Was the Roquan Smith contract an overpay? Eric DeCosta doesn’t think so
The Ravens recently extended linebacker Roquan Smith to a five-year, $100 million contract. It included $45 million in guaranteed money and makes Smith the highest-paid linebacker in league history. It also made him the first off-ball linebacker to receive over $20 million per season.
The deal came weeks after the Ravens sent the Bears a second-round pick to bring him in — only for the Bears to use that pick to acquire Chase Claypool. Pretty easy to see who won that trade.
Since acquiring him, Smith had an almost immediate impact for this Ravens team.
Trey showed this figure in his article breaking the news of the contract, but I think it’s definitely worth showing again.
It’s rare you see a player have an effect on an entire unit in such a short time. Many people feel that the Ravens paid too much for an off-ball linebacker. And to those people, I say you are crazy.
The numbers don’t lie, Smith has improved this defense in almost every way, and it’s clear he has the ability to elevate this unit. When simply watching Ravens games you see firsthand the impact he has. He is everywhere on the field, dropping back in coverage, running sideline to sideline to make tackles and even getting in the backfield to sack the quarterback.
The addition of Smith has rejuvenated this Ravens defense which needed some help, and Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta couldn’t be more excited to have gotten the deal done.
“Since he’s been here, Roquan has been a leader on and off the field, impressing us with his attitude and desire to be [a] great player and teammate every day,” DeCosta said. “There is certainly a standard of defense in Baltimore, and Roquan has proven that he can surpass that lofty mark. Congratulations to Roquan and his family on this special day!”
Quote via NBC Sports
Clearly DeCosta is very excited to have Roquan on this defense and I can’t really say I blame him. Smith is a certified playmaker on the defensive end and at 25 years old, he still has time to get even better.
If you’re one of the people that think that this is an overpay, then please just stop. You clearly don’t fully understand football and the true impact Smith can have on a defense. Why don’t you just look at how the Bears did after trading him away: a whole lot of losing.
Well, the Ravens are certainly going to need Smith and all his greatness in their matchup against the Bengals this week. They currently are eight-point underdogs and with the likely absence of Lamar Jackson, Smith is really going to have to elevate this defense.
But regardless of what happens this season, Ravens fans can be happy in knowing they have one of the best linebackers in the league locked up for the next five years. This unit, which includes the likes of Patrick Queen and Kyle Hamilton, has a bright future and can soon be back to the elite unit we’ve seen in years past.
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