Ravens roster projection: Who makes the 53-man roster after perfect preseason?

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The Ravens didn’t have any trouble in their preseason finale Friday night, routing the Washington Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium, 41-3, to complete a perfect August under first-year coach Jesse Minter.

Quarterbacks Tyler Huntley, Joe Fagnano and Austin Reed each had a touchdown pass, and the Ravens ran wild against a limited Commanders defense. The Ravens outgained Washington 456-177 overall.

Figuring out the Ravens’ roster, which will be finalized by 6 p.m. Sunday, will be a harder puzzle for general manager Eric DeCosta to solve. Here’s a look at how he could set the team’s initial 53-man squad.

Offense (25)

Quarterback (2): Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley

Huntley did enough to quiet the hubbub over his job security as Jackson’s backup. He went 4-for-4 for 61 yards and a touchdown, good for a perfect passer rating, and added a 14-yard scramble. Huntley bowed out after just one drive.

Did Fagnano do enough to earn a roster spot, either in Baltimore or elsewhere? The undrafted rookie finished 15-for-20 for 123 yards and a touchdown, giving him 509 passing yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a 74.7 completion rate this preseason.

Fagnano played his part in the offense well all preseason, but some front offices around the NFL might be more keen to credit coordinator Declan Doyle and the Ravens’ supporting cast than a 25-year-old who went unsigned for days after the draft. Fagnano opened eyes this summer, but how many outside Baltimore? Only one quarterback, Tommy DeVito, was claimed off the waiver wire after roster cut-downs last year.

Running back (4): Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali, Adam Randall

After missing the Ravens’ first two preseason games with an undisclosed injury, Ali returned and had nine carries for 28 yards and three catches (with one drop) for 18 yards. The third-year back has just 55 rushing yards (3.2 per carry) and 63 receiving yards through two seasons, but he led the team in kick returns last year (30 in 15 games) and had the longest return of the season (43 yards). Ali also contributed on the kick coverage, punt coverage and punt return units in 2025, finishing fourth on the team in special teams tackles.

Randall, a fifth-round selection hand-picked by owner Steve Bisciotti, finished the preseason with 17 carries for 71 yards (4.2 per carry) and a touchdown, but his potential is undeniable. Few running back prospects have Randall’s explosive athletic traits. With Henry turning 33 in January and Hill turning 29 in November, the Ravens need to invest in youth at the position.

Wide receiver (6): Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Ja’Kobi Lane, Devontez Walker, LaJohntay Wester, Elijah Sarratt

The Ravens got promising preseason returns from their first- and second-year receivers: Lane was one of the team’s most impressive players, Wester showed he can contribute as more than just a returner, and Sarratt came on strong late. The only real drama of camp came from Flowers’ brief injury scare and news of Bateman’s offseason arrest.

Tight end (4): Mark Andrews, Durham Smythe, Matthew Hibner, Josh Cuevas

Hibner flashed in the preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles (61 yards). Cuevas flashed in the win against the Minnesota Vikings (46 yards). They combined for four catches for 26 yards Friday. Andrews and Smythe sat out the preseason. The only real question around this group is how it’ll look when the bright lights come on.

Offensive line (9): Ronnie Stanley, John Simpson, Jovaughn Gwyn, Vega Ioane, Roger Rosengarten, Emery Jones Jr., Carson Vinson, Ethan Pocic, Andrew Vorhees

Maybe the most interesting revelation from Friday’s game was the Ravens’ first-string center: Gwyn, not Pocic, whom Minter had indicated could get a look with the starting offense. If the Ravens believe Pocic will be the better option come Week 1, there’s perhaps still time for Jackson to develop a comfort with him in practice. But Gwyn’s experience with the Ravens’ front-line offense, limited as it may be, should give him the edge.

Vinson got snaps at left and right tackle during the preseason, another sign he’ll enter the season as the Ravens’ swing tackle. Jones looks like he’ll be their top reserve guard. But the Ravens need more experience along the interior, and Vorhees offers just that. He didn’t have a great preseason, or a great preseason finale, but guard/center Corey Bullock never seemed to mount much of a challenge for a final roster spot.

