John Simpson’s struggles have reached the point where the Baltimore Ravens may need to stop waiting for a turnaround and start looking for a replacement.
That replacement could be Carson Vinson, even if it would qualify as a major leap. Vinson entered the league as a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and was considered a developmental lineman, but in his second season he has earned real chances and shown enough to at least force the conversation.
The Ravens’ situation makes the idea harder to ignore. They’re 4-5, sitting last in the AFC North, and riding a four-game losing streak. If that slide continues, their playoff hopes could disappear quickly, which leaves the coaching staff with little reason not to try something different.
Baltimore has already cycled through more offensive line combinations than anyone else in the league. The Ravens have used 25 different combinations, eight more than the second-place New England Patriots, who have 17. At this point, another shuffle would hardly be shocking.
What makes Simpson such an obvious weak spot is how rough his season has been. He has allowed 17 pressures and owns a 39.1 pass-blocking grade, per Pro Football Focus. He has been acceptable in the run game, but the overall picture has been ugly enough that the Ravens have to consider whether they can get more from someone else.
Vinson has at least put something on tape. Over 116 offensive snaps, he has posted a 66.3 PFF grade, with a 57.8 pass-blocking grade and a 65.9 run-blocking grade. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but it does suggest there’s a baseline worth exploring.
The switch wouldn’t come without risk. Vinson is still young, and penalties could become part of the equation. But Baltimore is already dealing with flags, so that concern may not be enough to keep him off the field.
There’s also the matter of fit. Vinson was viewed by draft experts as a player who might eventually move to guard at the pro level, so this wouldn’t be some random experiment pulled out of thin air.
At 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, he has the size to handle the spot, along with good grip strength and impressive mobility for a player his size. That combination could matter in the outside run game.
His hands are still a work in progress, but playing inside could help cover up some of those technical issues. The move wouldn’t need to be flawless. It would just need to be better than Simpson.
And that’s really the point. Simpson has been unreliable, he’s drawing too many flags, and he looks like this year’s version of Daniel Faalele. Vinson might not be the answer, but Baltimore needs to find out whether he can be part of one.
In Other News...
Ravens Face A Trade Deadline Decision That Could Define This Season
With the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaching, Baltimore finds itself in an awkward spot at 4-5, trying to keep the season afloat while quarterback Lamar Jackson is on injured reserve. The Ravens brought in Jacoby Brissett to steer the offense in Jacksons absence, and the front office is now weighing whether this is a time to add help, stand pat or start looking ahead with the roster it has.
Derrick Henry has been the subject of outside interest, though Baltimore is not interested in moving him, leaving the focus on other possible names in the mix. Justice Hill, Rashod Bateman and Calais Campbell have all been mentioned as potential trade candidates, but so far there has been no movement, which leaves the Ravens with a deadline choice that could shape the rest of their season. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Suddenly Look Like A Team The Chargers Can Finally Beat
The Chargers have spent the first part of the season searching for answers on both sides of the ball, and an 0-8 start has left them with little room to salvage the year in the standings. Even so, the schedule is about to offer a softer landing, with a stretch of opponents that includes teams carrying losing records and a chance for Los Angeles to at least build some momentum over the back half of the season.
Baltimore is part of that opening, and it is the kind of matchup that suddenly looks more manageable than it did a few weeks ago. The Ravens have dropped into the same category as other struggling teams on the Chargers schedule, which gives Los Angeles a rare opening to compete in a game it might have had trouble circling earlier in the year. The playoffs are no longer a realistic target, but these next few weeks could still shape whether the Chargers find any traction at all. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Season Now Rests On One Veteran Quarterback
The Ravens quarterback room has been turned upside down, and now the offense is moving forward with Jacoby Brissett at the controls after season-ending injuries to Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. Head coach Jesse Minter confirmed Brissett will start the upcoming game against the Los Angeles Chargers, a move that puts a veteran passer in charge of a team trying to steady itself at 4-5 and last in the AFC North.
Brissetts arrival gives Baltimore at least some experience at the most important position, but it also underscores how quickly the season has shifted from one set of expectations to another. The Ravens need immediate stability, and the next question is how much of the playbook and game plan can be reshaped around a quarterback who has only just joined the mix. [Read more 🡒]