To get ready for the start of the season, we are looking at the Baltimore Ravens and seeing how it stacks up in comparison to the rest of the AFC North. So, we will be going position-by-position to look at how the Ravens stack up at each spot. Today, we will focus on the linebacker rooms.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts, Nick Kwitakoski, Mark Robinson
The best thing that you can say about the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker room is that it is different from the previous year. Three of the four names listed are signed this offseason. Still, Elandon Roberts has bounced around from New England to Miami, and Kwiatkoski is coming off missing the whole year. Cole Holcomb is young and has flashed at times, but also is coming off a foot injury. Then, there is Mark Robinson, a day-three player who played 44 snaps last year.
3. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Anthony Walker, Sione Takitaki, Jacob Phillips
The Cleveland Browns linebacker is probably the deepest top-to-bottom, but they need someone to emerge at the top first. Phillips and Takitaki have made starts in their career. Walker is a defense leader, but his health is becoming a question, and he has started to lose a step. JOK is a modern linebacker, almost a hybrid safety, but it can impact the run defense. If JOK can take that step in the box, and Walker can stay healthy, they may be able to move up quickly.
2. Cincinnati Bengals: Germaine Pratt, Logan Wilson, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Joe Bachie
The duo of Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson is not flashy, but they fit well together and play off of each other in a team defense. This will be the third straight season they both enter the year as starters, and you can see the growth. The depth keeps Cleveland close, as the Browns have better depth.
1. Baltimore Ravens: Roquan Smith, Patrick Queen, Trenton Simpson, Malik Harrison
This one is pretty clear. Roquan Smith changed this group and turned it into one of the best in the NFL. That is because Smith is one of the NFL's best linebackers, and he made Queen even better by his presence. Still, even Simpson is a third-round pick, despite being a rookie, and Harrison has legitimate NFL experience. He would shine over Takitaki or Phillips in Cleveland. So, the Ravens have the best starters and the most talented depth.