Defense (25)

Defensive line (6): Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Calais Campbell, John Jenkins, Broderick Washington, Aeneas Peebles

The uncertainty around Madubuike’s readiness makes this the hardest puzzle to solve. Minter acknowledged Monday that the Ravens don’t have a “definitive answer” on whether Madubuike, only months removed from neck surgery, can contribute meaningfully in Week 1. His work in practice has been limited to individual drills. But, if the Ravens place Madubuike on IR this weekend, he would be held out of practice until after Week 4.

Peebles doesn’t have Madubuike’s sturdiness as a run defender, but his pass rush ability as a three-technique lineman (aligned over a guard’s outside shoulder) could help the Ravens if the two-time Pro Bowler is sidelined. Peebles entered Friday leading the Ravens in pressures this preseason (four), according to Pro Football Focus, and had a quarterback hit early in the game.

Washington, meanwhile, earned first-team reps throughout camp and the preseason before getting the night off Friday. Finally healthy, he looks as if he’s rebounded from an underwhelming, injury-shortened 2025 season. Entering Friday, Washington led the defense in run stops (four), which PFF classifies as tackles that constitute a “loss” for the offense.

With experienced veterans taking up much of the space in the room, seventh-round pick Rayshaun Benny, C.J. Okoye and David Olajiga are long shots to make the team. The Ravens might not get them all back on the practice squad, but they’re good developmental pieces.

Outside linebacker (5): Trey Hendrickson, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, Zion Young, Adisa Isaac

What do the Ravens value more: a former third-round pick who has played just 32 defensive snaps over two injury-plagued years but might still emerge as a difference-making edge rusher? Or an undrafted, less explosive rookie who’s shown throughout the summer that he has the athletic traits to contribute on defense and special teams?

Isaac had the more impressive preseason opener and seemed to have the upper hand in special teams responsibility. But Ethan Burke was one of the Ravens’ most impressive defenders against Minnesota and was tasked with more front-line special teams snaps.

On Friday, they went back and forth like dueling banjos. Burke forced a fumble and drew a personal-foul flag on a kick coverage rep. Isaac was around the ball on special teams, drew a holding penalty himself as a run defender and had a late-game sack.

In this case, the tie could go to the more pedigreed player. But Burke would be worth keeping as well. Kaimon Rucker has also leveled up at the position. Decisions, decisions.

Inside linebacker (4): Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan, Jay Higgins IV

Higgins was among the Ravens’ leaders in special teams snaps in his 11 games last season, and he was trusted enough on defense this preseason to earn the “green dot” as the unit’s presnap signal-caller. That should give him the edge over undrafted rookie Dominic DeLuca.

Buchanan’s recovery from the ACL injury he suffered in December has surpassed expectations, and the Ravens have given no indication that he’ll start the season on injured reserve. Whether he’ll start in Week 1 is another matter.

Cornerback (6): Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Keyon Martin, Chandler Rivers

Madubuike’s deliberate ramp-up could cost one of the Ravens’ talented cornerbacks a roster spot. Rivers, a fifth-round pick, was always likely to make the team. Martin had all but cinched up a spot by the team’s preseason opener.

But is there space for Bilhal Kone? Or Robert Longerbeam? Kone, a 2025 sixth-round pick who missed all of last season with a preseason knee injury, has had an encouraging camp and preseason (five catches allowed for 44 yards, according to PFF). But he suffered a minor lower-body injury Monday and missed Wednesday’s joint practice and Friday’s game. That could make him easier to pass through waivers.

Longerbeam struggled mightily as a rookie early in camp before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Another 2025 sixth-round pick, he stood out in the preseason, especially on special teams.

Safety (4): Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Jaylinn Hawkins, Keondre Jackson

Jackson entered this offseason as a known quantity on special teams, but his impactful play on defense in camp might’ve popped K’Von Wallace’s roster bubble. Even with the Ravens’ reliance on three-safety sets, they have enough talent in their secondary that losing Hamilton, their top nickel back, or Starks or Hawkins, their starting deep safeties, shouldn’t cripple their defense.

Special teams (3)

Specialists (3): Tyler Loop (K), Ryan Eckley (P), Nick Moore (LS)

The Ravens’ kicker problems aren’t going away. Loop missed his first field goal attempt of the preseason, made his next three, then went 2-for-4 on Friday, missing from 58 yards and 51 yards.

Eckley mishit his first punt, a 27-yarder against Philadelphia, but the sixth-round pick averaged 48.8 yards per punt overall during an impressive summer.