‘Playing like a Raven is my goal’: LB Trenton Simpson shares expectations for 2024

As a rookie, Baltimore Ravens’ inside linebacker Trenton Simpson did not have a starting or even prominent role on either side of the ball. This was unfamiliar territory for the 2023 third-round pick out of Clemson.

He played as a true freshman in college and declared for the NFL Draft following his junior season. Simpson was one of the Tigers’ most dynamic and disruptive players during his three years there. While it wasn’t what he had imagined, Simpson was ultimately grateful for the year he spent learning from Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen. Smith and Queen were arguably the best off-ball linebacker tandem in the league last year and both players earned Pro Bowl and All Pro honors.

With Smith under contract through the 2027 season, the Ravens opted to let Queen walk in free agency despite his breakout 2023 campaign because of their investment and belief in Simpson. They will now have to face Queen twice a year for the foreseeable future after he signed a three-year deal worth $41 million with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Just to see him and learn from him my rookie year … I mean, [Queen] had a great year,” Simpson said Wednesday. “[With] the way he played, he got [the contract] he deserved, and I learned a lot from him. [I’ve been] just watching how he moves, his pre-snap alignments and things like that. I did a lot of studying of him this year.”

Heading into his second season as a projected full-time starter, Simpson isn’t trying to be the next Queen. Instead, he wants to be the best version of himself and uphold the franchise’s rich defensive traditions with his play on the field.

“Just playing fast, physical, man, just playing relentless, playing like a Raven is my goal,” Simpson said. “[I’m] just going out there and sending a message, just playing as hard as I can and matching Roquan energy every day.”

Not only has he been doing a good job of matching Smith’s energy level during training camp, but Simpson has also ratcheted up his intensity as well since the pads came on. He’s already been involved in a few skirmishes during practice and trades in his mild-mannered demeanor for a warrior-like mentality once he hits the field.

“Trenton is an intense guy, which we love,” Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “I think Isaiah Likely told me the other day … He was like, ‘Man, tell Trent to smile out there on the field,’ and I was like, ‘Ay man, that’s how he rolls… That’s why we loved him when he came out of Clemson. He’s a [really] physical player, and it’s great to see that. We knew that last year. He came in as a rookie being real physical, and he’s continued that and upped that. He’s gotten bigger, stronger [and] more explosive, which he’s displaying, which we’re happy with.”

Playing linebacker means being in the middle of the defense where the heat of the battle takes place. They have to take on blocks from 300+ pound offensive linemen climbing to the second level as well as running backs barreling toward them with a full head of steam. It takes a certain kind of ultra-aggressive mentality to play the position and perform at a high level.

“When you get in between those lines, you’ve got to be locked in, focused in and just serious,” Simpson said. “[There’s] a goal, [and] you’ve got to go out there and perform, so there’s no time to play around on the field; you’ve got to be focused. And when I’m off the field, [I’m a] great guy, smiling all the time, [but] when it gets in between those lines, it’s time to play ball.”

Simpson spent most of his rookie season primarily playing special teams. However, he got his first taste of extended action on defense in the regular finale against the Steelers and made the most of it. He recorded seven of his 13 total tackles on the year, both of his tackles for loss, his first career sack and his lone quarterback hit on 26 defensive snaps. That was more snaps than the 20 combined he received in the other 14 games he appeared in.

Two areas of his game where he feels he has grown the most are “knowing what to expect” with the team’s scheme and improving his communication skills.

“With this defense, everybody is on the same page, we’re very vocal, and everybody is talking every play, so I think that’s a sign of a great defense,” Simpson said. “[I’ve] definitely [grown] communication-wise.”

Smith has been one of the best resources in Simpson’s maturation processes. Now that he’ll be playing next to him, their bond has strengthened even more. The second-year pro prides himself on being a sponge when it comes to learning from the seventh-year veteran both on and off the field.

“When I’m with him, he’s a great person to learn from, so I just get some advice every time I get around him,” Simpson said. “He’s a great teammate, a great leader, and I’m always trying to learn from him in any aspect of life.”

The Ravens coaching staff has loved what they’ve seen from Simpson during the offseason and through training camp thus far. Head coach John Harbaugh went into detail about what he expects from him and some areas where he still has room to grow as a young player. The linebacker position usually takes a few years to fully get the hang of. That was the case with Queen, who struggled at times early on his career before putting it all together his final season and a half with the team.

“I’ve definitely seen ‘Trent’ take that jump this year, and there are still things that he needs to work on,” Harbaugh said. “There are times you have in zone coverage, you have to carry a crossing route back across the field, or you have to get under something that’s coming back inside, and he may be pushing out when he should be pushing in – those kinds of things. But that’s all part of the process, and probably the last part of the process, is understanding all of the zone coverage details. He’s flying around. He’s running, he’s making plays, he’s confident, he’s a quick learner. I think he’s doing a great job.”

One of Queen’s best traits, was his incredible athleticism and sideline-to-sideline speed. Simpson is an even more explosive athlete who Smith recently said was “one of the most athletic people on the team, if not [the most].” Even Queen himself admitted after the regular season finale that Simpson “might be faster than me” with a chuckle.

Not having the pressure of being the MIKE and handling play-calling duties will allow Simpson to play fast and free in 2024. He might be poised to not only step into Queen’s shoes as a replacement but prove to be an upgrade by the end of the season.