Baltimore Ravens rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan is firing full throttle into his NFL career. The rookie was drafted by Baltimore in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and is already competing for a starting spot. While the Ravens tend to ease their rookies into those roles, Buchanan has made it difficult in offseason activities.
Outside of All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, the Ravens lack a proven starting-caliber linebacker. 2023 third-round pick Trenton Simpson failed to claim the spot in 2024, and the door is open for Buchanan to steal it ahead of the 2025 season.
On an episode of The Lounge Podcast with Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing, the 22-year-old talked about his role with the Ravens and how it feels getting a feel for starting competition early in his NFL career.
“I just control what I can control. I try to show up every day and do what I can do,” Buchanan told Mink and Downing. “Whatever that leads to that is really out of my hands ultimately. For me, it is all about focusing on the process and just letting the result take care of itself.”
Teddye Buchanan is attacking the NFL level one step at a time
Buchanan plays with his hair on fire. Any scout or coach that has watched the former California star will tell you that. He flies to the ball and plays every down with intensity. In camp, Buchanan is pushing for Simpson’s second starting linebacker job. While he has been impressive, the experience thus far has come with a learning curve, and he is taking that in stride.
“The big thing that I have noticed is that every single day, you have to bring it,” he said. “There is no day where you can relax…There are no days off. Just come prepared every single day, and give your all every single day, and treat every single day as a new day.”
Neither Buchanan nor Simpson has given the other an edge in offseason workouts. The two have been pushing each other to their limits. While Simpson was disappointing in 2024, coaches say he looks as good as ever in the purple and black. As for Buchanan, coaches are overcome with enthusiasm whenever asked about him in press conferences.
While Simpson will likely be the starting linebacker, at least for Week 1, Buchanan is already proving to be a perfect fit in Zach Orr’s defense. He has the speed and athleticism to blitz and quickly make plays on the ball. In training camp, we will finally see what the rookie will look like when the pads go on with both sides playing at full speed.
Rookies will report for training camp on July 15, and veterans will arrive on July 22. The position battles are just getting started.