Ravens OL Cleveland Left Off 53-Man Roster?

The Baltimore Ravens are looking to start a new preseason winning streak by beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday night. 

Afterwards, however, the Ravens will turn to the unpleasant task of trimming the roster down to 53 active members. One such cut Baltimore could be making is third-year offensive lineman Ben Cleveland.

“Cleveland has started a handful of games for the Ravens, but the light has never fully remained on for the 2021 third-round pick,” says NFL.com. “During camp, he was tried out at right tackle, giving Cleveland the opportunity to make the roster as a versatile backup. But he also has been seen working with the second - and third - team offenses quite a bit and could be squeezed out of a spot.”

Cutting draft picks is never an easy decision to make, and when that players was acquired using a Day 1 or 2 selection that complicates things even further. 

That fact alone could turn Cleveland from a cut candidate to a trade target, especially in a league where quality linemen are hard to come by in bunches. 

If Baltimore found value in taking the lineman in the third round just three years ago then we’d be willing to bet there’s a franchise out there somewhere that would be willing to send over a late round pick to try and revive his career.

Late preseason trades aren’t unusual and the Arizona Cardinals made three in one day on Thursday alone. The Ravens could be next up in line to make a move, but if they can’t find a partner to swap draft capital for Cleveland, then the third year lineman may find himself a free agent soon.

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