The Ravens have agreed to re-sign cornerback Jimmy Smith, as Smith himself tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Smith will ink a one-year deal worth $3.5MM, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who adds Smith can earn another $2.5MM via playtime incentives.
Smith had spent his entire career in Baltimore since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2011, but it was unclear if he’d be sticking with the Ravens going forward. Baltimore allowed the veteran defensive back to reach the free agent market, but he’s now returning on a relatively team-friendly deal.
Smith made the fewest starts of his career (five) in 2019, thanks in large part to a knee injury that sidelined him for much of the season. Health questions have historically been a problem for Smith, who has only played a full 16-game slate twice in nine NFL seasons.
Baltimore ranked fourth in the league in pass defense DVOA, and the club will now return almost all of its cornerbacks — save for Brandon Carr — in 2020. Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, and Tavon Young comprise the Ravens’ starting corner package, leaving Smith as a well-compensated, highly-experienced dime defensive back.
Gotta love secondary depth. Should be an exciting draft and team next year for Ravens fans.
really wanted him on my eagles for depth, but since I live in Baltimore and also love the Ravens I’m glad he resigned instead of going to Dallas or something
Ravens secondary depth is absurd.
3.5 is a steal. Even after factoring in the incentives, it’s still less than the 7mil they offered before he tested the FA market. DeCosta has been great thus far.
Marlon, Marcus, Tavon, Jimmy, Earl, Chuck. This secondary is NASTY.