Ravens bolster pass rush by signing veteran Chris Smith
On Monday, the Baltimore Ravens brought in veteran pass rushers Dion Jordan, Chris Smith, and Shilique Calhoun for a workout.
It didn’t take long for the Ravens to put one of those players on the roster.
As first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Baltimore is signing former Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chris Smith to a one-year deal.
The signing of an additional pass rusher is not surprising. This offseason the Ravens lost the likes of Matthew Judon, Yannick Ngakoue, and Jihad Ward in free agency. That left a sizable hole for the team to fill.
What are the Baltimore Ravens getting in Chris Smith?
The Ravens have been linked to pass rusher Justin Houston on numerous occasions this offseason. The team was also rumored to be targeting former Pro Bowler Melvin Ingram who has since signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Most recently, Baltimore was connected to Chandler Jones after he opted to request a trade from the Arizona Cardinals. Just 24 hours ago, nobody would have anticipated Smith joining the Ravens organization.
Many might sigh at the thought of Smith because he does not have the same skill set as Houston or Jones. But what Smith can bring to the team is additional veteran leadership.
In seven seasons, Smith has been with four NFL teams. During that time he has played in 68 games and recorded 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a combined 50 tackles with 11 coming for a loss.
Smith’s best season came in 2017 with the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals. During that year he played in all 16 regular-season games, notched three sacks, a forced fumble, and 26 combined tackles with four coming for a loss.
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The Ravens’ front office has been superb at signing players during the offseason over its 25-year history. Let’s give Chris Smith the chance he deserves.