Jimmy Smith (2011):
It’s truly stunning that Jimmy Smith never made even one Pro Bowl during his run with the Baltimore Ravens. Smith was very quietly one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks starting in the 2013 season. Injuries have been the only thing holding Smith back, truth be told.
In his nine-seasons in the league, Smith has played all 16 games just twice while averaging just ~12 games played per season. When on the field, however, Smith proved he was worth his investment. You can ask his opposition how good he was, and no one was suffocated more by Smith’s play than Antonio Brown. Ravens fans took solace when Smith lined up on Brown, as he seemed to be the only cornerback in the NFL who could slow down a guy who was considered to be the league’s best receiver.
Smith was never a turnover machine, but his 14 career interceptions in 107 games were more than respectable. Smith was rarely thrown at in his prime because of how sticky his coverage was. He truly was a lockdown corner when healthy.
Jimmy Smith has been brought back by the Baltimore Ravens for his tenth season and his tenure with the team has earned him the right to be talked about with other Ravens greats like Chris McAlister and Duane Starks. Smith was never flashy, but he always got the job done.