The Baltimore Ravens have a couple of talented linebackers currently on their roster. They expect big things from third-year players Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison, as well as veteran Josh Bynes. However, the team could still look to add talent at the position, potentially in the form of a star.
On Tuesday, the Chicago Bears requested a trade for inside linebacker Roquan Smith. Many teams would benefit from adding his services, but when listing the top landing spots for the star, Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports put Baltimore at the top of the list, citing the fact that Smith would be an immediate upgrade over anyone on Ravens’ roster.
“32-year-old Josh Bynes is currently in line to be the team’s starting middle linebacker after starting 12 games for them last year and re-signing with the club in the off-season. Smith would not only be an immediate upgrade, but he would be an answer for them for the foreseeable future…As an aside, Smith could also pick up the mantle from Ray Lewis and be Baltimore’s next great middle linebacker, who is in a similar , he enjoyed playing in Chicago with their long history of linebackers. Similar to New England, however, the Ravens would have to massage their books to make this work under the salary cap.”
As Sullivan notes, Baltimore will likely have to move money around to accommodate Smith in their salary cap, as he plays on a fifth-year option worth $9.7 million. He’s also up for a big contract extension, so if the Ravens were to acquire Smith, it would be interesting to see how they would handle that situation.
Despite some of the concerns about money, there’s no doubting the player that Smith is. He is a phenomenal talent at the linebacker position and would fit extremely well in Baltimore’s defense. Over four seasons in the NFL, the former Georgia star has amassed 524 tackles, 14 sacks and five interceptions, showing that he is a do-it-all player who can play a wide variety of roles.
