Baltimore Ravens

Can Matt Elam really compete for Ravens' strong safety job?

Published Jun. 3, 2015 7:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

Will Hill established himself in the back of the Ravens secondary in 2014 after serving a suspension for the first six games of the season. Former first-round pick Matt Elam was rated as one of the worst safeties in the league last season by Pro Football Focus.

So it would make sense that Hill will be John Harbaugh's starting strong safety in 2015, right? Not so fast, says Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.

Both players have taken reps with the first-team defense early in OTAs, a sign that the competition is open for the spot alongside new free safety Kendrick Lewis. Wilson sees it as being one of the tightest competitions for playing time on the defense.

Hill was rated as the sixth-best safety by Pro Football Focus, the biggest highlight coming against the Saints when he picked off a pass intended for Jimmy Graham and took it to the house. Hill, who came to Baltimore with a reputation for getting into trouble off the field, has been keeping busy in the weight room instead this offseason.

He looks much bigger than the 207 pounds he was listed at last season, according to Wilson, and Harbaugh sees is already seeing a lot of progress on the field.

"I almost say light-years ahead of where he was last year," Harbaugh said of Hill's progress. "He has been here every single day in the offseason that I’m aware of. Heck, he brought his family in here to work out with him when he was on his own. I just think he has really dug in to have a great season, and we’ll see how it goes for him. But right now, he looks the part."

Elam has also been getting his body in better shape. He said he's in the best shape of his life after losing five percent body fat this offseason.

But will the better conditioning lead to more playing time?

"All I'll say is, I can't wait until September," Elam said. "I'm ready."

h/t: Baltimore Sun