It sounds as though Jimmy Smith will be getting another year with the Baltimore Ravens. There had been a lot of talk about the Ravens potentially divorcing the cornerback this offseason, but Ravens GM Eric DeCosta has implied that wasn't the case.
Speaking at this week's owners' meetings, DeCosta “all but affirmed” that Smith would be back in 2019, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. “One of the greatest strengths of our team right now is our secondary. I think it would be foolish for us to make a strength a weakness for no reason,” DeCosta said about potentially cutting Smith.
Smith was once one of the league's better cornerbacks, but his status has taken a hit the past few years. He has been injured off and on the past few seasons, and was suspended for the first four games of last year. In 12 games and 10 starts last year, Smith had 45 tackles, nine passes defended, and two interceptions.
DeCosta's point is a fair one. The Ravens had the best defense in the league last season, and there's not much of a need to tinker with things. DeCosta is in his first year as GM after taking over for longtime general manager Ozzie Newsome. It's not surprising that he doesn't want to ruffle too many feathers in the locker room with one of his first major moves.
Smith has been with the Ravens since Baltimore took him in the first round of the 2011 draft. A Colorado product, Smith has played a full 16-game season only twice in his eight-year career. He received average marks from Pro Football Focus for his work last year. Smith is heading into the final year of his contract, and will have a base salary of $9.5 million in 2019.
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