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Free agency: 3 players Baltimore Ravens must bring back

By Chris Schisler

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 20: Brandon Carr #39 of the Baltimore Ravens warms-up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on October 20, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 20: Brandon Carr #39 of the Baltimore Ravens warms-up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on October 20, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND – JUNE 10: Jimmy Smith #22 of the Baltimore Ravens poses for a photo at the Under Armour Performance Center on June 10, 2019 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND – JUNE 10: Jimmy Smith #22 of the Baltimore Ravens poses for a photo at the Under Armour Performance Center on June 10, 2019 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

2. Jimmy Smith:

Jimmy Smith is the most under appreciated player on the Ravens roster. He has an injury history. He missed some games due to a suspension. Fans have gotten frustrated with Smith and most of the frustration stems from things he cannot control. Smith is a good cornerback, and anybody who thinks he isn’t hasn’t paid attention. When Smith is at his best he is on par with Humphrey and Peters. His average performance is well above the average defensive back. Humphrey and Peters made the Pro Bowl and Smith is capable of also playing Pro Bowl caliber football.

If the Ravens bring back Smith, they have a lot of flexibility in the secondary. They can have three cornerbacks who have a shot at taking away a wide receiver in man coverage. That’s something that is very useful to Don Martindale, a very aggressive defensive coordinator. Smith is worth bringing back. Because of his injury history, and the fact that he’s 32 years old, Smith may be able to be brought  back on a team friendly deal. Should the Ravens get the right deal, bringing back Smith is an obvious decision. The Ravens brass should bank on the secondary, thank themselves later.

Bringing back Smith and Carr will pay off for the defense. If the Ravens keep their secondary strong, they just need to find pass rush to make it a dominant force. If the Ravens weaken their secondary, they will pay for it at some point in the 2020 season. Remember, the Ravens are getting  Tavon Young back after he was out for the entire 2019 season. Anthony Averett didn’t look good. Other than Young, the Ravens don’t have much past the four veteran leaders at the position.

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