It will be difficult for the Baltimore Ravens to retain all of their free agents this offseason, so it will be time for fans to get used to the idea of creating data backups.
Linebacker Patrick Queen is having the best season of his career, but he has a chance to make more money in free agency than he can bring back next year; Luckily for Edge, Lin Cooper will be available. Cooper is a linebacker who played three years in the SEC at Texas A&M.
Made 84 total tackles last season, including 17 for loss, Tyree sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass deflections; He also has two career interceptions. His numbers won’t jump off the page like Roquan Smith did when he had two seasons with at least 95 tackles at Georgia, but Cooper isn’t a projected top-10 pick either. Conversely, 6-2 220 is now scheduled to go in the third round and could be an absolute steal. On paper, the linebacker is in a good position to do everything Queen has done in Baltimore since being drafted from LSU, and he’s as effective as Cooper.
With the guidance of former inside linebackers coach Turner defensive lineman Zach Orr, there’s no reason to believe this defense can’t be among the elite, even if it loses a Pro Bowler in free agency. All Cooper needs to do is have a strong first draft pick that convinces the Ravens that he is their guy and that the Yankees can bring his talent to Baltimore.
