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Arthur Brown: Will the Ravens Trade or Cut him this Offseason?

By Brett Foote

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Aug 8, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Arthur Brown (59) reacts to the play during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports

When the Baltimore Ravens used a second round pick on linebacker Arthur Brown in the 2013 NFL Draft, expectations were obviously high.  Ozzie Newsome isn’t a guy with a history of too many draft busts, and few teams are better known for their stellar linebacker play than the Ravens.  Plus, Brown’s selection followed Ray Lewis’ retirement.  No pressure, young man.

The two seasons that have followed Brown’s selection have been incredibly nondescript for a second round pick. Brown appeared in 14 games in 2013, recording 15 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. He hit a new low in 2014, spending most of the season on the inactives list and appearing in a mere four games despite being fully healthy.

The Ravens aren’t typically a team that gives up on their draft choices after such a short period of time, but will Arthur Brown be an exception?  The team seems generally fed up with the guy, which seems amazing considering his initial promise.  Some even compared Brown to Ray Lewis in college, including Miami Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon.

Brown was a top recruit coming out of high school, and despite a shaky start to his college career, went on to be very productive after transferring to Kansas State.  His selection even made pundits question the Ravens’ pick of C.J. Mosley in the 2014 draft.  That’s the kind of reputation that Ozzie Newsome has built regarding his “can’t miss” draft choices.

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Now it appears that Arthur Brown’s young career is already at a crossroads.  I don’t doubt that the team could get a mid to late round draft pick in a trade for the once promising player, but the Ravens could realistically cut him outright if they don’t.  He doesn’t play special teams, and a serious lack of development in defensive play renders him a waste of a roster spot right now.

I think the Ravens would be wise to salvage some kind of draft pick compensation for Brown if they get an offer from a linebacker needy team.  If they don’t feel like he can contribute on the field in 2015 or beyond, it might just be best to cut ties sooner rather than later.

Next: Ravens Roster Breakdown: Linebacker

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