4. Drafting Trenton Simpson will give the Ravens financial relief next offseason
Going back to a previous point about the Ravens beginning the offseason with some drama at the quarterback position, I suppose the team isn't quite through with all of their drama. But, right now, any drama seems to be quelled.
As we speak, linebacker Patrick Queen is set to play out the final year of his rookie contract with the Ravens after seeing Baltimore decline to pick up his fifth-year option. Queen, while a great player who does a lot of things well, wasn't going to be a long-term investment for a Ravens team that just signed Roquan Smith to a massive extension.
That's why drafting Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson was such a brilliant move. This year, Simpson can sit if need be, learning the ins and outs of the defense before taking over for Queen next season. He's a very good player and was taken right at the perfect time in the draft, giving Baltimore a future at a position that would have otherwise been in question for next year.
Not having to worry about paying a free agent to come in and start in Queen's place is going to help, financially, as well. Simpson will be on a rookie deal for the foreseeable future, and gives the Ravens some additional breathing room, there.