When it comes to the outside linebacker positions, the Ravens have a bit of a traffic jam:
What we know about the Baltimore Ravens outside linebackers is that Terrell Suggs and Matt Judon are the leaders in the pack. Once you get beyond that we’re just talking about potential. The Ravens have a lot of players at one position and most of them haven’t done much. In three seasons, Za’Darius Smith has 10 sacks. In his rookie season Tyus Bowser had 13 total tackles, two sacks and an interception; while his fellow rookie, Tim Williams, only recorded six tackles.
Terrell Suggs and Matt Judon took most of the snaps for the Ravens defense. Suggs had one of the better seasons of his career. He finished the 2017 season with 49 tackles, 11 sacks and four forced fumbles. Judon ended up with eight sacks which doubled his total for the 2016 season. The big problem here is that the Ravens set up a five man rotation and two players did almost all of the work.
Wasting the bulk of the 2017 Draft Class
There is no getting around it, the Ravens have to get more out of Bowser and Williams. They were second and third round picks and they have to produce like it. They have to earn more playing time and they have to do more with it. It would be hard to justify the Ravens adding to the outside linebacker position this offseason. They have players who are supposed to be able to carry the load.
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The problem is that Terrell Suggs isn’t getting younger. Suggs faded off at the end of the season. The Ravens really needed Bowser to step up so the Ravens could keep their veteran leader fresh. Instead Suggs got worn out by the end of the season. With Bowser, Williams and even defensive end, Chris Wormley, not getting a lot of playing time, Baltimore wasted the bulk of the 2017 draft. The immediate returns just weren’t good enough.
I know the Ravens seem like a team determined to draft a wide receiver, but we can’t rule out anything. In a best player available kind of scenario, the Ravens could end up drafting another outside linebacker. With the Ravens luck, Bowser would have a breakout season and the Ravens first round pick wouldn’t see the field much (Excuse my sardonic line, the frustration is real).
The bottom line:
At some point the Ravens are going to have to stop waiting for their talent on the edge of their defense. The Ravens were expecting to have a surplus of talent and a healthy rotation at the edges of their front seven. So far the Ravens haven’t gotten what they thought they would out of their crowded outside linebacker position group.
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With all the Ravens have invested here, the Ravens have to prioritize other needs. Wide receiver cannot be ignored to add more pass rushers. The Ravens have quantity in the pass rushing department. Now what they need is for their unproven players to bring value to the defense.