The Ravens may have found a way to make an already solid linebacker group even sturdier, and Teddye Buchanan is the piece forcing the conversation.
Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson have handled the middle for Baltimore in 2026, but Buchanan is pushing his way back into the mix. Jesse Minter made it clear the staff is looking for more ways to involve him.
“As Teddye has come back and proven to be capable of playing more snaps, we’ll certainly try to find ways to get use out of both him and Trent,” Minter said. “Those guys are gonna become some of our better guys, and it’s about finding our best guys for each situation.”
That matters this week against the Atlanta Falcons. Smith brings the All-Pro-level leadership, Simpson has been excellent in pursuit, and Buchanan gives the Ravens another reliable body in the middle of the defense. Taken together, that trio could be a real problem for Atlanta in Week 5.
There’s no need to overstate what Smith and Simpson have done. They deserve their spots, and neither has been the issue. Smith has been strong in coverage and has missed only two tackles, while Simpson has emerged as a real weapon for Minter.
Buchanan, though, adds something Baltimore can always use: a sure tackler. That has to matter for a defense that’s been hurt by open-field misses late in games.
The snap counts show Buchanan’s role growing. He played just three snaps in Week 3, then jumped to 11 in Week 4. Another increase Sunday night would fit the way this matchup looks on paper.
Buchanan’s rookie season gives Baltimore a reason to trust him. He finished with 93 combined tackles and posted an 8.6% missed-tackle rate, which is elite territory for a first-year linebacker.
That becomes even more relevant with Bijan Robinson on the other side. Robinson has been slippery, with a 33.3% missed-tackle rate that ranks eighth in the NFL, and he has 212 yards after contact, which ranks second.
Against that kind of runner, Buchanan’s reliability could be a big part of Baltimore’s plan.
The Ravens may even have enough linebacker talent to put all three on the field together at times. They showed a little of that last week, and there’s a case for more of it against a Falcons team that has run the ball 139 times, second most in the NFL.
That won’t be an option in every situation. In passing downs, using two off-ball linebackers would create a mismatch almost every time. But Simpson’s pass-rush versatility gives Minter room to get creative, and that flexibility could help Baltimore keep Buchanan on the field where he can make an impact.
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Against Atlanta on Sunday night, the Ravens need more than just a bigger target share for Flowers, they need a smarter plan to get him the ball in space and away from the kind of coverage that can bottle him up. Motion, quick-game touches and routes that let him work across the formation all figure to be part of the answer, because Baltimore cannot afford to let one of its most explosive playmakers drift into the background just when the offense needs him most. [Read more 🡒]
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Helping matters along will mean contributions from some less obvious places, starting with Purdy and a few other players whose roles suddenly matter more. A second-year defender working his way back from a torn ACL and rookie tight end Nick Vannett are both part of the equation, while the Ravens also need edge help to make up for the absence of Trey Hendrickson and keep Atlanta from dictating the game on the ground. [Read more 🡒]