Jimmy Smith has been the Ravens’ best defensive back for multiple seasons, but he’s become expendable in Baltimore, making him a viable trade asset.
A couple of seasons ago, this suggestion would have been shot down immediately by Ravens personnel and fans everywhere. Jimmy Smith was labeled by many as Baltimore’s best cornerback by a large margin. With no depth, Jimmy was the only consistent Ravens defensive back. He continuously shut down the opposing team’s best receiver. There was no doubt that Smith has been the Ravens’ MVP on the defense.
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However, you can only be given that title if you are on the field. This is where Smith has hit his roadblock. It seemed last if every time you turned around Smith had suffered some type of injury. Most recently, Jimmy suffered a torn Achilles tendon in December that sidelined him for the remaining four games of Baltimore’s season. At that time however, Jimmy Smith was also bracing for a four-game suspension from the NFL for violating their policy on
performance enhancing drugs.
After an off-season spent recovering, Smith was set to return for the opening game against Buffalo. But then Smith was hit with another four-game suspension, this time for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, after he was accused by his ex-girlfriend of illegal drug use and domestic violence.
In 2016, Smith was sidelined and finished the season on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Smith has only ever played all sixteen games in a season twice, in 2013 and 2015. Unfortunately, Jimmy Smith has missed seventeen games over the last four seasons. This could make Smith more expendable as a possible trade-bait option.