Beau Brade grew up a Ravens fan. Now, the former River Hill and Maryland standout will get to live out a childhood dream and play for them this season.
The rookie safety was among those to be announced as part of Baltimore’s initial roster for the 2024 season Tuesday, the deadline for NFL teams to trim their rosters to 53 players.
“Growing up, this is the team I wanted to play for,” Brade told The Baltimore Sun last week. “My time here, of course, it’s been a dream. But it wasn’t a dream to really get here, it’s a dream to stay here and get to Super Bowls. I’ve been doing all I can to make this team and become the best player that I can be. Not just for myself but for the team, whatever they need.”
The Ravens were the last of the league’s 32 teams to announce their roster.
Brade was also the lone undrafted free agent to make the team, and his addition provides depth to what is a talented secondary but one that has experienced its share of injuries. Already, the Ravens are without slot cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee), who was placed on the injured reserve/designated to return list, meaning he will be out for at least the first four games of the season. Cornerback T.J. Tampa, a rookie fourth-round draft pick, also only recently returned from double sports hernia surgery, and All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton and free safety Marcus Williams both missed time last season because of injuries.
The third River Hill graduate to play in the NFL, along with wide receiver Michael Campanaro and cornerback Kevin Johnson, Brade making the team was not entirely surprising, particularly after flashing throughout the preseason.
Over three games, Brade played 153 snaps, including 38 on special teams, and finished with 16 tackles and allowed two catches on seven targets.
Meanwhile, there was little else in the way of surprise across the Ravens’ roster.
Baltimore opted to keep just two quarterbacks — two-time and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson and 38-year-old veteran Josh Johnson — and waived sixth-round pick Devin Leary and undrafted free agent Emory Jones.
Both Leary and Jones struggled mightily in the preseason — especially Leary, who completed just 15 of 28 passes for only 95 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Jones completed 8 of 10 passes for 102 yards with a touchdown, but had a costly fumble in his only snap of the game in the closing seconds of the preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles that led to a game-winning field goal.
However, while the Ravens will need to sign a quarterback for their practice squad, they could also need one for their 53-man roster after the NFL Players Association this week vetoed a potential rule change that would have allowed teams to elevate practice squad quarterbacks as the third/emergency quarterback an unlimited number of times during the season.
Instead, the third/emergency quarterback must be on the 53-man roster, and coach John Harbaugh said that could impact how the Ravens handle the No. 3 quarterback job. After Tuesday’s cuts, there are several free agents available.
At running back, fifth-round rookie Rasheen Ali, who likewise struggled in the preseason (10 carries for 26 yards), did make the roster behind four-time Pro Bowl selection Derrick Henry and veteran Justice Hill. Keaton Mitchell, who suffered a torn ACL in mid-December, remains on the physically unable to perform list and will have to miss at least the first four games, though he is expected to return later in the season.
Wide receiver also saw little in the way of intrigue, with veterans Deonte Harty and Tylan Wallace, along with speedy fourth-round rookie Devontez Walker, all making the team.
One of the biggest questions for the Ravens this season has been its offensive line. Unsurprisingly, Baltimore kept 10 players up front, and though Harbaugh declined earlier this week to name the two starting guards and right tackle, the Ravens have been consistent in their use of Andrew Vorhees, Daniel Faalele and second-round rookie Roger Rosengarten at those spots.
The Ravens also kept 11 defensive backs, including seventh-round pick safety Sanoussi Kane, who, like Brade, flashed during the preseason. Cornerback Damarion “Pepe” Williams, however, was one of 16 players waived.
Some of the players cut this week, however, will likely be back with the deadline for practice squad designations set for Wednesday.
Among those waived who could be back are undrafted rookies Qadir Ismail (TE) and Chris Collier (RB), though both are expected to sign with the Ravens’ practice squad if they clear waivers.
Wide receivers Keith Kirkwood and Anthony Miller, cornerback Ka’Dar Hollman and safety Daryl Worley were among seven vested veteran players who were released, meaning they are not subject to waivers and free to sign with any team they choose. Kirkwood is likely to sign with the practice squad, however, and Miller could as well.
In other moves, the Ravens also placed a handful of players on injured reserve, thus ending their season: running back Owen Wright, wide receiver Isaiah Washington, inside linebacker Deion Jennings, defensive back Christian Matthew and cornerback Trayvon Mullen.
Here’s a look at the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster:
Quarterback (2)
Lamar Jackson, Josh Johnson
Running back (3)
Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali
Wide receiver (6)
Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Deonte Harty, Tylan Wallace, Devontez Walker
Tight end/fullback (4)
Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard
Offensive line (10)
Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Patrick Mekari, Ben Cleveland, Josh Jones, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Nick Samac
Defensive line (5)
Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Travis Jones, Brent Urban, Broderick Washington
Outside linebacker (5)
Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson, Adisa Isaac
Inside linebacker (4)
Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Malik Harrison, Chris Board
Cornerback (5)
Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Nate Wiggins, T.J. Tampa, Jalyn Armour-Davis
Safety (6)
Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Eddie Jackson, Ar’Darius Washington, Sanoussi Kane, Beau Brade
Special teams (3)
Justin Tucker, Jordan Stout, Nick Moore
Designated to return from injured reserve
CB Arthur Maulet (knee)
Reserve/physically unable to perform list
RB Keaton Mitchell
Season-ending injured reserve
RB Owen Wright, WR Isaiah Washington, ILB Deion Jennings, DB Christian Matthew, CB Trayvon Mullen