A look on the practice field during OTAs reveals a team buzzing with activity. In fact, even with some players missing, there are more players at the voluntary minicamps than there would be at a regular season practice. That will change throughout the course of the offseason as the Ravens are forced to trim their roster to 53 during the preseason.

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A lot can change in three months, but power ranking the Ravens roster can give a better idea of who the final 53 will be. The criteria for this ranking is based on each player’s likelihood of making the roster and each player’s importance to the team.

This is the first of three parts.

Injured Reserve

Before getting into the bulk of the roster, UDFA cornerback Julian Wilson deserves a mention. Wilson broke his leg at the rookie minicamp and now resides on injured reserve, so he will not take up a roster spot.

The Longshots

90 – 71. Darryl Baldwin, Brennen Beyer, Andrew Bose, Daniel Brown, Leon Brown, Blaine Clausell, Nick Easton, Chris Greenwood, Kaleb Johnson, Marcel Jones, Jerry Lovelocke, Justin Manton, Steve Means, Quinton Pointer, Allen Reisner, Konrad Reuland, Kiero Small, Zach Thompson, De’Ondre Wesley, Cam Worthy

Though no player can ever really be ruled out, these guys are almost certainly just camp bodies.

A Tough Road to the Roster

70. Aldrick Robinson, WR

A big play threat in Washington for his first two years, Aldrick Robinson can flat-out fly. Even so, he will need to beat out too many other receivers to make the roster.

69. Terrence Magee, RB

A UDFA, Magee looked to be a draftable prospect, but he won’t beat out Javorious Allen or Lorenzo Taliaferro for backup reps. He probably won’t beat out Fitzgerald Toussaint for that matter.

68. DeAndre Carter, WR

Like Robinson, UDFA DeAndre Carter suffers from the Ravens’ depth at receiver. He does have the advantage of having some return ability, and he has gotten some hype recently.

67. Patrick Scales, LS

Patrick Scales filled in admirably for an injured Morgan Cox and then an injured Kevin McDermott last year. Now that Cox is back, Scales doesn’t really have a role. Should Cox be injured again, though, Scales will probably be the first guy the Ravens call.

66. Nick Perry, S

Probably the most heralded of the Ravens’ UDFAs this year, Nick Perry was a perfectly acceptable safety at Alabama. He has prototypical size for the position, but his speed is lacking.

65. Jeremy Butler, WR

Jeremy Butler may be this year’s version of Aaron Mellette, a guy who flashed big skills in the preseason but couldn’t find a spot on the roster. Butler turned some heads last year when there was less depth, ultimately going on injured reserve. Now, his path to the roster is much more difficult. He is an ideal practice squad candidate.

64. Bryn Renner, QB

With Keith Wenning out of the picture, Bryn Renner seems to have the best chance to be the Ravens’ backup of the future. Once considered a potential first-round pick, Renner has a live arm and excelled in a North Carolina program not accustomed to much success. With a very good preseason, Renner could force the Ravens to keep three quarterbacks.

63. Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB

The Ravens surprisingly gave Fitzgerald Toussaint some action last year late in the season when Lorenzo Taliaferro went down with an injury. Barring another injury to one of the top three guys, Toussaint will probably be relegated to the practice squad.

62. Cassius Vaughn, CB

recent signing, Cassius Vaughn brings some veteran experience to the Ravens’ secondary. His experience has not been very good, however, so Vaughn may not stick around in Baltimore, as he will be competing with younger, higher upside players.

On the Bubble

61. Zachary Orr, LB

Zachary Orr surprisingly made the roster last year for his special teams contributions. The Ravens had a lot of pure special teamers last year, but now they have more depth. Some of those special teamers will need to make way for guys who will actually play on offense or defense, and Orr seems to be the most expendable. Worth pointing out though: Arthur Brown is probably on his last chance with the Ravens. Orr could earn a roster spot if Brown falls through, or Orr could be another practice squad guy.

60. Tramain Jacobs, CB

After excelling in the preseason last year, Tramain Jacobs never got a chance to show his stuff on Sundays. Now, the Ravens have more depth at cornerback, and assuming better health this year, Jacobs will yet again be on the outside looking in. He is another practice squad candidate.

59. Ryan Jensen, C

Now getting treatment for sleep apnea, Ryan Jensen should be in better shape this year. Whether that will translate into a roster spot remains to be seen. He does have a chance to be the primary backup at center, but he was such a big disappointment last year that it is hard to project him on to the roster.

58. Casey Walker, DT

There are a lot of guys competing along the defensive line. Casey Walker is one of the less memorable ones, despite his experience and quality size at 335 pounds. He will have a tough road ahead against a host of former of draft picks coming off injured reserve, like Kapron Lewis-Moore and Brent Urban. Walker’s best bet is to distinguish himself as the backup nose tackle, which he has a chance to do.

57. Jah Reid, T

Despite being a third-round draft pick, Jah Reid has never really distinguished himself in Baltimore. He will have to fight with James Hurst to be the primary tackle backup, a battle he lost last year.

56. Christo Bilukidi, DT

Like Casey Walker, Christo Bilukidi could end up a victim of the numbers game for the Ravens. He was just a guy in limited action last year, not really challenging any of the main contributors for playing time.

55. Brynden Trawick, S

Another core special teamer who doesn’t do enough on defense to hold a roster spot, Brynden Trawick has flashed in the preseason yet has not earned defensive reps.

54. DeAngelo Tyson, DL

DeAngelo Tyson has gotten on to the field as a seventh-round draft pick, something not a lot of late rounders can say. He has always held his own, but Tyson lacks the upside of guys like Lewis-Moore and Urban, while Lawrence Guy was a bit better last year.

Last Guys In

53. Kapron Lewis-Moore, DL

Kapron Lewis-Moore fell to the sixth round in 2013 due to injury concerns. Two years later, he has yet to get on the field because of those concerns. There is no question he has the talent to compete, but how will he look after not playing in live action for so long? This is a huge preseason for Lewis-Moore. His upside should win out over the steady but limited Tyson.

52. Rashaan Melvin, CB

Until the Divisional Round, Rashaan Melvin was impressive playing on the outside for the Ravens. When Tom Brady targeted him almost 20 times, though, Melvin was not up to the task. He has to prove that performance was a fluke. 

51. Darren Waller, WR

Darren Waller has too much upside to try to sneak him on to the practice squad. Further, he has the jump ball ability to contribute right away in goal-line situations and on the Ravens’ hands team (used when the other team is onside kicking).

50. Arthur Brown, LB

If Arthur Brown doesn’t figure out a way to contribute on special teams, there is a very real chance he doesn’t make the team. With good speed and tackling ability, though, his inability to contribute there is a mystery. Regardless, the Ravens need Brown to step up, as he should be the heir apparent to Daryl Smith.

49. Michael Campanaro, WR

“If he stays healthy…” That’s always the disclaimer with Michael Campanaro, whose talent was evident last year, as was his fragility. Already hurt this offseason with a torn quad, Campanaro might be too injury prone to keep around for much longer.

Shawn Brubaker
Shawn Brubaker

Shawn began his writing career with Bleacher Report as a Ravens featured columnist and Breaking News Team writer. He moved on to write for Yahoo! and work on the Ravens Central Radio podcast. Most recently, he was an Editor at the Baltimore Wire. Shawn is a 2013 graduate of the Catholic University of America.

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