Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports activities workers needed to say instantly after the Ravens’ commerce for Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith on Monday forward of Tuesday’s deadline:
Jonas Shaffer, reporter: With all of the uncertainty and hand-wringing over the Ravens’ broad receiver room, Eric DeCosta goes and trades for … an inside linebacker? With the significance of high-value draft capital within the not-too-distant future the place Lamar Jackson’s on a megadeal, the Ravens reportedly half with … a second-round decide? Surprising and shocking. Roquan Smith matches the Ravens’ prototype at inside linebacker: quick, bodily, blue-chip athletic pedigree. But for the commerce to be worthwhile, he has so as to add worth on passing downs — not solely as a blitzer, however in move protection, too.
Childs Walker, reporter: The Roquan Smith deal is extra of a combined bag than it’d seem on the floor. Smith is a prolific playmaker as each a run-stopper and blitzer who will increase the general expertise stage of the Ravens protection. He will cowl ample floor and shore up their tackling inconsistencies. But he shares a few of Patrick Queen’s difficulties in protection, at the very least if we’re to imagine his Pro Football Focus grades. And the Ravens gave up vital draft capital for a star at a non-premium place. It raises fascinating long-term questions. Will they signal Smith to an extension and decline to select up Queen’s fifth-year choice? Or will they see Smith as a high-end rental and gladly take a third-round decide as compensation for letting him stroll within the offseason?
More instantly, will they discover snaps for veteran Josh Bynes, who doesn’t play particular groups and presumably received’t have a lot of a job with Smith and Queen on the sphere? Will first-round decide Kyle Hamilton, who has made some notable performs within the field, additionally lose snaps to Smith? Ravens normal supervisor Eric DeCosta hit a house run along with his midseason deal for Marcus Peters in 2019. The crew’s 2020 commerce for edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue didn’t repay. DeCosta is taking one other win-now swing in 2022.
Ryan McFadden, reporter: This is a large win for the Ravens. Patrick Queen has performed properly over the previous three video games, and pairing him with Smith offers the Ravens the most effective inside linebacker duos within the league. Smith makes the Ravens’ protection way more harmful, particularly with outdoors linebackers Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo coming back from harm.
However, I’m curious to see if the Ravens make one other transfer. With Rashod Bateman anticipated to overlook just a few weeks and tight finish Mark Andrews coping with a shoulder harm, it will be smart for the Ravens to offer Lamar Jackson one other weapon on offense.
C.J. Doon, editor: A linebacker didn’t appear significantly excessive on the Ravens’ want record given how a lot Patrick Queen has improved this season, however the harm to dependable veteran Josh Bynes revealed the shortage of depth on the place. A.J. Klein and Kristian Welch simply received’t minimize it for a crew that has Super Bowl aspirations. In that sense, I perceive this deal. Smith is the NFL’s main tackler, nonetheless simply 25 years previous and a former top-10 draft decide, so the attraction is apparent. I’d quibble with the value, nevertheless. Giving up a second- and fifth-round choice for an inside linebacker within the ultimate yr of his rookie deal who reportedly needs to be among the many highest-paid gamers at his place feels a bit too dangerous, particularly with quarterback Lamar Jackson nonetheless needing a brand new contract. Is this actually going to raise the Ravens over the Bills and Chiefs within the AFC? Now that Rashod Bateman is predicted to overlook a number of weeks, I’d have used that capital to attempt to get a large receiver like Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore or Brandin Cooks.
Tim Schwartz, editor: Now this is a blockbuster. The Ravens in all probability appeared round the remainder of the AFC and figured they will compete with one of the best of ‘em with this move, but if they’re buying and selling invaluable draft capital — reportedly second- and fifth-round picks — why not at broad receiver, the place there may be an apparent want? Top broad receiver Rashod Bateman is out for just a few weeks after aggravating his foot harm, and the offense may use one other weapon. If they’re transferring all their chips to the center of the desk, the Ravens may as properly use commerce a late-round decide and take a flyer on one of many league’s many disgruntled wideouts.
Still, it is a large transfer that instantly makes higher the Ravens protection, which has been steadily bettering over the previous few weeks however had some obtrusive depth points. But what about inside linebacker Patrick Queen? How the 2 linebackers complement one another will likely be fascinating to look at. With linebackers David Ojabo and Tyus Bowser nearing a return, this Ravens protection might be the most effective within the NFL if the secondary holds up its finish of the cut price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com