The Baltimore Ravens defense won’t look the same at all in 2026. Thank goodness for that. New head coach Jesse Minter is coming to Charm City with a lot of work to do, but undoubtedly, he could easily morph the unit into one of the better defenses in football.
Baltimore’s defense should actually look competent. The pass rush is the most obvious improvement of the offseason, as blockbuster signing Trey Hendrickson will be that elite threat that the team has missed off the edge. Another legitimate factor could quietly reveal itself, though: Trenton Simpson.
Although Simpson has tested Baltimore’s patience, he could have his best season yet in 2026. As he gears up for a contract year, a much-needed change may await him. A shift to a more versatile role might be in the works. Clifton Brown wrote about Simpson’s potential breakout in an article for BaltimoreRavens.com.
"“Simpson believes his versatility will play well in Minter's scheme, as a linebacker who can help the defense in multiple ways. He had a career-high 2.5 sacks last season, along with 66 tackles, and wants to have a bigger impact as a pass rusher.”"Clifton Brown, BaltimoreRavens.com
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When he declared for the NFL Draft back in 2023, it was clear that Trenton Simpson wasn’t your typical linebacker. He was, and still is, an athletic freak in the middle of the field who uses his elite play speed to fly to the ball carrier and make plays in the open field. He’s not meant to be your usual box linebacker. Over the past two years, the Ravens have figured that out the hard way.
Simpson has struggled to produce in that spot. His anticipation against the run can be poor, and when you play at a lighter weight as he does, that makes him an easy target for oncoming blockers. And while he’s more fluid in coverage, his ability to read and react can be a step slow. He’s obviously not fit for that structured role. What he is fit for, though, is being a versatile chess piece.
The 25-year-old knows his versatility is his best trait, and he brought it up in Clifton Brown’s piece.
"“‘That's what I did at Clemson a lot, moved around, came off the edge," Simpson said. "I came from college really as a standup D-end who moved…We're going to play quarterbacks who scramble. I believe I'm the guy on this team who can go get any quarterback. As long as I show that to the coaches and they gain that trust in me, I'll be ready to roll.’”"Clifton Brown, BaltimoreRavens.com
That was always Simpson’s speciality. At Clemson, he finished a three-year college career with 22.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. If you let him loose and allow him to go chase down the ball carrier, he’s going to make a play. Clearly, he can be an absolute beast in pursuit.
We saw Simpson do a bit more of that last year, but it still wasn’t enough. Baltimore’s defense struggled to keep contain in 2025, allowing opposing offenses to hit the edge and cut upfield far too often. It was one of the countless areas that Zach Orr's defense failed over his two years as defensive coordinator. If Simpson is used properly and moves to more of a gadget role, he could help mask those issues.
All of that will hopefully change under Jesse Minter, and based on Simpson’s words, there’s plenty of reason to believe that it will.
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