Baltimore Ravens turn weakness into strength at linebacker
The Baltimore Ravens went into the 2020 NFL Draft needing an influx of talent at the linebacker position. Now, it’s one of the team’s biggest strengths.
Considering how historically dominant the Baltimore Ravens have been at linebacker, it was odd to see it as such a glaring weakness entering the 2020 NFL Draft. The team had L.J. Fort and Jake Ryan entrenched as its starters prior to the draft. Clearly, Baltimore needed to add some youth and higher upside with at least one of its draft picks.
More from Ebony Bird
- 3 Biggest Needs for Ravens in NFL Draft
- Ravens’ Super Bowl odds stagnant amidst Lamar Jackson trade rumors
- New Caesars-BetMGM Promo Code: Get Over $2,000
- Ravens 2024 Super Bowl odds (Questions around Lamar Jackson’s future doesn’t keep Baltimore’s odds down)
- Special BetMGM Maryland Promo: Get $1,000 Now
The first-round rolled around and the Ravens drafted LSU linebacker Patrick Queen with the 28th overall pick. With this, the team could get away with having one of Fort or Ryan next to Queen and give them above-average play from the linebacker spot.
Queen wasn’t enough for Baltimore, however, as they selected Ohio State’s Malik Harrison with the 98th overall pick in the third-round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Suddenly, this linebacker depth chart looks outstanding.
Having two young studs in Queen and Harrison is outstanding. The two could blossom into top-tier starters for the Ravens and no one would be surprised. the best part is they compliment each other so well, with Queen being an excellent coverage linebacker and Harrison being a run stuffing thumper.
Where this gets even better for Baltimore is in the fact that their starters entering the draft are now part of the team’s depth. Having two vets in Fort and Ryan as your backups is about as good as it gets.
Having a core of those four linebackers would stack up against any in the rest of the league. There’s enough talent, leadership, and upside for them to perhaps even be the league’s best. That’s what happens when you invest in an area of weakness.
Next. Twitter reacts to Baltimore Ravens 2020 NFL Draft day two picks. dark
The Baltimore Ravens have assured us that the middle of the defense will not be a weakness for the team in 2020. They’ve made heavy investments to get better and it stands to reason that it will be wildly successful. The infusion of youth to go along with the newfound depth has turned what was once a glaring hole on the team as a whole into one of its strongest positions.