When Ravens inside linebacker Zach Orr announced his abrupt retirement in January, Kamalei Correa immediately became the favorite to succeed Orr as a starter in the middle of the Ravens' defense. But coming off a disappointing rookie season that he described as "a struggle," Correa is taking nothing for granted.
"In the NFL, there is no job security," Correa said after a minicamp workout June 14. "You have to come to work every single day. If I don't come to work and if I don't make plays, it won't be me [starting]. That is just the reality of it."
Despite being a second-round draft pick last season, Correa hardly saw the field on defense. He appeared in nine games, with one start, but he played just two defensive snaps during the second half of the season and landed on injured reserve (ribs) with two games remaining. He totaled four tackles, and also had one forced fumble and one pass defensed.
