This is how I project the Baltimore Ravens' depth chart on defense:
Defensive line
Projected starters: Haloti Ngata (DT), Brandon Williams (NT) and Chris Canty (DE)
Backups: Timmy Jernigan (DT), DeAngelo Tyson (DT), Jamie Meder (DT), Terrence Cody (NT), Derrick Hopkins (NT), Brent Urban (DE) and Kapron Lewis-Moore (DE)
Comment: The defensive line can go a lot of different ways. The way I look at it, Williams is a natural nose tackle, so I bumped Ngata back to defensive tackle. But Ngata could stay at nose tackle for a second season, and the Ravens may opt to start Williams or Jernigan, a second-round pick, at defensive tackle. Tyson, who showed some flashes last season, is also in the mix.
Outside linebacker
Projected starters: Terrell Suggs and Courtney Upshaw
Backups: Elvis Dumervil, Pernell McPhee and John Simon
Comment: Suggs and Upshaw were the starting outside linebackers for 13 games last season. Upshaw platoons with Dumervil, who excels in rushing the passer. All five outside linebackers are expected to return.
Inside linebacker
Projected starters: C.J. Mosley and Daryl Smith
Backups: Arthur Brown; Josh Bynes and Albert McClellan
Comment: Mosley, a first-round pick and an every-down linebacker, will undoubtedly start alongside Smith. The Ravens still view Brown, a second-round pick last year, as a starter down the road. Bynes and McClellan are solid special team players.
Cornerback
Projected starters: Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb
Backups: Chykie Brown, Asa Jackson, Sammy Seamster and Avery Patterson
Comment: Brown and Jackson will battle for the No. 3 cornerback spot, a void created by the departure of Corey Graham. Sammy Seamster and Avery Patterson, two undrafted rookies, have an opportunity to make the team as the fifth cornerback. But there's a good chance that the Ravens will add a veteran corner who is released by another team on the final major cutdown.
Safety
Projected starters: Matt Elam and Terrence Brooks
Backups: Darian Stewart, Omar Brown, Brynden Trawick, Anthony Levine and Jeromy Miles
Comment: I put Terrence Brooks as the starter at free safety because that's what I project will happen to start the season. Stewart will likely work with the starters in training camp and the first part of the preseason because he's a veteran. Brown, Trawick, Levine and Miles were valuable special teams players last season.