2024 was a forgettable season for linebacker Roquan Smith and the Baltimore Ravens defense. It was an uncharacteristic disaster of a year on that side for most of the season, as they struggled to make consistent stops for the first half of the year. However, late in the year, they were able to find a rhythm and clamp down on opposing offenses down the stretch.
Still, it was a rough season overall for Smith. His 65.2 grade per Pro Football Focus (PFF) was the 86th best at the linebacker position in the league last year. He also struggled to keep up in pass coverage, contributing to their 31st-ranked pass defense.
However, it is unfair to say it was Smith’s fault. The safety room failed to find its footing in the early going, with Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson floundering on the back end. Smith was asked to do it all in the middle of the field, and he put up a respectable effort. The media took notice of that, handing him an All-Pro first-team honor by season’s end.
While Smith ranked second among off-ball linebackers per NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, not everyone was satisfied with his 2024 campaign. An anonymous NFL defensive assistant thinks Smith has some work to do this offseason before suiting up for the 2025 regular season.
“I think he needs to get in better shape…Looks a little sluggish at times.”
Roquan Smith hit with a brutal critique ahead of training camp
The three-time All-Pro did look sluggish at times in 2024. Teams had field days against Baltimore with crossing routes, especially the Kansas City Chiefs, who put Smith through the ringer with wide receiver Rashee Rice. Rice tallied seven catches for 103 yards and was one of the main reasons that Smith graded out as the worst starter with a 29.4 PFF grade that game.
The reason Smith looked so bad on tape at times may have been due to the lack of starting-caliber linebacker play next to him. The loss of Patrick Queen hurt more than many thought it would. His athletic traits were missed, but Trenton Simpson was expected to take over following his departure. He did not. And it made Smith’s flaws more pronounced.
Going into 2025, the 28-year-old is still one of the best defenders in the league. 2024 was a bit more of a struggle, but he was one of the key catalysts in the defensive unit’s transformation in the final few weeks. Even in his off weeks, he is a crucial factor in the team’s success on the field. He goes beyond the stat sheet, and while he looked sluggish at times, another year of adjusting to his new partner in crime in Simpson should help the group blossom into the league’s best in 2025.