Baltimore Ravens sign Roquan Smith to massive new deal
The Baltimore Ravens have inked one of their two top franchise tag candidates this week. Former first-round linebacker Roquan Smith self-negotiated his new deal and it is a whopper. He will rake in $100 million over the next five seasons, making him the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history, according to Ian Rapoport.
His five-year deal includes $45 million in fully guaranteed money and $60 million in total guarantees.
The former Chicago Bears star put up 86 tackles with two sacks and an interception this season, which was his first with the Ravens. He played nine games with the Ravens after accumulating 83 tackles, two picks and 2.5 sacks in eight games for the Bears.
For Smith, the Ravens traded linebacker AJ Klein and two picks in the upcoming 2023 NFL draft; one second-round pick and a fifth-round pick.
Smith was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Georgia. In five seasons in the NFL, he’s tallied 694 tackles, 18.5 sacks, 52 tackles for loss and eight interceptions.
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Ravens on the clock to ink new deal for Lamar Jackson
With Smith inked, the Ravens can turn their focus to quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Lamar Jackson has been very vocal about his desire for a larger contract with the Ravens. In July, he changed his Twitter cover photo to a picture of a smile with four teeth engraved with “I NEED $.” He missed OTAs as he tried to work out a new deal but the team ultimately avoided further negotiations.
The Ravens reportedly offered Jackson an extension worth $250 million in September, which he declined. Of the sum, $133 million would have been guaranteed money at signing, which was the main sticking point for him, according to ESPN. Baltimore’s star signal-caller saw Deshaun Watson get a $230 million contract and insists he is worth more.
Jackson was the Ravens’ first-round draft pick in 2018 and Baltimore recalibrated its offense to suit his running ability. He won the MVP in 2019 when he threw for 3,129 yards and 36 touchdowns in the air. He also rushed for 176 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.