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Ravens cross safety and running back off their to-do list, what’s next?

By Mike Reid

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 21: Free safety Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates an interception by teammate Kam Chancellor (not pictured) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at CenturyLink Field on September 21, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Broncos 26-20. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 21: Free safety Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates an interception by teammate Kam Chancellor (not pictured) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at CenturyLink Field on September 21, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Broncos 26-20. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 05: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is pressured by inside linebacker Zach Brown #53 of the Washington Redskins during the second quarter of the game against the Washington Redskins at CenturyLink Field on November 5, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Redskins won 17-14. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 05: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is pressured by inside linebacker Zach Brown #53 of the Washington Redskins during the second quarter of the game against the Washington Redskins at CenturyLink Field on November 5, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Redskins won 17-14. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Middle linebacker:

The biggest departure for the Ravens certainly has to be linebacker C.J. Mosley. He’s been the anchor of a top-ranked defense the past five seasons. Baltimore wanted to keep him, but their offer couldn’t compare to the massive five-year, $85 million deal Mosley got from the New York Jets.

The inside linebacker depth chart now is Patrick “Peanut” Onwuasor, Kenny Young, Chris Board, and Bam Bradley. “Peanut” was just given a second-round tender as a restricted free agent. He had a nice breakout season last year and is now the main guy in the middle for the Ravens. Young was a fourth round pick last season and showed flashes of what he can become: a very fast, rangy linebacker that excels is pass coverage; something Mosley wasn’t known for.

Those two can create a formidable duo that might not be Pro-Bowl level like Mosley, but still get the job done. The Ravens also have dependable hybrid safety/linebacker Anthony Levine Sr., who should see an increase in snaps also.

A veteran linebacker could certainly be added to this group, however. Zach Brown and Mark Barron are two players available in Free Agency that would add veteran leadership to the position, plus they wouldn’t count against the compensatory draft pick formula because they were released.

If the Ravens wait till the Draft to add a linebacker, two names to watch out for are Michigan’s Devin Bush and Alabama’s Mack Wilson. Bush is an sideline-to-sideline linebacker with elite speed for the position. Wilson should be a three-down linebacker at the next level. Could Wilson, an Alabama product, come to the Ravens to replace one ‘Bama linebacker with another?

Next. The Baltimore Ravens own the NFL's top defensive secondary. dark

What positions and players do you want the team to target now Ravens fans? Stay tuned in on Ebony Bird for the latest Ravens free agency and Draft news.

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