Ravens Could Welcome Back A Key Pass Rusher
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens need to boost the pass rush this offseason after finishing in the bottom third of the league for sacks last year.
The answer might lie with a player already familiar with the franchise.
The Ravens could consider bringing back Za'Darius Smith, who will likely become a salary-cap casualty with the Green Bay Packers.
Smith, who was a fourth-round pick by the Ravens in 2015, also priced himself out of Baltimore in 2019 after finishing with 18.5 sacks over four seasons. He signed a four-year, $66 million deal with the Green Bay Packers, including a $20 million signing bonus as a free agent.
He managed 26 sacks in his first two seasons but dealt with injuries last year. The Packers need to cut salary this offseason and Smith has a $27.7 million cap hit this season.
If Smith is cut, the Ravens could try to work out a deal.
Pro Football Focus contends the Ravens won't even let Smith hit the free-agent market and could make a trade for the edge rusher. That would cost the Ravens $15.8 million for one season, which seems reasonable.
PFF's Brad Spielberger writes:
"Smith signed a four-year, $66 million ($16.5M per year) contract with the Packers in the 2019 offseason following the expiration of his four-year rookie contract with the Ravens. Smith’s final season in Baltimore saw him break out with career highs across the board, including his 79.3 pass-rush grade, 60 quarterback pressures and 10 sacks.
His first two seasons in Green Bay were everything the Packers could have hoped for — 144 quarterback pressures and 29 sacks — but he missed almost the entirety of the 2021 campaign to injury. Smith was reportedly unhappy with how his contract was handled prior to the season, and it’s possible he would rather be outright released so he can choose his next team. However, the thinking here is he would be excited to return to the team that drafted him, and perhaps contract particulars can get sorted out at a later date.
The Ravens are projected to have five fourth-round picks, including multiple compensatory picks, and they’ve done a good job of flipping Day 3 selections for proven starters the past few years, such as when they acquired interior defender Calais Campbell from the Jaguars for a fifth-rounder in 2020. Campbell will be 36 years old in Week 1 of 2022, though he’s shown very few signs of slowing down. Smith slots right in as a pass-rusher who can win from anywhere along the defensive line."
This is a scenario that is something to watch in the coming weeks.
