For 10 consecutive weekdays leading into the start of training camp on July 28, The Baltimore Sun is taking a position-by-position look at the Ravens' roster, the players who are locks and long shots and those on the bubble.
The countdown started at the position with the least intriguing roster competition and will end at the most spirited.
We've already looked at quarterback (July 13), defensive line (July 14), offensive line (July 15) and tight ends. Today, we'll examine inside linebackers:
How many they'll keep: 4
Locks if healthy: C.J. Mosley, Zachary Orr, Albert McClellan
On the bubble: Arthur Brown
Long shots: Cavellis Luckett, Patrick Onwuasor
Skinny: This is probably the Ravens' thinnest position after they decided not to replace starting middle linebacker Daryl Smith, the team's leading tackler in two of the past three seasons.
Mosley will slide into Smith's spot, but plenty of questions remain. The biggest is whether the Ravens will turn over the starting weak-side linebacker spot to Orr, Brown or someone else.
Orr and Brown were core special teams players last season and Orr's role on defense grew in the second half of the season. He replaced Smith on obvious passing downs. Orr got most of the first-team repetitions in the various minicamps and seems to have the lead for the spot.
However, the Ravens also used second-round pick Kamalei Correa on the inside, and coach John Harbaugh has even brought up using a safety in the role.
General manager Ozzie Newsome makes a late summer addition just about every year, so the starting weak-side linebacker might not even currently be on the roster.
Brown, a 2013 second-round pick who has played sparingly on defense in his young career, probably has the most to prove. He's gotten bigger and strong and now the Ravens want to see him just playing, rather than thinking too much.
McClellan earns his roster spot every year with his versatility and work on special teams. It would be foolish to discount Luckett or Onwuasor's roster chances, given the Ravens' history with undrafted free agent inside linebackers.