The Baltimore Ravens are ready to get back to the defense of old. Last year was something out of a nightmare, and it didn’t feel real that a Baltimore defense could be that bad. They were an eyesore all year, and that’s set to change.
The catalyst for change? Jesse Minter and Anthony Weaver. The two will enforce a no-nonsense, physical defense that should bring back memories of old units that struck fear into opponents. For those who struggled in 2025, it’s a make-or-break year. You either bounce back or you falter. Minter and Weaver will have no problem replacing you.
For Trenton Simpson, this is it. Time is running out for him with the Ravens. It’s clear that the once-promising linebacker has taken a step back, and if he doesn’t get back on his feet, he might be writing his final chapter in Charm City in 2026.
Baltimore Ravens may be nearing end to chapter with disappointing linebacker
Not too long ago, Trenton Simpson was supposed to be the next up. People had dreams about the 2023 third-round pick becoming a mainstay in Baltimore’s defense alongside Roquan Smith, and he once flashed the potential to be that. His outing against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 of 2023 had fans HYPED. Unfortunately, since then, Simpson’s NFL career has become more stagnant, fading away rather than rising to the occasion.
In 2025, it was clear that Simpson fell out of favor with the coaching staff. And he fell out of favor quickly. Then-rookie fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan took over the starting reps next to Smith in Week 2, which is unheard of for a Ravens defense. He was actually the first Day 3 rookie since 2006 to start within the first two weeks of his rookie campaign. That’s how bad things got for Simpson under Harbaugh.
Of course, Simpson gets a much-needed fresh start under new head coach Jesse Minter, and he’s probably breathing a sigh of relief. At least he's getting a fair chance now. However, things aren’t going to get any easier under Minter and Anthony Weaver. If anything, the two elite, young minds could be much harder on their guys. They strive for perfection on defense, and Simpson's play hasn't really screamed perfection.
On their unit, a player like Simpson could be in danger of falling down the same path this year. While he’s a more fluid athlete in coverage than Buchanan, his issue has always been running himself out of plays and getting himself caught behind trash. His mental processing is a tick slower than Buchanan, who displays a fiery “see ballcarrier, hit ballcarrier” mentality. Simpson's seemingly lackadasical errors at times would be a no-go under Minter and Weaver.
Buchanan might just fit better, too. He plays with the relentless motor and passion that I'm sure Weaver will fall in love with, as he's preached about wanting his defense to "look like a pack of wolves." Throw in the hype that Buchanan has gotten this offseason, and Simpson's future could look even bleaker.
And sure, even if Simpson falls behind Buchanan again this year, he’ll likely slot in as LB3. The Ravens haven't added anything at that spot this offseason, so at this point, it's him and Jay Higgins backing Smith and Buchanan up. That’s not bad, and he should still get snaps.
In reality, though, that wouldn’t be a great spot to be in for the 25-year-old. He’s in a contract year. He can’t afford to settle for another sporadic rotational role. If he kicks off 2026 in that same role, that’d be a clear sign that he’s become a bit of an afterthought in Charm City. And the Ravens might be ready to turn that page.
Simply put, Baltimore’s patience is likely nearing a breaking point with Simpson. Again, it’s hard to gauge how the new coaching staff feels about him, but he definitely hasn’t been what general manager Eric DeCosta once thought he was drafting out of Clemson in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Add us as a preferred source on Google