Baltimore Ravens: Trading for Roquan Smith Would Cement Status as Top Defense

The Ravens’ defense had to make some changes this offseason, but their acquisitions have put the team in a good spot heading into the regular season.

The Ravens’ interior defensive line looks like an upgrade from last year and the secondary is revamped, as injuries decimated the whole team in general but the cornerback position was specifically wrecked midway through the season. Baltimore was not prepared with the lack of depth to deal with these injuries, and it ultimately caught up to them as they finished the season on a six-game skid. Both Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters should be back relatively early from their injuries last year and the team signed veteran Kyle Fuller, while drafting Jalyn Armour-Davis and Damarion “Pepe” Williams. They will be ready for any injury that occurs in the secondary.

For now, it looks like Baltimore’s defense should be able to repeat the normal standard of being a top-ranked unit, as the only missing pieces might be at the linebacker spots (inside and outside). At outside linebacker, more commonly referred to as the edge rusher position, both Tyus Bowser and rookie David Ojabo will come back sometime during the season as they are still healing past injuries. The group will be headlined by veteran Justin Houston and former first-round pick (31st overall) from last year — Odafe Oweh. For now, the trenches and run-stopping duties will mainly be taken care of by veteran interior linemen, Calais Campbell and Michael Pierce. Youngsters Justin Madubuike and Travis Jones can provide some pressure from the interior and get to the quarterback as well.

At safety, the Ravens will likely keep more of them and fewer linebackers on the roster, as they added Kyle Hamilton to an already established but fresh group. Chuck Clark, Tony Jefferson, and Geno Stone will all contribute, with Brandon Stephens playing more cornerback than safety this year. Baltimore will likely deploy the former first-round pick (No. 14 overall selection) from this past draft, Kyle Hamilton, more near the line of scrimmage. He will play at certain linebacker spots as a hybrid defender and can be moved around where it seems most fit early on in his career. Add in the fact that the team signed Marcus Williams away from the Saints and this unit looks as good as any in the league.

Getting a linebacker that could do it all (cover, stop the run, and rush the passer) like Roquan to add alongside Patrick Queen could fix the last remaining hole on the defense.