The Baltimore Ravens made plenty of notable additions to their roster through free agency and the draft this offseason. While the potential still exists for them to make more signings this summer, their full crop of players is largely set as OTAs continue and training camp is on the horizon.
As usual, there will be several competitive battles for roster spots and roles throughout the roster. What are some of them that will likely be the fiercest and which players are involved? Let’s break it down.
No. 3 Running Back
Candidates: Rasheen Ali and Adam Randall (R)
Behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali is returning as the presumptive No. 3 running back, sliding up the depth chart in the wake of Keaton Mitchell’s departure. However, rookie fifth-round pick Adam Randall has a legitimate chance to push Ali for that spot this summer. Randall, hand-picked as team owner Steve Bisciotti’s draft selection, is an intriguing late-round prospect. As a converted wide receiver, Randall has natural receiving ability but his physical profile mirrors closer to Henry as 6-foot-3, 230+ pounds.
Ali earned a roster spot last offseason by performing well in the preseason and carving out a returner role on special teams. He scored a receiving touchdown in the regular season with just under 100 total scrimmage yards on the year. If Randall’s pass-catching ability translates right away and he can quickly prove to be adept as a pass blocker, he’ll be more likely to see the field. In a best-case scenario for the Clemson product, Randall does this and not only leaps Ali but takes some snaps away from Hill and can replicate some of Mitchell’s big-play ability.
Starting and Backup Center
Candidates: Danny Pinter, Jovaughn Gwyn, Corey Bullock, Nick Dawkins (R)
The most high-profile roster battle for the Ravens is the starting center competition, and whoever will be backup as well. Although veteran Danny Pinter may be the early frontrunner, who will ultimately be the team’s Week 1 starter is almost completely up in the air. Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn were signed as low-profile free agents this offseason, while Nick Dawkins joined the team as an undrafted free agent last month. Corey Bullock is the only incumbent of the group.
Gwyn is an interesting candidate given his ties to new offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, who he played under in Atlanta. Gwyn, though, has only 19 appearances and no starts since being drafted as a seventh-round pick in 2023. He’s played 11 total offensive snaps compared to 76 on special teams. Bullock earned a roster spot last summer as the primary backup center behind Tyler Linderbaum. He flashed high-level play in training camp and the preseason. If he can replicate this performance over the next few months and show some growth, Bullock has a clear pathway to becoming the starter.
The biggest unknown is incoming UDFA Nick Dawkins, who played alongside Olaivavega Ioane at Penn State. While he was not drafted, Dawkins played well in college and his chemistry with Ioane could be a plus. There’s also still a very real possibility that the eventual starting center is not on the roster, as the Ravens could still acquire a more trusted veteran via trade or signing.
No. 3 Wide Receiver
Candidates: Devontez Walker, Jakobi Lane (R), Elijah Sarratt (R), LaJohntay Wester
There are still veteran wideouts available on the market that the Ravens could sign, including Deandre Hopkins, who had a solid stint in Baltimore last season. However, having just drafted a pair of wide receivers in the middle rounds, it appears the Ravens are more likely to stick it out with their current young core without making another signing. That would mean the No. 3 wide receiver behind starters Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman will emerge from the in-house group of candidates.
Walker is the current frontrunner and profiles as a potential breakout candidate. The 2024 fourth-round pick has made plays in limited action through two seasons, averaging 22.4 yards per reception with four touchdowns on just 11 targets. The Ravens have not made Walker a featured pass-catcher yet, though, and clearly felt the need to use draft capital to add competition to the room this year. The aforementioned mid-round picks, Lane and Sarratt, both have an opportunity to jump Walker on the depth chart and carve out playing time on offense.
Lane and Sarratt are both big-bodied, possession wideouts who excel at making contested catches. They should each, at a minimum, serve as a red zone threat early on. They both still have much room for development, but the same can be said for Walker as well. The Ravens will need someone to take a step forward and emerge as a reliable third banana at the position, but it would ultimately be a huge bonus if both rookies and Walker can all contribute in the passing game.
Wester is a rising sophomore who played almost exclusively in a return specialist role last season. It would take a huge summer performance and/or injuries for him to climb the depth chart, but he does still possess some intriguing traits as a speedy slot wideout.
Backup Cornerbacks
Candidates: Chandler Rivers (R), Bilhal Kone, Robert Longerbeam, Keyon Martin
The starting trio of Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, and Chidobe Awuzie are all returning for the Ravens. T.J. Tampa is a presumptive lock to be the No. 4 corner rotation behind them as a pure outside coverage player. After this group, the Ravens have a plethora of young defensive backs who will battle it out for likely 2-3 open roster spots this summer.
Chandler Rivers is an incoming rookie out of Duke, who the Ravens drafted in the fifth round as a perceived high-value selection. Rivers played well outside in college but at 5-foot-9, projects to be a nickelback at the NFL level. That will likely have his competing primarily with Keyon Martin, who made the Ravens’ roster as an undrafted rookie and slot cornerback last year. Martin played 143 defensive snaps and had a pass breakup, sack, and 23 tackles.
Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam were each drafted as late-round selections last year and both suffered season-ending injuries prior to September. So, they are both entering what is essentially their rookie seasons. There may not be room for both to make the team with Martin possessing incumbent status and Rivers having been just drafted a year after them.
Backup Defensive Linemen
Candidates: Broderick Washington Jr., Aeneas Peebles, Rayshaun Benny (R), C.J. Okoye
After the Ravens signed Calais Campbell following the draft, they have a projected starting trio of Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, and Campbell on the defensive line. “Projected” is a key word given the unclear status of Madubuike, who may or may not be healthy enough to begin the season at a starter-level workload. That places even greater impetus on the battle for the backup positions in this group. If Madubuike is ready to go by Week 1, one of these bubble-level defensive linemen will likely get squeezed out, whereas they’ll have a better chance to earn a 53-man roster spot if he begins the season on injured reserve or PUP.
Washington has been a regular rotational piece since 2021 and started 22 games, but he played just 102 defensive snaps in 2025 before suffering a season-ending achilles injury. Washington could be a salary cap casualty and released to create opportunity for Benny, who possesses good run defense ability and is on a rookie deal. Peebles, a late-round pick last year, still profiles as a potential impact pass-rusher despite receiving limited playing time in his rookie campaign. Peebles could perform better in the team’s new defensive system this year with more opportunity for snaps.
Okoye played 13 games for the Ravens last season amidst injuries on the defensive line. He’s a high-level athlete with an impressive physical profile at 6-foot-6, 370 pounds. If Madubuike is healthy and/or the Ravens opt to keep Washington, they’ll likely only be able to roster two of these final three youngsters. That would set up a tough decision between varying skill sets and specialties.