The Baltimore Ravens' 2025 season hasn’t exactly followed the script many expected. A team once projected to contend for the Super Bowl is now sitting at 6-7, clinging to playoff hopes that feel more mathematical than magical.
And yet, they’re not out of it. In the NFL, strange things happen in December-and stranger things happen in January.
But even in a year where the Ravens have struggled to find consistency, there are reasons for optimism. Chief among them? The emergence of a rookie linebacker who’s gone from fourth-round flyer to full-time starter: Teddye Buchanan.
Teddye Buchanan: From Day 3 to Defensive Mainstay
It’s not easy to crack the starting lineup as a rookie-especially not in Baltimore, where John Harbaugh demands discipline and execution from every level of his defense. But Buchanan has done just that. Drafted in the fourth round, he’s already carved out a significant role next to All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, and he’s doing more than just holding his own.
Buchanan was highlighted recently as one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 NFL season-and for good reason. Through 13 games, he’s piled up 91 total tackles, just nine behind Smith for the team lead. He’s also added five tackles for loss and chipped in half a sack, showing a knack for getting downhill and making plays near the line of scrimmage.
That production isn’t just a fluke-it’s the result of a player who’s seized his opportunity. When Trenton Simpson faltered early in the season, the door opened for Buchanan. He stepped into the starting lineup in Week 2 against the Browns and hasn’t looked back.
The Numbers Paint a Mixed Picture-But the Growth Is Real
Now, let’s be clear: Buchanan isn’t a finished product. According to Pro Football Focus, his overall grade sits at 57.5-below average by their metrics. His biggest challenge so far has been in pass coverage, where he’s still learning the nuances of NFL route concepts and quarterback tendencies.
But where he’s struggled in coverage, he’s made up for it in other areas. His tackling grade (75.3) and run defense grade (69.8) show a player who’s already establishing himself as a reliable force against the run. He’s not just filling gaps-he’s finishing plays.
For a rookie linebacker, that’s a solid foundation. The coverage skills can come with time and reps.
But the instincts, the physicality, the ability to read and react in the box-those are harder to teach. And Buchanan’s already checking those boxes.
Filling a Void-and Then Some
Baltimore entered this season needing someone to step up next to Smith after losing Chris Board and Malik Harrison in free agency. That “someone” has become Buchanan. Fourteen weeks into his rookie year, he’s not just filling a role-he’s making it his own.
In a season where not much has gone according to plan, Buchanan’s rise is a storyline worth watching. He’s not just a bright spot in a dim year-he’s a potential building block for the future of Baltimore’s defense.
The Ravens may still be fighting for a playoff spot, but regardless of how the rest of the season plays out, they’ve uncovered something valuable in Buchanan. And if his development continues on this trajectory, Baltimore might have found their next great linebacker duo.