By Alice Iverson | January 28, 2026
The administrative engine of the NFL offseason is humming in Owings Mills. The Baltimore Ravens made a series of roster moves this week, focusing on the future while closing the book on a former draft pick. On January 27, the team signed eight players to reserve/future contracts, a standard procedure to secure rights to practice squad and free agent prospects for the upcoming league year.
The signings include tackle Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, wide receiver Cornelius Johnson, defensive tackle David Olajiga, defensive back Amani Oruwariye, guard Andrew Raym, linebacker David Ugwoegbu, tight end Zach Heins, and kicker Cameron Little. These players will participate in the team's offseason program, training camp, and preseason, competing for spots on the 2026 roster or practice squad. Notably, kicker Little provides camp competition after the season-ending miss by Tyler Loop.
In a separate, definitive move, the Ravens officially waived guard Ben Cleveland on January 1, 2026. This action followed Cleveland's three-game suspension without pay for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, related to a prior DUI guilty plea. Cleveland, a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, never solidified a starting role and struggled with consistency. Waiving him ends his tenure with the team and clears a small amount of cap space.
These transactions represent the first layer of roster building for 2026. The Ravens currently have approximately 45 players under contract for next season, with a projected $40 million in cap space. Key pending free agents like center Tyler Linderbaum and tight end Isaiah Likely loom as major decisions for new head coach Jesse Minter and General Manager Eric DeCosta.
The reserve/future signings are low-risk investments in depth and development, a hallmark of the Ravens' approach. Moving on from Cleveland, however, signals a willingness to cut ties with draft capital that hasn't panned out, as the organization seeks to upgrade the roster following an 8-9 campaign.