za'Darius Smith, Matt Judon, Tyus Bowser, Tim Williams, Anthony Levine and Patrick Onwuasor

Correa is expected to take over for Zach Orr, who likely won't return despite recently coming out of retirement. McClellan and Judon should compete for the spot left by Elvis Dumervil, who was released in March. Smith could be a bubble player after being a healthy scratch in three of the final six games last season and producing one sack all of last year.

SECONDARY (10): Jimmy Smith, Brandon Carr, Eric Weddle, Tony Jefferson, Lardarius Webb, Marlon Humphrey, Maurice Canady, Brandon Boykin, Chuck Clark and Sheldon Price

Canady and Boykin are battling to be the nickelback after Tavon Young suffered a torn ACL in offseason workouts. Clark, a rookie sixth-round pick, has to earn his spot on special teams. Price, whose season ended in Week 5 last year with a biceps injury, is looking to make the cut for a second straight season.

SPECIALISTS (3): K Justin Tucker, P Sam Koch, LS Morgan Cox.

Tucker, Koch and Cox are entering their sixth season together as one of the NFL's best special teams tandems.