Roquan Smith's 5-Year Extension With The Ravens Is A Sign Of Things To Come In Baltimore
Rob Carr. Getty Images.COME ONNNNN!!!!!!
Huge huge news out of Baltimore as at long last the Ravens have finally reached an extension with their franchise cornerstone. A guy that will lead on and off the field for many years to come. What a time to be alive!
Yes, the elephant in the room that is Lamar Jackson's status still exists, whether that's if he's playing this week or ever again for the Baltimore Ravens. That will all be sorted in due time, but there is no questioning that this is a great thing for Baltimore football. Roquan has been everything as advertised since the Ravens send a 2nd and a 5th to Chicago for him 2 months ago.
The guy has been everywhere in purple and black. Wherever the football is, there's 18 putting the man into the turf. He's every bit of that rare type of middle linebacker in today's day and age that can do it all - cover, blitz, run-stuff - and refuses to get pushed around the ring.
More importantly, Roquan has brought an ATTITUDE back to a defense that sorely needed it. Don't get me wrong, we've had good (if not great) Ravens defenses in recent years, but they've all lacked the kind of juice that put Ravens football on the map with Ray and Reed at the helm. Humph and Peters have done their fair share, but there's only so much guys can do on the outside. When your inside linebacker is directing your front 7 and is constantly around the action… that sets the tone for everyone else around him. Leadership.
That attitude is infectious, and it was on display in a big way this past Sunday in a game that the Ravens were otherwise throwing away. Roquan was relentless with 16 tackles and was constantly making his presence felt, leading a defense that held the big bad 1st-team Bengals offense to a mere 257 yards. So much so that Bengals fans have been in tears about it ever since
Absolute shambles. Sorry for playing hard-nosed football.
On top of all those intangibles, you can depend on Roquan to be where he's supposed to be and execute, which gives everybody else around him a little more freedom to adlib and try to create plays. Hell, the elevation in Patrick Queen's play alone has been worth the trade, and so has the defense's performance across the board.
Of course, there was a risk being taken when that trade was made that he could walk at year's end. We all speculated that their investment in such a trade was a sign that an extension would be forthcoming, but you just don't know until it happens. That's why it was a risk. Now it's going to pay dividends for years on end. And he's only 25!
Naturally, many will speculate that big money for Roquan means no money for Lamar. That in itself is false. The team totally still has the power and flexibility to franchise tag Lamar this offseason should they not be able to reach a deal, and structure a deal any way they want if they do. With that said, I do think that the team is starting to build out long-term plans with or without him.
It's a very real possibility they tag and trade Lamar this offseason, as difficult as that is to come to grips with. Such a scenario may involve drafting a rookie QB with the picks they acquire or going out and getting a veteran that you can plug and play. Either way the defense is in a place to give them a chance to win any game they play in, and the offensive line is top tier too. With or without Lamar, the offseason focus will be to add skill and speed at the receiver position. I really think it's up to Lamar as to whether he wants to be a part of that or not.
My favorite thing about Roquan's extension as a whole is that this is a message that a total teardown is NOT on the horizon. I'll be honest, given the way the Ravens have fizzled the last couple of years and the increasingly grim outlook regarding Lamar's contract, I was really starting to fear that a rebuild might be in the picture. Surely, changes are needed (ahem, OC) and those will happen in due time, but the Ravens are not packing it in any time soon. If anything, they're going back to their roots.
Roquan Smith baby!!!