A Look at the Ravens ILB Depth
In a way the Baltimore Ravens’ inside linebacker position is kind of an open and shut case. We know Patrick Queen and Josh Bynes are the starters, and that it won’t be the deepest spot on the team’s roster. On the other hand, that’s all that we can really ink at this position group: it’s the two starters… the everybody else is TBD. How will it shake out?
It wouldn’t be unthinkable for the Ravens to keep just three inside linebackers. Tyus Bowser can play the position, and we’ve heard a lot about employing three-safety looks. Chuck Clark could end up being used as an extra linebacker in certain packages for Mike Macdonald’s new defense.
Four is possible. Five is highly unlikely.
The battle for the third spot begins with Malik Harrison and Kristian Welch. Both players contribute on special teams. Harrison has gotten more work with the defense and has 25 career tackles to his credit. The Ravens also have more invested in Harrison, as he was a third round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, while Welch was an undrafted free agent in the same year. The roster battle seems fairly even right now. While Welch began to get some play with the defense before the 2021 season concluded, neither has much to bank on.
Welch’s best case to make the team is as a contributor on special teams. The fact that he was such a consistent presence for the Ravens on teams last season means he has value outside of just being a rotational defensive piece. According to the data on Rotowire.com, in 2021 he was basically good for 17-25 snaps played on special teams.
If these two are indeed competing for the last inside linebacker spot, who would have the upper hand? Harrison has shown limitations due to his lack of range. He is a hard hitter and he has a high motor. The question is whether he can get where he needs to be. Harrison doesn’t strike me as a three-down linebacker in the NFL. Welch’s athletic traits could make this battle interesting.
We can’t assume that Harrison and Welch are the only names in play. Behind Queen and Bynes, the Ravens have no proven players. Welch stuck around as an undrafted free agent, just like former Ravens Jameel McClain, and Bart Scott before him. Training camp is about the underdog and the Ravens have a history of paying attention to everyone at this position.
Additional ILB Contestants
Josh Ross, an undrafted free agent from Michigan, could be the biggest threat to Harrison and Welch. Ross is coming off a season where he had 106 total tackles and his defensive coordinator was, of course, Mike Macdonald. It’s not surprising that Ross signed with the Ravens after being passed on during the draft process. Already having a connection with the defensive coordinator could give him an inside track.
Keep your eye on Diego Fagot, a three-year starter for Navy. Fagot tallied 282 total tackles, 9.5 sacks and two interceptions in his career with the Midshipmen. He was the leader of the Navy defense and he has a big 6’3″ frame. He’s a player that has been on my radar due to my affinity for Navy football. Fagot made quite the impression in Annapolis and strikes me as the kind of person that will win over John Harbaugh. Going into camp, he’s definitely a player in the mix for a roster spot, even if he’s starting the race as a long shot.
The other undrafted free agent the Ravens brought in this year is Zakoby McClain. At 5’11”, 227 pounds, what he lacks in size he made up for in productivity at Auburn. An SEC talent that slips through the cracks could always end up being a diamond in the rough.
Back to the Starters
This conversation has been mostly focused on the roster battle behind Queen and Bynes. But let’s take a moment to focus upon the assumed starters. This is a big third season for Queen. He’s had an up and down run with the Ravens so far. When he looks good he looks really good. When he struggles, he looks totally lost. For the Ravens to get the most out of their investment, Queen has to have it all come together this year. Consistency, and the ability to stick to his assignment: that’s what the Ravens need to see from Queen.
Bynes is the Ravens’ equivalent of the cat that came back. He just can’t stay away. He was with the team from 2011-2014. He was with the Ravens in 2019 and he came back in 2021. Never question the staying power of Bynes in Baltimore. The staff trusts him to be where he’s supposed to be. He’s a solid player that takes care of business.
So let’s see what happens. There is a lot to like about the linebacker situation in Baltimore. The Ravens need Queen to prove he’s the truth in his third season. They need Bynes to keep being dependable and they need to figure out who’s on deck behind the top two linebackers.
Training camp will be a great chance for an unproven group of linebackers to show their worth. It’s time to watch and learn.
Let’s see what they have.
