The Ravens are notoriously one of the last teams to announce their final 53-man roster, but Saturday was anything but normal operating procedure in Baltimore.
The Ravens got a surprising amount of business done, which leaves a little less on the to-do list Sunday. That said, some of their biggest decisions are still hanging out there.
Before we get into those, let’s recap what they’ve already done and where the roster currently stands.
THE ROSTER (As Of Late Saturday Night)
QB (3): Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, Joe Fagnano
RB (4): Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Adam Randall, Rasheen Ali
WR (6): Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Ja’Kobi Lane, Tez Walker, Elijah Sarratt, LaJohntay Wester
TE (4): Mark Andrews, Durham Smythe, Matthew Hibner, Josh Cuevas
OL (11): Ronnie Stanley, John Simpson, Jovaughn Gwyn, Vega Ioane, Roger Rosengarten, Ethan Pocic, Emery Jones, Carson Vinson, Gerad Lichtenhan, Andrew Vorhees, Corey Bullock
DL (8): Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Calais Campbell, John Jenkins, Broedrick Washington, Aneaes Peebles, Rayshaun Benny, David Olajiga
LB (6): Roquan Smith, Teddye Buchanan, Trenton Simpson, Jay Higgins, Dominic DeLuca, Carl Jones
CB (7): Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, Chidobe Awuzie, TJ Tampa, Keyon Martin, Chandler Rivers, Marquise Robinson
S (4): Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Jaylin Hawkins, Keondre Jackson
ST (3): Tyler Loop (for now), Ryan Eckley, Nick Moore
RECAPPING SATURDAYS DECISIONS
BALTIMORE RAVENS TRADE DT CJ OKOYE TO THE NEW YORK GIANTS FOR A 2028 7TH ROUND PICK
Cole’s Take:
This is just good business for Eric DeCosta and the Ravens, and it’s not an indictment of C.J. Okoye’s play. If you followed Road Graders, you know I gave Okoye plenty of attention because of the flashes he showed. But once the Ravens brought back John Jenkins, the numbers got tight, especially in a Jesse Minter defense that doesn’t need more than two nose tackles. The Ravens get a pick for a player who may not have made the 53, while Okoye gets a shot with familiar faces in John Harbaugh and Dennis Johnson. Win-win.
BALTIMORE RAVENS TRADE OT DIEGO POUNDS TO THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FOR A 2028 CONDITIONAL 6TH ROUND PICK
Cole’s Take:
Again, this is just good business when a player isn’t projected to make your final 53. I was honestly surprised Diego Pounds fetched draft capital, but the alternative was exposing him to waivers for nothing.
From what we’ve seen this summer, Carson Vinson and Gerard Lichtenhan have been cleanly ahead of him on the depth chart. That said, this is a move worth monitoring over the next few years because plenty of people were high on Pounds’ upside.
