3 Ravens training camp battles that are over after preseason Week 2

2. Starting Left Guard: John Simpson

What once was a three-man race led by veteran Ben Cleveland turned into a two-man race and after the Week 2 game against the Commanders we might already know who's on top and staying put right there as the new starting LG of the Ravens.

John Simpson and rookie Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu split their reps in Week 1 and did the same last Monday. The levels at which the two of them have produced, though, have been staggeringly diverging according to PFF grading and play charting.

Simpson appeared in the first and third quarter on Monday with Sala featuring in the second and fourth periods. The grading of the two linemen, though, cannot be more different two games into the preseason.

Gordon McGuinness, in his post-game analysis, wrote "Simpson has been solid enough, earning a 77.5 PFF run-blocking grade and an 84.1 PFF pass-blocking grade."

In comparison, Sala has logged 64 snaps, and "he has earned sub-40.0 PFF grades in both pass blocking and run blocking, allowing four pressures from 40 pass-blocking snaps."

McGuinness is right in labeling Sala as a "developmental prospect," which is reasonable as he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 draft and he's just playing his first snaps as a pro against first and second-string players this summer.

Simpson is the leading man and expected starting LG of the Ravens entering the 2023 season. Consider that another lock.