The Baltimore Ravens addressed what is already a position of strength in the middle of their defense with the selection of Clemson’s star athlete linebacker Trenton Simpson in the third one.
Once projected to be a first-round pick, Trenton Simpson has all the tools to succeed at the next level. With high-level athleticism, speed, and agility behind a solid linebacker, Simpson is a high-upside prospect with a lot of room to grow. Simpson was a top contributor on defense for the Tigers in his two years as a starter putting up 47 quarterback pressures, nine sacks, 103 tackles, and gave up an average quarterback rating of 89.3 when targeted. Though he experienced a significant dip in production in his final college season, the upside was still clear.
With Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen locked in as the starting inside linebackers, Simpson likely will not see snaps outside of a rotation barring an injury to one of the starters. This will give Simpson time to grow, and if Queen walks next season, Simpson can fit right into the open position going into the 2024 season.
