Baltimore Ravens 2026 training camp preview: Linebacker

Roquan Smith gives the Baltimore Ravens one of the NFL’s best answers at inside linebacker. Everything behind him is where training camp becomes interesting.

The Ravens enter 2026 with Smith still serving as the tone-setter, communicator and emotional center of the defense. He remains the player who organizes the second level, cleans up mistakes in the run game and gives Anthony Weaver’s defense a reliable presence in the middle. Baltimore does not have a question at LB1.

The question is who settles in next to him.

Roquan Smith

Smith remains the foundation of the linebacker room. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, the 29-year-old veteran is entering his ninth NFL season and continues to be one of Baltimore’s most important defensive players. His value goes beyond tackles. Smith’s communication, processing and leadership help connect the defensive line to a talented secondary, and that role becomes even more important with Weaver leading the unit.

The Ravens need Smith healthy, sharp and at his usual standard. If that happens, the rest of the linebacker room has a much cleaner path.

Trenton Simpson

Simpson enters camp with the most important individual storyline in the group. The fourth-year linebacker played 407 defensive snaps and 236 special teams snaps last season, and he now has a chance to become the clear second inside linebacker next to Smith.

This is a pivotal summer for Simpson. The athletic tools have never been the issue. The Ravens need him to show better consistency, cleaner run fits, stronger coverage awareness and the ability to stay on the field in more situations. If Simpson wins the job decisively, Baltimore’s second level becomes faster and more stable.

If he does not, the competition remains open.

Teddye Buchanan

Buchanan’s camp outlook is tied to his recovery. He played 651 defensive snaps before suffering a torn ACL in Week 15, and his availability will shape the linebacker picture. When healthy, Buchanan gives Baltimore size, instincts and meaningful defensive experience.

The Ravens do not need to rush him, but they do need to know how quickly he can return to form. If Buchanan is healthy enough to compete during camp or preseason, he could push Simpson for snaps and give Weaver another legitimate option. If his recovery extends deeper into the season, Baltimore may have to lean more heavily on Simpson and the younger depth.

Jay Higgins IV

Higgins is another name worth watching. Listed at 6-foot and 230 pounds, the former Iowa linebacker brings a physical profile and defensive background that fits what Baltimore typically values at the position. His immediate path may come through special teams, but training camp will show whether he can push for defensive snaps.

For Higgins, the challenge is proving he can process quickly enough to handle NFL tempo. Backup linebackers must be reliable, assignment-sound and useful in the kicking game. If he checks those boxes, he can strengthen his roster case.

Dominic DeLuca

DeLuca enters as a rookie out of Penn State, and his quickest route to relevance is special teams. At 6-foot-1 and 228 pounds, he fits the profile of a young linebacker who must earn trust through effort, tackling and reliability before carving out a defensive role.

The Ravens have had success developing young linebackers who can contribute in phases. DeLuca will need to show he can handle coverage assignments, run fits and special teams responsibilities without mental mistakes.

Carl Jones Jr.

Jones gives Baltimore another young linebacker with experience in the system. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, he has the size to compete for a depth role, but the numbers game will be difficult. His camp will likely come down to special teams, physicality and whether he can separate from the rest of the reserve group.

For players in Jones’ position, preseason games matter. Practices reveal alignment and assignment discipline, but games show tackling, angles and reaction speed.

Reid Williford

Williford enters as a rookie from Charlotte and faces a crowded competition. At 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, he has the frame to compete inside, but he must show enough on special teams to push for a longer look. The Ravens do not need every rookie linebacker to make the 53-man roster, but they will be looking for practice squad candidates who can develop.

Williford’s task is straightforward: play fast, tackle well, and show he can handle the demands of defensive communication.

Biggest question

Can Trenton Simpson become the clear LB2 next to Roquan Smith?

That is the question that will define the group. Buchanan’s recovery is a major factor, but Simpson has the cleanest path to opening the season in a larger role. If he takes command of the job, Baltimore’s linebacker room looks stable. If not, Weaver may have to sort through packages, recovery timelines and special teams-driven roster decisions deep into August.

Roster outlook

Smith is locked in. Simpson should enter camp with a major opportunity. Buchanan’s health will determine how quickly he factors into the defensive rotation. Higgins, DeLuca, Jones and Williford are competing for depth spots, special-teams roles andpractice-squadd consideration.

The Ravens’ defense has star power up front and in the secondary, but the second level still needs answers. If Simpson makes the leap and Buchanan returns healthy, Baltimore’s linebacker room could become one of the more balanced groups on the roster.

If not, the position may remain one of the team’s most important camp competitions.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Baltimore Ravens 2026 training camp preview: Linebacker