Ravens Trenton Simpson 'A Little More Nuanced Athletically' Than John Harbaugh Thought

The Baltimore Ravens had one of their more successful drafts in recent memory this year - at least on paper. The players haven't suited up and faced actual opponents yet, but all arrows point up for at least the early picks.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh admitted he was surprised when Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson fell into their lap in the third round. Harbaugh spoke to former Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano for The 33rd Team and said Simpson is “bigger than you think, and also, a little more nuanced athletically than I thought after I watched the tape.”

Simpson went to the Ravens with the 86th overall pick, but the opportunity was unexpected for Harbaugh, who said Simpson wasn't a “guy we expected to draft. I mean really wasn’t, you know, a need for us.”

Simpson wasn't a need simply because of the current linebacker room in Baltimore. Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen performed well last season, and the Ravens we're looking for a linebacker. But now, with Simpson in town, Harbaugh is realizing that Simpson is a “little more fluid than I thought he was going to be. A little more knack. A little more instinct in there.”

This could mean trouble for Queen, whose fifth-year option was declined by the Ravens, meaning he's playing 2023 for a contract, either in Baltimore or elsewhere.

Too many "good" linebackers? That's a good problem to have for the Ravens, but maybe not so much for Queen.

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