Arthur Brown looking to compete for starting inside linebacker spot

A lot of people assumed Arthur Brown would be able to compete for a starting spot a year ago as a rookie second-round draft pick.

But Brown was unable to stake his claim on the position early in the season as Josh Bynes opened the year as Baltimore's starter. After six games, Jameel McClain took the position over, with Brown only seeing limited time in nickel packages.

But with McClain gone, Brown seems ready to go for the starting Will linebacker spot this year. He'll once again compete with Bynes for the spot, though he could get added competition if the Ravens go that route early in the draft. Speaking to The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson, Brown said he's ready for the challenge and is thankful to be in consideration as a starter.

"It’s an honor to even be considered and compete for that spot," Brown told The Sun. "I’m looking forward to it. Some strengths to my game are my explosiveness, my speed and being a sideline-to-sideline defender that has a high motor and has great instincts to the ball. I take that into account and play to my strengths and work on the other levels of my game to make me the complete package as a player."

Brown was undersized a year ago and has done his part to bulk up to 233 pounds so far this offseason. He's never been a big inside linebacker, though his speed and range more than made up for it while at Kansas State.

A second-round pick a year ago, the Ravens will look for Brown to make a leap this offseason.