Ravens All-Pro linebacker makes a list of the Top 10 NFL defenders to build around
Ravens All-Pro linebacker makes a list of the Top 10 NFL defenders to build around NFL.com's Bucky Brooks made a list of 10 players to build around for 2025, and Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith made the list at No. 8.
The Baltimore Ravens weren't overly active during the first few days of NFL free agency. Still, the team added DeAndre Hopkins to the passing game, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie on defense, and Jake Hummel to the special teams. The Ravens retained Ronnie Stanley, Patrick Ricard, and Tylan Wallace, while the restructure of Marlon Humphrey created $13 million in salary cap space.
The team then added DeAndre Hopkins.
Even with the inactivity and loss of Brandon Stephens, Malik Harrison, Patrick Mekari, Josh Jones, and Chris Board, the team is still in the midst of a Super Bowl window and has 11 2025 NFL draft picks to help restock.
Baltimore has signature stars on defense, and NFL.com's Bucky Brooks just revealed a list of 10 defensive stars in the NFL that he would most want to build around entering the 2025 season, and All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith made the list at No. 8.
Off-ball linebackers are rarely viewed as essential pieces to a championship puzzle, but Roquan Smith is a unicorn, a sideline-to-sideline menace with outstanding instincts, awareness and diagnostic skills. The three-time All-Pro is a tackling machine with underrated pass-rushing skills (21.5 career sacks) as a blitz specialist. He's a disruptive presence on the field and leader of a Ravens defense that strikes fear in the hearts and minds of opponents -- an ideal second-level cornerstone.
Smith was voted to his third straight Pro Bowl after leading the Ravens' defense and finishing fifth in the league in tackles (154). Smith is one of the fiercest and best tacklers in football; Last season, he also had 1.5 sacks, one interception, and four tackles for loss.
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