The 2015 first-round pick was back on the practice field for the first week of the Ravens’ OTA’s. This is the first look at Breshad Perriman after he injured his knee on the first day of training camp last year and missed the entire season.
This is a good thing for the Ravens. They actually have a shot to make up for last year’s grotesque production at wide receiver with a double-shot of do-over juice!
There could be solid depth at receiver if an uninhibited Perriman is running deep routes with two other speedsters in Mike Wallace and Chris Moore, while a rehabbed and motivated Steve Smith Sr. and Kamar Aiken take care of business underneath.
Well, it’s good to dream of lovely things…
“Perriman was initially expected to miss a short amount of time with the knee injury, but he didn’t respond well physically or mentally to the setback. He’ll need to prove this summer that he can hold up and be the playmaker the Ravens envisioned getting.”—Jeff Zrebiec, Baltimore Sun…
Looking At 45 Ravens Roster Locks
There are dozens of young men in Baltimore hoping to realize their lifelong dream of making a 53-man NFL roster.
In reality, however, there are probably around nine or 10 spots that are actually up for grabs. You can follow the money trail and players’ draft status to find who essentially already made the team, barring injury.
CSNMidAtlantic.com’s Clifton Brown named all the players he thinks are locks, which when tallied, accounted for 45 spots of the 53-man roster. Let’s first take a look at the offensive side.
Quarterback: Joe Flacco, Ryan Mallett…
Running back: Justin Forsett, Buck Allen, Kenneth Dixon
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk
Tight end: Crockett Gillmore, Benjamin Watson, Maxx Williams
Wide receiver: Steve Smith Sr., Kamar Aiken, Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman, Chris Moore
Offensive line: Marshal Yanda, Ronnie Stanley, Jeremy Zuttah, Rick Wagner, John Urschel, Ryan Jensen, Alex Lewis…
That’s 21 players dedicated to the offense so far, and it’s going to be very interesting to see how many running backs and tight ends the team keeps. In recent history, the Ravens have kept three at each position, and if that holds true, you’d have to say goodbye to Dennis Pitta, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Terrence West, and Trent Richardson, if Browns’ locks are correct. Would the Ravens keep four at each spot? If so, it means they have to trim down elsewhere.
You’ll notice that starting left tackle Eugene Monroe didn’t make the list, and whatever the Ravens ultimately decide will have a domino effect on the rest of the offensive line. At a crowded receiver position, Michael Campanaro, Kaelin Clay and rookie Keenan Reynolds would be fighting for their football lives in this scenario.
Defensive line: Brandon Williams, Timmy Jernigan, Lawrence Guy, Brent Urban, Bronson Kaufusi, Carl Davis, Willie Henry…
Linebacker: C. J. Mosley, Elvis Dumervil, Terrell Suggs, Za’Darius Smith, Kamalei Correa, Zach Orr, Albert McClellan…
Defensive back: Jimmy Smith, Eric Weddle, Shareece Wright, Lardarius Webb, Tavon Young, Jerraud Powers…
Neither fifth-round pass rusher Matt Judon nor 2015 starting safety Kendrick Lewis were considered locks, although Brown admits they’re close and should make the team. The defensive backs battle is going to get heated with safeties Terrence Brooks and Matt Elam in danger, along with cornerback Kyle Arrington.
Special teams: Justin Tucker (K), Sam Koch (P), Morgan Cox (LS)….
Questions continue to pour in about whether LT Eugene Monroe will make the team. Zrebiec stands by his prediction that Monroe will be released before the season, but says his injury may be preventing the team from doing so now.
“The primary reason could be that Monroe still isn’t healthy after he had shoulder surgery in December,” wrote Zrebiec. “Teams aren’t permitted to release injured players. So theoretically, the Ravens would have to wait for Monroe to take a physical before making that move. They also could be trying to gauge any potential trade interest in the veteran who is a solid performer when healthy.”
Credit Monroe for staying active in the Baltimore community while controversy and speculation swirl around him. The starting left tackle treated 45 homeless veterans battling drug and alcohol addiction to a fishing trip Friday. He chartered two boats for a group of veterans who attend a residential treatment program, The Baltimore Station.
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