Player
Trenton Simpson
LB · Ravens
Queen's departure was the unlock: the Ravens couldn't hand the role to Simpson in 2023 with a $100M+ linebacker already on the roster. Once the depth chart cleared, Simpson converted a 6-game cameo into back-to-back full starting seasons — the exact development arc that justifies a Day 2 pick on a deep roster.
From 6 games in 2023 to 14-game starter in 2024 and 2025 — Simpson's path in Baltimore.
TrendSimpson career arc (regular season)
| Season | Games | Combined Tk | TFL | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 1.0 |
| 2024 | 14 | 67 | 5 | 1.5 |
| 2025 | 14 | 64 | 4 | 2.5 |
Simpson was the 86th overall pick in 2023 out of Clemson. His rookie year was limited — Patrick Queen left in free agency after 2023, opening the ILB2 role next to Roquan Smith. Simpson took it and hasn't looked back: back-to-back 14-game starting seasons, each with 60+ combined tackles and 4+ TFLs. The 2025 line adds 2.5 sacks — his highest in any single season and the pass-rush dimension the Ravens wanted when they drafted him.
Combined tackles per season
| Season | Combined |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 67 |
| 2025 | 64 |
Why it matters. Queen's departure was the unlock: the Ravens couldn't hand the role to Simpson in 2023 with a $100M+ linebacker already on the roster. Once the depth chart cleared, Simpson converted a 6-game cameo into back-to-back full starting seasons — the exact development arc that justifies a Day 2 pick on a deep roster.
2.5 sacks in 2025 — all at home, zero in 7 away games.
Split2025 sack split (M&T Bank vs road)
| Location | Games | Sacks | QB Hits | TFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home (M&T Bank) | 7 | 2.5 | 4 | 3 |
| Away | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Every one of Simpson's 2.5 sacks in 2025 came at home. His away line through 7 road games: zero sacks, zero QB hits, 1 TFL. The home version — 2.5 sacks and 4 QB hits — makes him one of the most home-concentrated pass rushers at the LB position in 2025. Among the 100 linebackers with 2+ sacks in 2025, only 14 had all their sacks at home. Simpson is one of them.
Why it matters. Home pass-rush concentration at M&T Bank Stadium — a loud, run-first crowd setting — often reflects a blitz package that opponents haven't had as much film to prepare for. If the Ravens keep scripting these situations for home games, the split will persist into 2026.
5th on the Ravens in TFL+sacks in 2025 — the highest mark by any ILB on their roster.
AnomalyBAL 2025 backfield-disruption leaders (TFL + sacks)
| Player | TFL | Sacks | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Jones (DT) | 9 | 5.0 | 14.0 |
| Mike Green (EDGE) | 7 | 3.5 | 10.5 |
| Kyle Hamilton (S) | 7 | 1.0 | 8.0 |
| Tavius Robinson (EDGE) | 3 | 4.5 | 7.5 |
| Trenton Simpson (ILB) | 4 | 2.5 | 6.5 |
Simpson's 6.5 combined disruptions (4 TFL + 2.5 sacks) in 2025 rank 5th on the Baltimore defense — ahead of every edge defender and cornerback on the roster except Kyle Hamilton. For an ILB operating behind a 4-man front, that's an unusually active backfield presence. Roquan Smith, the starter next to him, had 5 TFLs and 0 sacks.
Why it matters. ILBs typically accumulate tackles, not disruptions — their alignment puts them a step behind the line of scrimmage. Simpson generating more TFL+sack production than veteran edge rushers like Kyle Van Noy (6.0) signals a blitz-heavy usage that expands his value beyond pure tackling.
3 NFL seasons, 0 interceptions — but 5 pass defenses across his last two years.
AnomalyCoverage production (regular season)
| Season | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 |
Simpson's coverage profile is active but unfinished: 5 pass defenses, 0 INTs across his career. His 2024 year (4 PDs) was the peak — the deflections showed up, but the ball hasn't landed in his hands yet. The drop to 1 PD in 2025 matches a lower target volume in coverage as the Ravens leaned on him more as a run defender and blitzer.
Why it matters. An ILB with 4 pass defenses in a single year is getting targeted — either in zone or on tight end matchups. The 0 INTs over 5 career PDs indicates his hands haven't caught up to his positioning, which is a coaching point that often resolves in years 3-4 as players read routes earlier.
144 career combined tackles — 6 away from 150, in just 34 regular-season games.
MilestoneSimpson career totals (regular season only)
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Solo tackles | 77 |
| Assisted tackles | 67 |
| Combined tackles | 144 |
| TFLs | 11 |
| Sacks | 5.0 |
| Pass defenses | 5 |
| Fumble recoveries | 2 |
| Games played | 34 |
Simpson reached 144 career combined tackles in just 34 regular-season games. At his career pace (4.2 combined per game), he crosses 150 in roughly his next 2 appearances. His 2023 draft classmate Jack Campbell (DET) leads the class with 381 combined in 51 games; Simpson's 144 in 34 games is a compressed career due to his 2023 depth role — his per-game rate in his two starting seasons (4.6) tracks close to Campbell's.
Why it matters. Pace-to-milestone matters more than raw totals for young players — Simpson's 34-game career is compressed because he sat behind established starters in 2023. His per-game rate (4.2 combined) in his two starting seasons is the number to watch, not the career total.
2023 ILB class in year 3: Simpson trails on tackles, leads most classmates on sacks.
Comparison2023 ILB class — 2025 season stats
| Player | Team | Games | Combined Tk | TFL | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Campbell | DET | 17 | 174 | 9 | 5.0 |
| Daiyan Henley | LAC | 16 | 101 | 5 | 3.5 |
| SirVocea Dennis | TB | 16 | 96 | 10 | 3.0 |
| Trenton Simpson | BAL | 14 | 64 | 4 | 2.5 |
| Ivan Pace Jr. | CHI | 15 | 58 | 2 | 1.0 |
In the 2023 ILB class, Jack Campbell has separated as the volume tackle leader — 174 combined in 2025. Simpson's 64 combined in 14 games (4.6 per game) trails on raw numbers, but his 2.5 sacks are competitive with the class leaders. The distinction: Baltimore plays Simpson as a disruptor alongside Roquan Smith (who absorbs the tackle volume); Detroit plays Campbell as the primary tackler. Different roles, not necessarily different quality.
Why it matters. Raw tackle totals mislead when comparing ILBs across schemes — a player next to Roquan Smith will always have fewer tackles than one on a single-LB defense. Simpson's sack production (2.5 in 2025) relative to classmates like Pace (1.0) reflects real pass-rush value that tackle counts obscure.
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