Baltimore Ravens Roster Moves

Yesterday was the deadline for NFL teams to get their rosters down from 75 players to 53.  Here is a recap of the Ravens moves.

Cuts:
RB Anthony Allen
S Omar Brown
LB Josh Bynes
LB Nigel Carr
OL Jack Cornell
WR Dorian Graham
OL Cord Howard
NT Nicholas Jean-Baptiste
NT Ishmaa’ily Kitchen
G Antoine McClain
DE Terrence Moore
QB Curtis Painter
WR Logan Payne
S Cyhl Quarles
OLB Chavis Williams
G Tony Wragge

Cut Analysis
There weren’t many surprises for the Ravens this year with their cuts.  Anthony Allen was clearly outplayed in the preseason by Bobby Rainey.  Omar Brown had looked good in the preseason but since the Ravens kept 7 CBs they didn’t need to keep 5 safeties.  Brown should be a strong candidate for the practice squad.  Josh Bynes was injured for most of camp and preseason so it is no surprise he was cut.  Just like Brown, Nigel Carr had a good preseason so he was one of the last cuts.  He is another candidate for the practice squad if he passes waivers.  Jack Cornell is a versatile offensive lineman so he probably will make the practice squad.  He was cut due to the depth the Ravens have at OL and them not wanting to keep many lineman.  Dorian Graham was probably the 9th best WR in camp so it is no surprise he was cut.  Cord Howard is a veteran offensive lineman, but the Ravens decided on other backups at his position.  Nicholas Jean-Baptiste had a point were he was being projected as a 5th round draft pick but he fell from that spot and his now looking for a job after not impressing at all during training camp.  Ishmaa’ily Kitchen gets the award for the best name on the Ravens and he also had a great last game of the preseason.  Due to that performance, he is expected to get a practice squad spot.  Antoine McClain never really had a chance to make this team because of all the other lineman on the roster.  Terrence Moore, like McClain, had to pass too many people on the depth chart and now finds himself without a job.  Curtis Painter will be the most familiar name on the list for most people as he started some games for the Colts last year.  The Ravens just decided to keep two QBs not three which is why Painter was cut.  Logan Payne had some impressive catches in camp but in the end he couldn’t beat out Deonte Thompson for the last WR spot.  Cyhl Quarles finished as the 6th S on the Ravens and teams never keep that many, so no surprise here.  Chavis Williams is another practice squad candidate as he is a decent special teamer and decent backup LB.  At first, it seemed veteran Tony Wragge made the team but when the official cuts were reported he was on the list.

Injured Reserve
TE Matt Balasavage (ankle)
RB Damien Berry (neck/shoulder)
OL Justin Boren (foot)
LB Ricky Brown (head)
TE Bruce Figgins (shoulder)
WR Tommy Streeter (foot)

Injured Reserve Analysis
Balasavage was never considered a serious candidate for the roster.  The same goes for Figgins and Brown.  All three of these are potential candidates for injury settlements.  Damien Berry looked better than Anthony Allen in the preseason and was probably going on the practice squad again before his injury.  Justin Boren is probably be stashed away for next year as his injury isn’t to serious.  Last is Tommy Streeter.  I actually predicted this move earlier in the week.  Streeter only has a sprained foot but the Ravens want to keep both him and Deonte Thompson.  This was the only way to guarantee both of them being on the Ravens.