The Baltimore Ravens and star quarterback Lamar Jackson famously failed to agree to a long-term contract this offseason, it looks like the Ravens were able to come to terms with another star player on a new deal as All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith has signed a five-year extension with the team.
As league insider Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network reports, the new Roquan Smith deal makes him the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history.
“Per Saint Omni, The #Ravens agree in principle with All-Pro LB Roquan Smith — now the highest paid at his position in NFL history with a 5-yr, $100M deal. $45M fully guaranteed & $60M in total guarantees. Huge. The 1st off-ball LB to get $20M per year. Roquan represented himself,” Rapoport said in a tweet on Tuesday.
It’s an absolutely massive move from the Ravens and an absolutely massive payday for Smith, and the NFL world had plenty to say about it.
“Congrats to Lamar Jackson on joining a new team this off-season!” Bengals podcast host Willie Lutz joked in a tweet.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: one of the best deadline trades in recent memory. He was an enormous part of the Ravens’ defensive turnaround and should be a first-team All-Pro. Worth every penny,” Benjamin Solak of The Ringer said in a tweet.
“Getting it done while preparing for the playoffs,” JP Finlay of NBC Sports pointed out on Twitter.
“Roquan’s played at a different level for the Ravens, but the Bears are 100% right to want no part of that contract and cash in when they did,” Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus said in a tweet.
Now, the Ravens will have to try to sign Jackson to a longterm deal this offseason.
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