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          Baltimore Ravens' 53-man roster projection: Who is backing up Lamar Jackson?

          • Jamison HensleyJul 28, 2021, 06:00 AM ET
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens open training camp on July 28 at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Maryland. The Ravens finished the 2020 season 11-5, which placed them second in the AFC North. Baltimore has reached the playoffs for the past three seasons. The Ravens return 20 starts from last season's team as well as head coach John Harbaugh and coordinators Greg Roman (offense), Don "Wink" Martindale (defense) and Chris Horton (special teams). Here is a 53-man roster projection:

          QUARTERBACK (2): Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley

          Jackson has proved to be durable despite running more than any other quarterback. He's missed two starts since taking over the job midway through the 2018 season, sitting in 2019 after Baltimore had already clinched the AFC's top seed and getting sidelined last year with COVID-19. This allows the Ravens to go with a young primary backup. Huntley and Trace McSorley played well in limited action last season and earned the confidence of the coaching staff, but Huntley has been the more consistent passer this offseason. This is the team's most intriguing position battle of the summer.

          RUNNING BACK (3): J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill

          Dobbins and Edwards form one of the top running back duos in the league. Dobbins is set for a breakout season after taking the lead role down the stretch last season, and Edwards signed a two-year extension after averaging five yards per carry for a third straight season. Hill led Baltimore in special teams tackles last season.

          WIDE RECEIVER (7): Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman, Sammy Watkins, Devin Duvernay, Tylan Wallace, Miles Boykin, James Proche II

          Brown, Bateman, Watkins, Duvernay and Wallace are locks. Boykin has produced disappointing pass-catching numbers, but the coaching staff raves about his blocking, which means more for run-centric Baltimore than other teams. Proche has shown great hands in practice and provides another option as a punt returner.

          TIGHT END (4): Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, Josh Oliver, Patrick Ricard (FB)

          Andrews is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL, and Boyle is one of the top run-blocking ones. Oliver, who was acquired in a trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars, impressed in the passing game this offseason. Ricard is a two-time Pro Bowl fullback. Ben Mason, a rookie fifth-round pick, could earn a spot by making an impact on special teams.

          OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Ronnie Stanley, Ben Cleveland, Bradley Bozeman, Kevin Zeitler, Alejandro Villanueva, Patrick Mekari, Tyre Phillips, Ben Bredeson, Ben Powers

          Stanley, Bozeman, Eitler and Villanueva are sure-fire starters. Cleveland is the favorite to start at left guard, but he is battling Phillips and Powers. Mekari is the team's most versatile lineman, and Bredeson is a fourth-round pick from a year ago. It'll be interesting to see if the Ravens carry Ja'Wuan James (Achilles) on the initial 53-man roster, which would give him a chance to come off injured reserve later in the season. Andre Smith, Trystan Colon and Michael Schofield are on the bubble.

          DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Brandon Williams, Calais Campbell, Derek Wolfe, Justin Madubuike, Broderick Washington, Justin Ellis

          Williams, Campbell and Wolfe are returning starters. Madubuike is looking like he'll force his way into the startling lineup. Washington is a promising rotational player. Ellis gets the nod over Aaron Crawford at backup nose tackle right now because of the plays he made in offseason practices.

          LINEBACKER (9): Patrick Queen, Tyus Bowser, Pernell McPhee, Odafe Oweh, Malik Harrison, L.J. Fort, Daelin Hayes, Chris Board, Jaylon Ferguson

          Queen will start alongside either Harrison or Fort. McPhee and Bowser were re-signed to start on the outside. Oweh and Hayes have stood out as rookies. Board is a core special teams player, and Ferguson has received a lot of compliments for his conditioning and understanding of the playbook. If the Ravens keep 10 linebackers, the last spot will come down to either Otaro Alaka or Kristian Welch.

          SECONDARY (10): Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Chuck Clark, DeShon Elliott, Jimmy Smith, Tavon Young, Brandon Stephens, Anthony Averett, Shaun Wade, Anthony Levine Sr.

          With Humphrey, Peters, Clark and Elliott, the entire starting secondary is back. Young is looking to return as the team's top nickelback after tearing his ACL in Week 2, and Smith is trying to become a top backup at safety as well as cornerback. Averett is a quality No. 5 corner who's made seven NFL starts. Stephens and Wade make the team as rookie draft picks. The final spot will come down to special teams between Levine, Jordan Richards and Davontae Harris.

          SPECIALIST (3): Justin Tucker, Sam Koch, Nick Moore.

          Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, and Koch is the longest tenured Raven - by five years. Moore, who was on the practice squad all of last season, replaces Morgan Cox, the best long-snapper in team history.