Ravens Reacts: Breaking News! Roquan Smith is a Baltimore Raven!
Does this make the Ravens defense championship caliber?
Two days ago, the Baltimore Ravens made a shocking yet very impactful move, by trading a 2023 2nd and 5th round pick, along with newly acquired linebacker A.J. Klein to the Chicago Bears in exchange for middle linebacker Roquan Smith! The Ravens also only have to pay $575,000 dollars for Smith this season, as the Bears are picking the vast majority of his $5.4 million salary.
This is a very big move for Baltimore, who despite not picking up a wide receiver some thought they desperately needed at the deadline (considering Rashod Bateman and likely Mark Andrews are both missing time), they picked up another one of their key needs. Baltimore’s leader in tackles this season is Patrick Queen with 53 tackles.
Now, this 2x All Pro middle linebacker has a league leading 83 tackles, and had a ridiculous 163 tackle season last year. He also has 2.5 sacks, as he will probably get a new career high in sacks this season. He also has an interception, and could be a good pass defender against tight end on short routes.
The Ravens had been searching for a middle linebacker ever since C.J. Mosley (currently 2nd in the NFL in tackles with 82) left in the 2019 offseason, and they have experimented to find that ball hawk in the middle. They drafted Patrick Queen in the first round in 2020, and despite having easily a career year so far, hasn’t been the linebacker some may have anticipated. They made a huge push for Bobby Wagner in the offseason, but considering Smith is cheaper, much younger, and let alone much better, this has been a much better move for Eric DeCosta and the Ravens!
This is basically a new beginning for the 25 year old. His number is changing from No. 58 to No. 18 (since Michael Pierce wears No. 58), and it is the first team besides the Bears he’s played for in his career. On his opening press conference with the team, he said, “New start, why not a new number!?”
On the press conference he also mentioned he has looked up to a lot of linebackers in his career, as like role models and idols. But mainly, he said it was Ray Lewis, the consensus greatest linebacker of all time who won two defensive player of the year awards, and two super bowls with the Ravens. He said he is “excited to be here (in Baltimore), ready to roll (here, starting on Monday Night in New Orleans)”.
Trade Grade: A
Chase Coburn
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