The Ravens didn’t need to threat permitting center linebacker Roquan Smith to check the free agent market through the offseason, so that they made a robust transfer by locking him up with a contract extension on Tuesday, based on a supply with direct information of the state of affairs.
It’s reportedly a five-year extension price $100 million, and Smith, 25, turns into the highest-paid inside linebacker within the NFL and can stay the centerpiece of a protection that has had a resurgence since he got here from the Chicago Bears in a commerce in late October. The Ravens gave up second- and fifth-round picks and linebacker A.J. Klein for Smith. Since the transfer, Baltimore has allowed greater than 16 factors solely twice (notably to playoff groups) in 9 video games.
According to NFL Network, Smith will obtain $60 million assured, and put merely, he’s definitely worth the cash. In a league that’s getting smaller at linebacker as groups rely extra on their passing assault, Smith is an every-down participant who can cowl as properly he performs the run.
He doesn’t come off the sphere.
The Ravens have tried to fill the opening in the course of their protection since Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis retired after the 2012 season with gamers like C.J. Mosley, Josh Bynes and even present weakside linebacker Patrick Queen, however solely Smith has been the overall bundle.
He can run sideline to sideline and canopy nearly any operating again out of the backfield. At 6 toes and 237 kilos, he can shock and shed blockers and is relentless in pursuing ball carriers to the opposite aspect of the sphere.
If Smith had been allowed to hit free company, many groups would have bid for his providers, however that’s not a priority now for Baltimore. Smith is a Raven for the subsequent 5 years.
But this deal wasn’t nearly his athleticism and instincts to learn or make performs; it was additionally about his character. Most veterans don’t need to change into leaders of their first yr — particularly after coming in the course of the season — for concern of changing into too dominant a persona or shaking issues up, however Smith settled in properly In Charm City. His teammates discuss his management in movie research and the way his unselfishness has made different gamers round him, like Queen, higher.
But if you happen to actually need to see his character, simply watch the crew’s 27-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The week earlier than, Smith had his worst recreation as a Raven because the Pittsburgh Steelers rushed for 198 yards on 41 carries in a 16-13 victory, and operating again Najee Harris beat Smith on his go-ahead 10-yard landing catch with 56 seconds remaining.
How did he observe that up? Smith had 16 tackles, together with 12 solo, towards Cincinnati. His efficiency was paying homage to the play of different greats like Lewis, security Ed Reed and out of doors linebacker Terrell Suggs. They had dangerous video games sometimes, too, however by no means two in a row. Their motor and vanity would by no means permit such a factor to occur. Smith performs the sport with related depth and satisfaction, which is why increasingly more offenses are looking for a strategy to block or counter him.
Since becoming a member of the Ravens forward of Week 9, Smith has 86 tackles, together with two sacks, one interception and three passes defended to earn his first Pro Bowl honor. That’s onerous to imagine as a result of Smith, drafted No. 8 general by the Chicago Bears in 2018, has had greater than 100 tackles in every of his first 4 seasons within the Windy City, together with 163 in 2021 and 139 in 2020.
Smith needed to return to the Ravens, a successful franchise that persistently challenges for a Super Bowl, however crew officers additionally despatched out a number of messages Tuesday with the deal.
In current years, the Ravens have allowed robust defensive gamers resembling outdoors linebackers Za’Darius Smith and Matt Judon to depart and signal free-agent contracts elsewhere.
In the previous two years, they’ve failed to succeed in a contract extension with Pro Bowl quarterback Lamar Jackson, and there was hypothesis the Ravens weren’t keen to pay massive cash to retain high quality gamers, ignoring the profitable offers left deal with Ronnie Stanley, tight finish Mark Andrews and cornerback Marlon Humphrey signed.
But that notion may need modified Tuesday.
It’s unknown at this level how a lot the extension obtained by Smith will have an effect on additional negotiations with Jackson, however the quarterback might change into the crew’s designated franchise participant in 2023 and presumably 2024 if no new contract is brokered by the March 7 deadline. Under an unique franchise tag, Jackson would possible be owed about $45 million subsequent season.
It additionally wouldn’t be a stretch for the Ravens to discover a commerce, sending Jackson to a different crew, particularly one with a top-five decide in April’s draft, in the hunt for a brand new franchise-caliber quarterback.
Regardless, the Ravens signed the proper participant to a long-term extension Tuesday.
They don’t have to look again, simply ahead.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com