OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens open the 2023 NFL regular season against the Houston Texans on Sept. 10 at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium.
As the Ravens attempt to construct a championship roster, the biggest names on the bubble are: quarterbacks Tyler Huntley and Josh Johnson, offensive lineman Ben Cleveland and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell,
In one of the biggest training camp battles, Huntley and Johnson are competing for the primary backup job behind Lamar Jackson. The other players fighting for roster spots are Cleveland, a third-round pick in 2021 who surprisingly hasn't figured into the open left guard job, and Treadwell, a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2016 who is considered a long shot for one of the final wide receiver spots.
Here is the 53-man projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Lamar Jackson, Josh Johnson
All of the uncertainty surrounding Jackson ended when he signed a five-year, $260 million contract in April. The bigger question is who will be backing him up. The pick here is the underdog Johnson, who would represent $1.5 million in cap savings over Huntley. Baltimore looked to upgrade the No. 2 quarterback spot this offseason, which indicates that Huntley's job isn't safe, especially after he struggled toward the end of last season. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Ravens added another veteran quarterback if Huntley and Johnson don't have a great start to camp.
RUNNING BACK (4): J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Melvin Gordon III, Justice Hill
Dobbins, whose last two seasons have been impacted by a significant left knee injury, is starting training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list after not participating in minicamp in June. The Ravens added a veteran insurance policy by signing Gordon a week before the start of camp. A two-time Pro Bowl back, Gordon is coming off a season in which he recorded career lows in rushing yards (318) and average (3.5). One of the most consistent No. 2 backs in the league, Edwards is expected to be at full speed this season after being two years removed from a major knee injury. Hill is one of the top special teams players for Baltimore.
FULLBACK (1): Patrick Ricard
Ricard returns after his fourth straight Pro Bowl season. It will be interesting to see how his role changes under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who is looking to spread out defenses. Ben Mason, a fifth-round pick in 2021, is a long shot.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers, Nelson Agholor, Devin Duvernay, Tylan Wallace
This is Baltimore's most upgrade position with the free-agent signings of Beckham and Agholor and the drafting of Flowers in the first round. Bateman is back after missing the last nine games last season with a foot injury. Duvernay is a Pro Bowl returner but he's pricey at $4.3 million. Wallace gets the final spot because of his special teams value. But Treadwell, James Proche II, Andy Isabella, Dontay Demus Jr. and Tarik Black have a shot to unseat Wallace with strong summers.
TIGHT END (3): Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar
There's not any drama at this position. Andrews is the best tight end in the NFL not named Travis Kelce. Likely, a fourth-round pick from a year ago, needs to show more consistency. Kolar, who was also a fourth-rounder in 2022, has to take on a bigger role after a sports hernia injury limited him to two games in his rookie season.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Ronnie Stanley, Tyler Linderbaum, Kevin Zeitler, Morgan Moses, Patrick Mekari, Daniel Faalele, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, John Simpson
Stanley, Linderbaum, Zeitler and Moses return as starters. It looks like the vacant left guard spot will be settled by a camp battle between Simpson, Faalele and Aumavae-Laulu. One of the most versatile linemen in the league, Mekari is the top backup at every spot along the line. It could be tough to keep Cleveland on the roster, and Baltimore could look to trade him similar to how they dealt Ben Bredeson in 2021. The Ravens can store experienced center Sam Mustipher on the practice squad, and they can promote him if they needed more depth on the interior of the line.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Michael Pierce, Justin Madubuike, Broderick Washington, Travis Jones, Brent Urban, Angelo Blackson
There's a solid core back with Pierce, Madubuike, Washington, Jones and Urban. The big question is the durability of Pierce, who hasn't played more than eight games since 2019. The Ravens will have a void after cutting Calais Campbell, one of the top leaders on the team. But Blackson, a free-agent addition, received a strong endorsement from middle linebacker Roquan Smith, who played behind Blackson in Chicago.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Tyus Bowser, Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson
The Ravens still could add an experienced situational pass-rusher like Justin Houston or Jadeveon Clowney. At 28, Bowser is the oldest linebacker on the roster by two years. Baltimore will lean on young edge rushers in Oweh and Ojabo, who could have a breakout season in his second year. Robinson, a rookie fourth-round pick, has a lot of length but may need another year to develop. Jeremiah Moon and Malik Hamm, both of whom flashed in the spring, are on the bubble and are prospects to watch in the preseason.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Roquan Smith, Patrick Queen, Trenton Simpson, Malik Harrison, Kristian Welch
Smith and Queen believe they are the top inside linebacker tandems in the NFL. Harrison is valuable because he can play both on the inside and outside. Simpson, a rookie third-round pick, should immediately contribute on special teams. The final spot on the inside should come down to Welch, Del'Shawn Phillips and Josh Ross.
CORNERBACK (7): Marlon Humphrey, Rock Ya-Sin, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Damarion Williams, Kyu Blu Kelly, Trayvon Mullen, Kevon Seymour
Humphrey is looking to get back to being a top-five corner in the NFL. The biggest change is the addition of Ya-Sin, who takes over the starting spot held by Marcus Peters. Baltimore is hoping for strong second years from Armour-Davis and Williams, two fourth-round picks from 2022. The Ravens waited until the fifth round to take their first corner this year, when they selected Kelly. Mullen, who is Jackson's cousin, and Seymour are both on the bubble. Their spots would be vulnerable if Baltimore signs another veteran cover guy.
SAFETY (4): Marcus Williams, Kyle Hamilton, Brandon Stephens, Geno Stone
In his second season with Baltimore, Williams looks like the Ravens' next Pro Bowl defender. Hamilton, the No. 14 overall selection last year, can play all over the field. Stephens is a versatile defender who can play both safety, nickel and outside corner. Stone is a special teams standout who showed he can handle a starting role when he stepped in for Williams, who missed seven games with a wrist injury. The Ravens really like Daryl Worley, an experienced corner who moved to safety this spring. Baltimore can probably start the season with Worley on the practice squad and promote him if needed. Ar'Darius Washington is also on the bubble.
SPECIALISTS (3): Justin Tucker, Jordan Stout and Nick Moore
The Ravens are once again set with their specialists. Tucker is the NFL's most accurate kicker, and Stout returns for his second season after being a fourth-round pick in 2022. Moore enters his third year as Baltimore's primary long-snapper.