Baltimore Sun

LB Smith proves he’s worth every penny

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The Ravens didn’t want to risk allowing middle linebacker Roquan Smith to test the freeagent market during the offseason, so they made a strong move by locking him up with a five-year contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.

The deal is reportedly worth $100 million, making Smith, 25, the highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL. He will remain the centerpiec­e of a defense that has enjoyed a resurgence since he arrived from the Chicago Bears in a late October trade in which the Ravens gave up second- and fifth-round draft picks and linebacker A.J. Klein. Since the move, Baltimore has allowed more than 16 points only twice (notably

to playoff teams) in nine games.

According to the NFL Network, Smith will receive $60 million guaranteed, and put simply, he’s worth the money. In a league that is getting smaller at linebacker as offenses rely more on their passing attack, Smith is an every-down player who can cover receivers as well

he defends the run.

He doesn’t come off the field.

The Ravens have tried to fill the hole in the middle of their defense since Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis retired after the 2012 season with players like C.J. Mosley, Josh Bynes and even current weak-side linebacker Patrick Queen, but only Smith has been the total package.

He can run sideline to sideline and cover almost any running back out of the backfield. At 6 feet 1 and 236 pounds, he can shock and shed blockers and is relentless in pursuing ball carriers to the other side of the field.

If Smith were allowed to hit free agency, many teams would have bid for his services, but that’s not a concern now for Baltimore. Smith is a Raven for the next five years.

This deal wasn’t just about his athleticis­m and instincts to make plays; it was also about his character. Most veterans don’t want to become leaders in their first year — especially after arriving in the middle of the season — for fear of becoming too dominant a personalit­y or shaking things up, but Smith settled in well in Charm City. His teammates raved about his leadership in film study and how his unselfishn­ess has made other players around him, like Queen, better.

But if you really want to see his character, just watch the team’s 27-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The week before, Smith had his worst game as a Raven as the Pittsburgh Steelers rushed for 198 yards on 41 carries in a 16-13 victory, and running back Najee Harris beat Smith on his go-ahead 10-yard touchdown catch with 56 seconds remaining.

How did he follow that up? Smith had 16 tackles, including 12 solo, against Cincinnati. His performanc­e was reminiscen­t of the play of other Ravens greats like Lewis, safety Ed Reed and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs. They had bad games occasional­ly, too, but never two in a row. Their motor and self-esteem would never allow such a thing to happen. Smith plays the game with similar intensity and pride, which is why more and more offenses are trying to find a way to beat him.

Since joining the Ravens ahead of Week 9, Smith has 86 tackles, including two sacks, one intercepti­on and three passes defended to earn his first Pro Bowl honor. That’s hard to believe because Smith, drafted No. 8 overall by the Bears in 2018, has had more than 100 tackles in each of his first four seasons in the Windy City, including 163 in 2021 and 139 in 2020.

Smith wanted to come to the Ravens, a winning franchise that consistent­ly challenges for a Super Bowl, but team officials also sent out several messages Tuesday with the deal.

In recent years, the Ravens have allowed strong defensive players such as outside linebacker­s Za’Darius Smith and Matt Judon to leave and sign free-agent contracts elsewhere.

In the past two years, they have failed to reach a contract extension with Pro Bowl quarterbac­k Lamar Jackson, and there was speculatio­n the Ravens weren’t willing to pay big money to retain quality players, ignoring the lucrative deals left tackle Ronnie Stanley, tight end Mark Andrews and cornerback Marlon Humphrey have signed.

But that perception might have changed Tuesday.

It’s unknown at this point how much Smith’s extension will affect further negotiatio­ns with Jackson, but the quarterbac­k could become the team’s designated franchise player in 2023 and possibly 2024 if no new contract is brokered by the March 7 deadline. Under an exclusive franchise tag, Jackson would likely be owed about $45 million next season.

It also wouldn’t be a stretch for the Ravens to explore a trade and send Jackson to another team, especially one with a top-five pick in April’s draft, in search of a new franchise-caliber quarterbac­k.

Regardless, the Ravens signed the right player to a long-term extension Tuesday.

They don’t need to look back, just forward.

 ?? KEVIN RICHARDSON/BALTIMORE SUN ?? When linebacker Roquan Smith was traded from the Chicago Bears in late October, he knew that he wanted to be in Baltimore long term. He credited his teammates and coaches for making him feel at home.
KEVIN RICHARDSON/BALTIMORE SUN When linebacker Roquan Smith was traded from the Chicago Bears in late October, he knew that he wanted to be in Baltimore long term. He credited his teammates and coaches for making him feel at home.
 ?? ?? Mike Preston
Mike Preston

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