The Baltimore Ravens have established themselves as one of the best franchises in the NFL, holding a 118-74 record since coach John Harbaugh took over in 2008. Part of the reason they’re able to stay so competitive every year is due to great roster management, especially with their depth. Baltimore often stacks strength on top of strength at key positions. That gives them the necessary depth to withstand an injury during the season and develop talent to eventually replace departed free agents.
And as they enter the 2020 season as one of the favorites to win Super Bowl LV, it’s the team’s depth that will propel them to the promised land yet again.
It’s certainly been a wild offseason in the NFL, with the coronavirus pandemic causing the league to go digital for minicamps, reduce roster sizes in training camp, and completely cancel preseason games. With football looking more and more likely to happen in 2020 and Baltimore looking the part of a serious Super Bowl contender, the Ravens will once again be relying on their deep roster to carry them far. The big question is if it’s deep enough to get them all the way to Super Bowl LV.
While every position on an NFL roster is important, there are a few that carry a little more weight. Quarterback is the top position on the field at any given time and Baltimore is in great shape with reigning MVP Lamar Jackson under center. But having a proven backup in Robert Griffin III is perhaps the team’s greatest asset. Though there’s really no comparing that talent levels of Jackson and Griffin, they have similar skill sets and can run the same offense. Griffin, a former Offensive Rookie of the Year, shouldn’t be discounted as a starter-quality quarterback either thanks to his experience, leadership, and still impressive physical abilities.
For an offense that is as run-heavy as the Ravens’, significant depth along the interior of the offensive line is a must-have. Though all the talk this offseason has been about right guard Marshal Yanda retiring, the fact the team will have so many competing for his job is a testament to how well they’ve stockpiled talent on the offensive line. Bradley Bozeman, Ben Powers, D.J. Fluker, Ben Bredeson, and Tyre Phillips are all guards in line for a starting job this offseason, giving the Ravens plenty of options at the top of the depth chart and in case of injuries.
But folks shouldn’t forget about the guys actually carrying the football. If anything, Baltimore actually has too much talent at running back this year. After breaking a 41-year old single-season rushing record last year with Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill alongside Jackson; the Ravens added another star player to the mix, taking Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. That brings the total to four capable running backs on the roster, with at least two proving they’re starter-caliber guys already.
Wide receiver has been the bane of Baltimore’s offense for decades, often barely having enough quality players to make the 53-man roster. For the first time in seemingly forever, the Ravens actually have real competition and promise at the position. Willie Snead is the most experienced option on the depth chart and has proven himself as a capable slot receiver, both in New Orleans and Baltimore. Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin are expected to take big leaps in their second seasons. Rookies Devin Duvernay and James Proche are being looked at as immediate impact players. That’s before you get to the likes of Chris Moore, who has flashed with the team previously at wide receiver and as a return specialist.
The defense has been the strength of Baltimore since its inception in 1996 and things aren’t much different in 2020.
The Ravens invested heavily in their defensive line this offseason. Not only did they bring in star players like Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe to bolster the unit, but they also re-signing key contributors in Jihad Ward and Justin Ellis. When added to recent draft picks Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington Jr., it’s a group that has already had a surprising cut to get to the 80-man roster limit of training camp.
Baltimore’s secondary is easily the deepest unit on the team and arguably the deepest in the entire NFL. The Ravens legitimately have four starters at cornerback after making a move for Marcus Peters at the trade deadline last year. Peters is added to Marlon Humphrey and Jimmy Smith as outside cornerbacks with slot cornerback Tavon Young healthy again this year. Iman Marshall and Anthony Averett are great depth players with the potential to grow into move over time as well.
Baltimore is well situated at safety too with Chuck Clark earning a three-year contract extension after the Ravens signed Earl Thomas last offseason. But behind the starters, DeShon Elliott has looked impressive the last two offseasons (though he’s ended up on injured reserve both years) and Anthony Levine is a workhorse who does just about everything on defense. Geno Stone and Nigel Warrior are the newest additions to the unit and have plenty of promise for future glory as well.
Though losing a talented playmaker and franchise leader like quarterback Lamar Jackson for an entire season would be a devastating blow to this team’s chances this year, Baltimore is set up to withstand the bumps and bruises that come with an NFL season better than most. The Ravens made sure to address key positions in the offseason and continued to build up their depth, making them one of the teams most suited for a run at the Lombardi Trophy.