Teddye Buchanan
Getty
The Baltimore Ravens have a rookie "sleeper," in the form of a natural football "magnet."
Finding quality linebackers in the NFL draft has long been a franchise staple for the Baltimore Ravens, and one writer believes the team got a steal in 2025, in the form of a dynamic athlete observers are sleeping on as a potential rookie star.
Fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan will defy his draft status as the 129th player selected this year, according to Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports. He believes that “in two years, we will all be flabbergasted when we’re reminded Buchanan was selected in the fourth round. And he couldn’t have landed in a finer situation, in Baltimore, on a Ravens team in need for athleticism at off-ball linebacker.”
Trapasso also made note of the Ravens’ “long history” putting quality inside linebackers onto the field. He explained why Buchanan can continue the tradition after being “a magnet to the football at California in 2024, with 114 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, with four pass breakups after a spectacularly productive career at UC-Davis. Trust me, Buchanan is going to rock in Baltimore.”
This isn’t the first time the Ravens have been applauded for taking Buchanan where they did. Yet, Trapasso and others are setting lofty expectations for a first-year pro facing an intense position battle just to get onto the field.
Fortunately, Buchanan possesses a niche skill that could tilt the competition in his favor.
Teddye Buchanan Set for Tough Competition
Getting onto the field early and often will depend on Buchanan taking snaps away from Trenton Simpson. The ex-Clemson star is a former third-round pick with natural range, but Simpson hasn’t become the playmaker the Ravens expected next to All-Pro Roquan Smith.
He has a lot to prove, but Simpson is still in the mix to remain a starter. So much so, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic thinks the 24-year-old will play ahead of Buchanan.
As Zrebiec put it, “After losing his starting job late last season, Simpson worked hard this offseason and has shown he has an even better grasp of Baltimore’s defense.” That grasp can get Simpson onto the field in base sets, while a throwback undrafted free agent is also touted to make an impression.
What’s more significant for Buchanan is Zrebiec’s note about how “the Ravens likely won’t be in their base defense too often, so whoever wins this job may not play a ton of snaps.”
More sub-package schemes and fronts needn’t be bad news for Buchanan. Just the opposite thanks to the former Cal stud having a core talent perfect for nickel work.
Ravens Pressure Philosophy Perfect for Rookie Sleeper
Buchanan’s ability to play in space can make him an asset in passing situations. Especially given how the Ravens like to use versatile edge-rushers to bring pressure from multiple angles.
The combination can work in a variety of ways, but Larry Brown Jr. of Ravens Wire described one simple and effective setup: “Buchanan is a young, explosive playmaker who can be deployed as another asset in the Ravens’ pass rush. With linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh bringing pressure on the outside, Buchanan may be a coverage linebacker responsible for limiting running backs out of the backfield.”
Having a true coverage linebacker on the field will expand the ways Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr can disguise pressure and fool quarterbacks pre- and post-snap. Buchanan showed off the speed and instincts that make him useful in coverage on this rep highlighted by Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus, who endorsed the rookie as a “former track (jumps) standout in HS. This dude can move.”
Trevor Sikkema
Watch LB No. 44 on this play. Teddye Buchanan from @CalFootball. Didn’t get his head around for the ball, but watch him flip the hips and take off down the field to cover the deep cross
Former track (jumps) standout in HS. This dude can move
This level of core athleticism helps explain why Orr is already enamoured with Buchanan’s potential. The play-caller told reporters at OTAs “Teddy plays like a Raven. His college film, he flies around, he seeks contract, he can play in space.”
Orr will know what having a flexible specialist against the pass can mean for mixing blitz and coverage. It’s a heady brew that should earn Buchanan playing time early in his debut campaign.