Ravens waive cornerback Robert Longerbeam, ending the team’s 2025 draft investment

The Baltimore Ravens have waived cornerback Robert Longerbeam as the team works toward its 53-man roster. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the transaction on Sunday, and the move arrives as the Ravens continue trimming their offseason group ahead of the regular season deadline.

Longerbeam came to Baltimore as a 2025 draft selection, taken in the sixth round according to the report. That draft position indicates a developmental path rather than an immediate roster guarantee, and waiving a player from that tier is a routine part of NFL roster math once training camp evaluations and preseason practices start to narrow the field.

In NFL terms, a waiver places the player into a claims process in which other teams can pick him up. If no team claims Longerbeam, Baltimore could potentially bring him back in a different capacity, depending on how the waiver period plays out and the player’s classification, but the immediate impact is that his status with the Ravens changes from active roster hope to a league-wide opportunity for the next team.

For Baltimore, the cut also reflects the broader theme of roster building around roles. Teams typically carry a larger group of defensive backs in camp, then reduce it based on scheme fit, special-teams needs, and day-to-day performance. Cornerback is one of the positions where depth matters because injuries and matchups can quickly change who is on the field, so the Ravens’ final group will still need to cover multiple coverage styles and return/coverage responsibilities.

The Ravens’ decision puts a spotlight on the competition inside their defensive back room. Younger players selected in later rounds often get extended looks, but the NFL timeline is unforgiving, and teams frequently prioritize players who can contribute on special teams and within the defensive system quickly. Waiving a 2025 draft pick suggests the Ravens believe other options offer a clearer path to the active roster.

Longerbeam’s next step will hinge on whether a different team views his skill set as a workable fit. Other clubs sometimes claim waived players for depth, camp injury insurance, or to see if a change in coaching and scheme unlocks development. If a claim occurs, his timetable accelerates, and if it does not, he may still have a future with Baltimore or another organization, but it will be determined after the waiver process concludes.

What to watch next is whether the Ravens replace the spot with another defensive back from their remaining pool and whether Longerbeam draws interest during the waiver window. The waiver itself is only the first move in a rapid sequence of roster decisions, and Baltimore’s final defensive back rotation for the season will show how aggressively the team is leaning into youth versus experience.