The Ravens have reportedly signed a key member of their defense to a lucrative long-term extension.
The team has reached a five-year, $100 million extension with inside linebacker Roquan Smith, according to multiple reports.
Smith, 25, was acquired from the Chicago Bears in a midseason trade in exchange for linebacker AJ Klein, and two 2023 draft picks -- in the second and fifth rounds. The Bears selected the former Georgia Bulldogs star with the eighth overall pick in the 2018 Draft.
Smith's arrival in Baltimore seemed to herald a marked turnaround for the Ravens' previously beleaguered defense, which averaged just 14.6 points allowed per game in his nine contests. The team went 5-4 in that span, largely because of a sputtering offense, which was without the services of starting quarterback Lamar Jackson for the final five-plus games of the season due to a knee injury.
Smith's new deal calls for $45 million guaranteed at signing, and $60 million in total guarantees, making him the highest-paid off-ball linebacker in league history.
Smith's 169 tackles were good for third-most in the regular season. He also excelled in pass coverage, tallying six passes defended and three interceptions. His exploits earned him his first career Pro Bowl nod. He was second-team All-Pro in 2020 and '21.
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