Ravens' Linebacker Position One to Watch in 2025

Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Queen left the Baltimore Ravens to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason, so Ravens may need to make a move to help out their linebacker position.

But first? Some movement inside their own building ...

In a recent article by Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine, he picks what he thinks is every NFL team's biggest position battle. For the reigning AFC North champions, he thinks that position is at linebacker.

"The Ravens will turn to third-year player Trenton Simpson and fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan to pick up the slack at the position," Ballentine wrote. "Simpson was a liability in coverage, giving up a passer rating of 121.4 when targeted. However, expecting a fourth-round pick to start as a rookie is a big ask. The Ravens have to find out if the answer to the problem is on the roster."

Again, before they go outside ... let's anticipate that the No. 1 position battle will heat up at minicamp.

Simpson is entering his third season in the league, and could show people why the Ravens picked him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He finished the 2024 season with a solid 73 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and four passes defended.

As for Buchanan, the Ravens selected him in the fourth round of this year's draft out of Cal. He ended his one season in college with 114 total tackles, with 12 of them being for a loss. He was also able to show his versatility with five sacks and four passes defended.

The Ravens were eliminated by the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional round this past season, so the team's defense will be hoping they can help lead the team back to the playoffs to redeem themselves.