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3 Ravens the Cleveland Browns should claim at roster cutdown

By Elliot Kennel

Oct 11, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Josh Oliver (84) runs with the ball as Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) and Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II (23) defend at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Josh Oliver (84) runs with the ball as Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) and Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II (23) defend at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 17, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Los Angeles Chargers free safety Derwin James (33) tackles Baltimore Ravens tight end Josh Oliver (84) during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Los Angeles Chargers free safety Derwin James (33) tackles Baltimore Ravens tight end Josh Oliver (84) during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Tight end Josh Oliver could be Cleveland Browns TE3

The Ravens will carry at least four tight ends, given that they are a team that favors two tight ends and they are once again serious about running the ball. All-everything Mark Andrews is one starter, and Nick Boyle is also likely to start as a blocking tight end on the other side.

Boyle was injured part of the year last year and didn’t have a good campaign, but is expected to rebound this season. The Ravens drafted two additional tight ends in the fourth round in Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely. The odd man out could be Josh Oliver, a third-year tight end from San Jose State who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, though he was injured in November of that year and missed all of 2020 with another injury. He moved on to the Ravens in 2021.

Oliver has 255 career snaps on offense and 89 on special teams. He picked up four special teams tackles last season for the Ravens.

Early buzz this summer is that he has stepped up his game. He has good size (6-foot-5, 249 pounds) and posted a 4.63 40-yard dash at the 2019 Combine, so he is fast for a big man. The problem is, would the Ravens really carry five tight ends and a fullback?

Their approach at wide receiver is to carry four known commodities, along with six UDFAs. They traded Marquise Brown for a first-round draft pick, 23rd overall, which became center Tyler Linderbaum, which reversed last season’s trade of Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown, Jr. and drafting of Rashod Bateman in the first round. So they may not create room by gouging the wide receiver room further.

What might happen is that Nick Boyle might be traded. If not, Oliver could be cut, and if so the Browns should pounce. The picture we get is that of a player who is improving. Injuries have slowed his progress, though nothing has been career threatening.

He’s not likely to be better than David Njoku or Harrison Bryant, but at the moment, the Browns have not identified a third tight end. With the Ravens, he appears to be TE5 and that might be too many for their roster.

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