When the Ravens drafted Matt Elam in the first round of the 2013 draft, they thought they were getting a player who would step into the starting lineup and remain there for years to come.
Things haven’t worked out that way. Elam struggled in each of his first two seasons and lost his starting safety job to Will Hill in the second half of last year. General Manager Ozzie Newsome made clear this week what was implied by that change in the lineup.
“I think it’s readily known that we have not been satisfied with the way he’s played thus far,” Newsome said, via the Baltimore Sun. “And I don’t think Matt has been satisfied with the way he’s played thus far.”
Elam’s not the only 2013 pick who has fallen short of the team’s expectations. Linebacker Arthur Brown, the team’s second-round pick, played in just four games last season and didn’t play a snap on defense.
“Arthur Brown is another young man who, at this point of his career, needs to find a way to get to the field,” Newsome said. “When you’ve got C.J. Mosley and Daryl Smith playing at a very high level, it’s hard for someone like Arthur to get to the field. If those guys [Brown and Elam] put forth the effort and show the improvement that we think they should show, then both of them will get a chance to be on the field this year.”
Hill, Smith and Mosley all played well for the team last year and should be tough to knock out of their roles if they play at the same level during camp this summer.