For the first 13 games of last season, Trenton Simpson was the starter next to Roquan Smith. In the playoffs, Simpson didn't play a single defensive snap.

After a sophomore campaign that ended watching veterans Malik Harrison and Chris Board, Simpson is eager to prove he's ready to regain (and keep) his starting spot in Year 3.

"I know that will be the greatest thing that ever happened in my career," Simpson said of last year's finish. "It definitely made me more alert to understand that this is a business, and you have to prove it every single day. I've learned so much from it."

To reclaim his spot beside Smith, Simpson hasn't left the veteran's side this offseason – a credit to both Simpson and Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler who is looking to get his running mate up to speed.

Smith flew back to Baltimore in March to join Simpson for daily offseason workouts and film study. They were together for four months, all the way through OTAs and now into minicamp. Simpson called Smith his "big brother."

"I'm trying to take all the knowledge I can that he's given me," Simpson said. "Being around greatness creates greatness. So, I'm just trying to be around him as much as possible, working hard, and following his lead. I'm ready to go out there and lay it on the line for this team and for him."

At the start of the Ravens' voluntary strength and conditioning program in late April, Smith told reporters that he's "very excited for [Simpson] and his future."

"[We're] just trying to build on our bond with each other, knowing what he's thinking in certain situations and also just knowing what I'm thinking, and just getting out and doing more things to create a tighter bond," Smith said. "But I think the guy has all the athletic ability in the world – everything you would want. I have great faith that he's going to be able to put it all together."

Simpson feels he's undergone a transformation on two fronts so far this offseason. Already a player with very little body fat, he's added 5-7 pounds this offseason, which he expects will help him be stronger and tougher on run fits in the box.

The more important offseason workouts have resulted in a mental sweat, however. Equipped with last year's extensive experience, Simpson has gone to work in the film room with Smith and new Inside Linebackers Coach Tyler Santucci.

Santucci, a fast-rising coach who was a defensive coordinator at Texas A&M, Duke, and Georgia Tech the past three years, has also been a great help in coaching Simpson on how to accurately read the play instead of reacting to it.

"I can honestly say it's slowing down so much," Simpson said. "Through this whole OTAs, I'm so much more alert, knowing what to expect. Last year, I felt like I was more processing the play. Now that I know the whole defense, I'm more processing what to expect from the offense with formations and things."

Simpson was sometimes caught out of position last season, particularly when finding the correct gaps to hit in the run game. He says he feels "way more confident" now. It's evident not only by sight, but also by sound.

Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr said Simpson is "turning into one of our most vocal guys."

"This is the most confident that I've seen Trenton, and he's a lot more relaxed before the play. I hear him talking," Orr said earlier this month. "The only way we say you can be confident in speaking is if you're confident in knowing what you're doing."

Simpson posted 73 tackles, including five for loss, six quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, and four passes defensed last season. On a per-game basis, it was a similar second season to the one Patrick Queen, a first-round pick, had in 2021.

Queen went through his share of highs and lows before becoming a back-to-back Pro Bowler in Baltimore and Pittsburgh the past two years. The hope is that Simpson, a third-round pick out of Clemson, will have a similar trajectory.

He'll have to win the job again, as there is new competition from rookie fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan. The Ravens also signed veteran special teams ace Jake Hummel. But the door is open for Simpson again, just as it was last offseason following Queen's departure.

"I'm ready for it now for sure," Simpson said. "This year is my year. I'm ready. I put my work in. I'm focused – no distractions, all ball."