Arthur Brown

A former second-round draft pick, Brown enters the final year of his rookie contract with very little experience on defense. He may even be on the roster bubble.

Brown, a second-round round selection in the 2013 draft, was mostly used in passing situations last season, and he finished the year with only 15 tackles and a half-sack. The expectation was that Brown would step in as a starter in 2014, but then the Ravens used a first-round draft pick on C.J. Mosley, who is now expected to start alongside Daryl Smith. It's unclear whether the Ravens have doubts about Brown, or if they just feel in love with Mosley. Either way, Brown will likely have a minimal role to open the season, as both Mosley and Smith have three-down skill sets.

It takes a leap of faith to expect a rookie to be among the league's tackle leaders, particularly when that rookie fell to the 56th pick, but everything is in place for Brown to be an instant hit. The Ravens lost Ray Lewis (retirement) and Dannell Ellerbe (free agency) in the offseason, and Jameel McClain isn't good enough to keep Brown off the field. Brown is a highly athletic linebacker who identifies plays quickly and pursues with a high motor, and the Ravens should give him all the work he can handle. It's worth noting Brown had a sports hernia this spring, though he should be ready in the early part of training camp.