Baltimore Ravens select Trenton Simpson with No. 86 overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft

The Baltimore Ravens selected Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson with the No. 86 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday night.

Simpson finished his junior season with 77 tackles for Clemson. He also had 4 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He opted out of Clemson’s bowl game to begin prep for the draft. Prior to last season, he posted 10 sacks over 2020 and 2021.

After he clocked in with a 4.43 40-yard dash, Simpson became ESPN’s No. 1 best-available inside linebacker on the board heading into the draft.

Coming out of Mallard Creek (North Carolina) High School, Simpson was a five-star prospect. He was the No. 22 recruit in the nation and the No. 5 linebacker in the 2020 signing class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Prior to the draft, Simpson had top-30 prospect visits with the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and more.

What the NFL draft analysts are saying about Trenton Simpson

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein provided some analysis on Simpson’s game in his recent scout of the linebacker’s draft profile. His player comparison for the Clemson star is Darron Lee, a 2016 first-rounder.

“Chiseled weakside linebacker with rare speed for the position to run down the action in all directions,” Zeirlein wrote. “Simpson played inside in 2022 but displayed average play recognition and a lack of patience that saw him get caught in traffic near the line. He can play run-and-hit football with his speed when playing outside.

“He needs to cut back the arm tackles and pursue with better angles to the ball. He’s a premium athlete capable of squeezing routes from zone and attacking the pocket as a blitzer. Simpson isn’t quite game-ready yet, but players with his traits and range eventually find the field.”

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft, which began Thursday, April 27, continues through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event location this year is the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft began at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.