Ravens: Defensive Position-by-Position Breakdown and Depth-Chart Analysis

With the Fourth of July having come and gone, we're right at three weeks until NFL training camps open. 

The Baltimore Ravens will field a deep and talented roster when camp opens, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Baltimore has traditionally had one of the NFL's best defenses, and that should be the case again in 2015.

That unit ranked eighth in total defense last year after ranking 12th in 2013. The Ravens could make another jump up the rankings in 2015 if some of their younger players continue to grow while their veterans keep playing at the same high level we've become accustomed to seeing. 

That doesn't mean, however, there won't be changes on the depth chart. The team added several talented players this offseason through free agency and the NFL draft while losing a few others

Here's a look at how the Ravens' defensive depth chart projects heading into training camp. 

Linebacker

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Outside Linebacker 1

1. Elvis Dumervil
2. Courtney Upshaw

Inside Linebacker 1

1. Daryl Smith
2. Albert McClellan
3. Andrew Bose

Inside Linebacker 2

1. C.J. Mosley
2. Arthur Brown
3. Zach Orr

Outside Linebacker 2

1. Terrell Suggs
2. Za'Darius Smith
3. Steven Means

The strength of the Ravens defense in 2014 was the linebacking unit, and that should again be the case in 2015.

The real strength was at outside linebacker, where Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil terrorized quarterbacks. Those two combined for 29 sacks and 98 total tackles in 2014 after racking up 19.5 sacks together in 2013.

Dumervil alone had a franchise-record 17 sacks last year. The only player who must be replaced at this position is Pernell McPhee, who accounted for 7.5 sacks last year in a situational role. 

With McPhee gone, Dumervil and Suggs will be backed up mainly by Courtney Upshaw, who's more of a run-stuffer than a pass-rusher. He has just three career sacks in 48 games but did rack up 60 tackles and two forced fumbles last year.

Two others who will be fighting for playing time on the outside are rookie Za'Darius Smith and journeyman Steven Means. Smith is a fourth-round pick out of Kentucky who is a solid pass-rusher and run defender. 

As for Means, he shined in Ravens OTAs so much so that he now looks like a legitimate threat to earn playing time at this position in 2015. 

In the middle, C.J. Mosley and Daryl Smith will get almost all of the snaps at the two inside 'backer spots in Baltimore's 3-4 defense. Those two combined for 261 total tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and 17 pass defenses in 2014.

They'll be on the field most of the time with veteran Albert McClellan occasionally getting snaps. Rookie Andrew Bose and second-year man Zach Orr will fight for that other backup linebacker spot. 

Defensive Line

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Defensive End

1. Chris Canty
2. DeAngelo Tyson
3. Kapron Lewis-Moore
4. Brent Urban

Nose Tackle

1. Brandon Williams
2. Carl Davis
3. Christo Bilukidi

Defensive Tackle

1. Timmy Jernigan
2. Lawrence Guy

Baltimore line will miss All-Pro defensive lineman Haloti Ngata after trading him to the Detroit Lions this offseason.

That leaves the Ravens without their best lineman of the past eight seasons. Even without Ngata though, this defensive line will still be strong in 2015.

Baltimore will likely utilize a defensive line of defensive end Chris Canty, nose tackle Brandon Williams and defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan. That was an effective lineup in 2014 when Ngata was suspended for four games for performance-enhancing drug use. 

Canty and Williams are veterans who have started enough games that the Ravens will feel good about them, but Jernigan will be in a full-time role for the first time.

He showed a lot of promise last year as a rookie second-rounder out of Florida State, but expecting him to replace Ngata's production is unrealistic.

The three should ensure the line continues to play at a high level in 2015, but they likely won't be as good as when they had Ngata. 

Also, watch out for rookie Carl Davis. The 6'2", 320-pound lineman should manage to get playing time as a 3-technique defensive tackle and a 0-technique nose tackle in Baltimore's 3-4 defense.

He's strong and big enough to play nose behind Williams and maintain his gap well. He is also quick and explosive enough to play at the 3 behind Jernigan.

DeAngelo Tyson and Lawrence Guy are two quality veterans with starting experience along the line. They'll likely be on the final roster this year and may even challenge Jernigan for the vacant starting spot left by Ngata. 

Cornerback

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Cornerback 1

1. Lardarius Webb
2. Asa Jackson
3. Tray Walker
4. Tramain Jacobs

Cornerback 2

1. Jimmy Smith
2. Rashaan Melvin
3. Cassius Vaughn
4. Rashaan Melvin

Nickle Cornerback

1. Kyle Arrington
2. Anthony Levine

The Ravens' cornerbacks were their downfall in 2014, but they should be better in 2015 just by being healthier.

Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith are a nice starting tandem when paired together. However, injuries prevented them from playing together regularly in 2014.

Webb missed the first three games last season while recovering from a back injury. Smith suffered a season-ending foot injury and missed the final eight games of the year.

When Baltimore plays in a nickel defense with three corners, that's when Kyle Arrington will likely come in. Baltimore signed him this offseason after the New England Patriots cut him.

Arrington is ball-hawking corner who led the NFL in interceptions (seven) in 2011. He's more suited to play in the slot, which is why he'll likely play primarily in nickel packages this year.

Those three should handle the bulk of the snaps at the primary three cornerback spots. After them, Asa Jackson is a nice third corner when healthy, but he, too, missed the season's second half after a knee injury cost him nine games.

Rookie Tray Walker is a guy Baltimore drafted in the fourth round out of Texas Southern in this year's NFL draft. The 6'2", 180-pounder was a ball hawk in college. He grabbed four interceptions this past season and finished his career with 10 picks.

Also fighting for roster spots will be veterans Cassius Vaughn and Anthony Levine. Those two have played in a combined 101 games with 167 total tackles. 

Safety

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Free Safety

1. Kendrick Lewis
2. Terrence Brooks
3. Nick Perry

Strong Safety

1. Will Hill
2. Matt Elam
3. Brynden Trawick

Baltimore's safety depth will look a little different this year after losing several key contributors this offseason. 

The Ravens lost starting free safety Darian Stewart this offseason after he signed with the Denver Broncos. Baltimore went on to replace him with Kendrick Lewis, who spent last year with the Houston Texans.

Last year, Lewis racked up 84 tackles, six pass deflections, three forced fumbles and two interceptions in 16 games. He'll likely earn a starting spot this year at one of the two safety spots. 

At strong safety, Will Hill will battle Matt Elam for the starting spot after beating him for it in 2014. Though Elam opened the year as the starter, Hill ultimately unseated him for the full-time job down the stretch of the season.

There is hope that Elam makes a big jump in his third NFL season after regressing last season. While he may not start in 2015, he will still get plenty of snaps at safety. 

Baltimore also lost key backup Jeromy Miles this offseason. That means there will be more playing time available at both safety spots after he played both in 2014. 

Terrence Brooks is likely to open the year on the PUP list, which means he'd miss the first six games as he recovers from a major knee injury suffered last year. 

That could open a spot up for undrafted free agent Nick Perry to make the roster. The former Alabama safety was one of the best players to go undrafted this year, and Baltimore was quick to sign him after the draft ended. 

Perry will battle third-year man Brynden Trawick for playing time and/or a roster spot this year. Trawick has played in 22 career games with Baltimore but mostly as a special teams guy. 

In the end, Baltimore will have two quality starting safeties in 2015, but there's concern as to how well the backups will perform.