NFL Draft Analysts Labels Ravens LB Trenton Simpson a 'Great Fit'

The Baltimore Ravens potentially did it again in the 2023 NFL Draft having one of the best players available in Trenton Simpson fall to them in the third-round.

The Baltimore Ravens landed one of the top inside linebackers in the 2023 NFL Draft in Clemson's Trenton Simpson in the days leading up to the decision not to use the fifth-year option on fourth-year backer Patrick Queen. Not many could've predicted that Simpson would fall to the Ravens, especially in the third round. 

Simpson was the No. 38 overall player on Dane Brugler's big board and didn't hear his name called until the No. 86 overall pick. However, the value of this pick was not lost on the mind of NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah.

“They know something about linebackers in that organization,” Jeremiah said recently on the NFL Network about the Ravens selecting Simpson. “I am excited that he lands with the Baltimore Ravens. They will know how to use his versatile skillset.

"The range he possesses, the running ability. You are hoping he is going to develop into a Devin White-type playmaker at the second level. The range you see, the speed is legit, low 4.4. You can blitz him off the edge. He closes space immediately. I thought when you free him up and get him outside the box a little bit he can see better," Jeremiah added.

Drafting the best player available has been a strategy that has suited the Ravens well in the past. The strategy saw Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton fall to them a year ago at No. 14 overall. Hamilton is now set to be part of the Ravens' starting safety pairing in 2023 after playing as a slot cornerback this past season. 

Now, Simpson could have a similar trajectory as Hamilton, with Queen entering the final year of his rookie deal. If the Ravens opt not to bring Queen back long-term, they could already have his replacement on the roster in Simpson, like they did this offseason after trading veteran safety Chuck Clark. 

Simpson recorded 72 total tackles for the Tigers last season, along with four for a loss, 2.5 sacks, while forcing two fumbles and having four passes defended. 

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