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Breaking down the future outlook for each Baltimore Ravens linebacker

2M9R21E Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (18) warms up before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

  • Roquan Smith is key to Baltimore Ravens defense: The former Chicago Bear earned an 85.9 PFF grade from Week 9 through the end of the season, trailing only the Los Angeles RamsBobby Wagner in that span. He’s not only going to be in Baltimore for the foreseeable future, but his performance will play a key role in how good the Ravens are on defense.
  • Patrick Queen‘s future may not be in Baltimore: The Ravens declined Queen’s fifth-year option and, while it’s unlikely that he will be in Baltimore beyond this season, he has the opportunity to make himself a lot of money with a strong fourth year in the league as he heads for free agency.
  • Trenton Simpson ready to replace Queen: The Ravens selected Simpson out of Clemon with the 87th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, a move that again pointed to the expected upcoming end of Queen’s time in Baltimore.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Just a year ago the future of the Baltimore Ravens linebacker position looked very different from how it looks now. Shaped by a trade and re-signing, a top-100 draft pick and a fifth-year option being declined, here we will take a look at every Baltimore linebacker's future outlook.

Roquan Smith

Smith joined the Ravens during the 2023 season and had the best stretch of his career. It led to him becoming the highest-paid linebacker in football, signing a five-year, $100 million contract extension. 

Smith gives the Ravens the chance to have the best linebacker in the league for the first time since the Ray Lewis days, as the former Chicago Bear earned an 85.9 PFF grade from Week 9 through the end of the season, trailing only the Los Angeles RamsBobby Wagner in that span. He’s not only going to be in Baltimore for the foreseeable future, but his performance will play a key role in how good the Ravens are on defense.

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