The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2020 NFL Draft with inside linebacker being one of their top needs. With no clearcut starters on the roster and a lack of overall depth at the position, Baltimore is surely going to look to the draft as the remedy. But in a draft that is sneaky deep and at a position that isn’t as valuable as a decade ago, the Ravens could find quality starters all over the place.
In the modern NFL, there are some positions that seem to have been devalued. Think about running back on offense and how what used to be one of the most valuable positions has turned into a weight around the salary cap for several teams. On defense, the same could be said for the linebacker.
Once the captain of the defense, the transition to a more pass-happy league has seen the value of the position take quite a knock. But that doesn’t mean the position is unimportant. Linebacker has long been proudly associated with the Ravens, after the deeds of Ray Lewis and C.J. Mosley. The Ravens recently added Jake Ryan to their linebacking corps but his signing is not likely to affect the team’s draft plans.
If Baltimore chooses to make linebacker a top priority, here are the seven top prospects they could be looking at.
Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
It’s probably something of a misnomer to class Simmons as solely a linebacker. The former Clemson Tiger is one of the more versatile defensive players in the entire draft class after a career in a hybrid safety-linebacker-cornerback role.
Simmons was incredible in 2019, with 107 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. This was in addition to 13 passes defended and three interceptions. Frankly, the guy was an absolute menace and made offensive coordinators’ lives miserable.
There is a slight issue that his versatility may affect his draft stock, with teams not sure where exactly he should be used in the NFL. But a creative defensive coordinator, and one who values versatility, will hope to get their hands on Simmons and turn him into a dominant playmaker. If that team is the Ravens, they’ll probably have to make a move up in the draft to get him as he’s unlikely to be there at No. 28.
Patrick Queen, LSU
If Simmons is not the target, then the Ravens could turn their attention to Queen out of national champion LSU. Queen was a key defensive player on a team that drew most of its accolades on the offensive side of the ball in 2019. He had 85 tackles as well as 12 for loss in addition to three sacks. He was no mug in coverage either, with three passes defended. He also had one interception.
Queen has attracted attention not only for his play but also his age and speed. Queen won’t turn 21 until August, making him one of the youngest players in the class. He also posted a 4.50-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. That’s the exact same time as Arizona State speedster wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk posted. The fact he was only a starter for one year at college also means there is less wear on his tires than other prospects at his position.
Queen still has room to grow and develop, but his production and athleticism make him an enticing prospect late in the first round. He could quite easily fit into Wink Martindale’s unit in 2020 and beyond.
Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
Production and leadership skills are two of the main calling cards of Kenneth Murray out of Oklahoma. He had a whopping 37 tackles for loss in his three seasons with the Sooners, as well as 9.5 sacks. Murray also had more than 100 tackles in each of the last two seasons, being credited with 28 in one game back in 2018. He was named team captain twice for the Sooners, and also performed the role of the defensive signal-caller in all three of his college seasons.
Murray posted an excellent 4.52-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine. Only five players at linebacker were clocked with a faster time, four of whom were lighter than Murray’s 241 pounds.
Murray has a great engine and only knows one speed when he’s playing, namely full speed. He would certainly energize the Baltimore linebacker room if they were to select him, which they would likely have to do at No. 28 if they want him.
Zack Baun, Wisconsin
The other players we’ve looked at, with the exception of Simmons, project to play the role of the middle of the field enforcer were they to land with the Ravens. Baun could certainly contribute in that area, but he offers some pass-rushing versatility that the Ravens and Wink Martindale might see as irresistible.
Baun missed the entire 2017 college season with an injury, but he started the next 27 games of his time with the Badgers spanning 2018 and 2019. 2019 turned out to be his most productive season, as Baun racked up 76 tackles as well as 19.5 for a loss and 12.5 sacks. Chase Young of Ohio State was the only player in the Big Ten with more sacks. Baun was also able to make some plays in pass defense with six passes defended and an interception.
Baun is a slightly older prospect, turning 24 before the year is out. There was also an issue with a diluted sample at his drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine. But if this is overlooked, he could be a useful addition to the Ravens defense.
Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
The production is all there for Davis-Gaither, although he doesn’t precisely fit the mold of the modern NFL linebacker. He had more than 100 tackles in each of his last two seasons for Appalachian State as well as double-digit tackles for loss in both 2018 and 2019. In 2019, on his way to the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year honors, he also flashed some pass-rush ability, posting five of his eight career sacks. Davis-Gaither wasn’t finished there, as he also defended nine passes and picked off his first career pass.
Davis-Gaither suffered a stress fracture in his foot during the 2019 campaign and had surgery following the season that kept him out of the position drills at the NFL Scouting Combine. But his game film shows a prospect with ideal length and speed to play linebacker at the NFL level. Dane Brugler of The Athletic describes him as a “discount version of Isaiah Simmons.” If this is true, then he could be a player for the Ravens to target outside of the first round.
Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
It would not be a stretch to describe Brooks as a force of nature after his 2019 season with Texas Tech. Playing at the ‘Mike’ linebacker spot for the Red Raiders, Brooks inflicted 20 tackles for loss as well as three sacks, earning Second Team All-American honors as well as a place in the First Team All-Big 12. He was the first linebacker from Texas Tech to earn All-American consideration since 1995.
Brooks had at least 84 tackles in all four of his college seasons, with a career-high 108 last season. He has exceptional athletic ability, but there are some concerns over his durability after undergoing two surgeries on his shoulder during his college career. He’s a better run defender than pass defender at this stage of his career, but a conscientious and competent defensive staff would no doubt put him in a position to do what he does best. The Ravens certainly qualify in that regard. If they choose to wait until the second round to address the linebacker spot, Brooks is certainly an option at that stage in the draft.
Malik Harrison, Ohio State
Ohio State has been a factory for pass-rushers in recent seasons, but just because we love the moon doesn’t mean that we should neglect the stars. Harrison is one of the latest NFL prospects to come from that program, and as a prospect, he does not look out of place.
Harrison was a two-year starter for the Buckeyes and in his senior season, he exploded off the stat sheet. He logged a team-high 75 tackles, with 16.5 tackles for loss to go alongside 4.5 sacks. Harrison is an exceptional athlete who wanted to play on the offensive side of the ball in college. He was offered a place at both Indiana and Wisconsin as a tight end. But he instead chose a defensive path with Ohio State.
Harrison boasts prototypical height, weight, and speed for the linebacker position. At present, he is an excellent run defender but could very well develop into a disruptive force in the passing game. Harrison would certainly be an intriguing selection should the Ravens look to spend a second-round pick on him.
