The Baltimore Ravens’ 2025 season was defined by defensive frustration, and Roquan Smith got caught in the middle of it.
Smith entered his ninth NFL season with a résumé that still carries serious weight: three-time first-team All-Pro, two-time second-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler. He also made the Pro Bowl last year, though after the season he just went through, that nod felt more like a reflection of his reputation than his actual play.
Even so, Smith’s stock around the league remains high. ESPN’s survey of NFL personnel ranked him second among the league’s top linebackers, a reminder that plenty of evaluators still see a star-level player in him.
The question now is whether he can show it again.
At 29 and coming off a rough year, Smith has to answer the obvious concern about how much he has left. In 2025, he looked a step slow, and opposing ballcarriers were able to squeeze out extra yards and keep drives alive. He also gave up too much in coverage, allowing a 102.3 passer rating, according to Pro Football Focus.
Still, the bigger issue was the environment around him. Former defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s approach left the unit exposed, especially with relaxed pass coverages that let quarterbacks carve up Baltimore. The run defense didn’t help either, with a shaky front forcing linebackers like Smith to absorb too much contact from offensive linemen climbing to the second level.
There is reason to think the setup changes in 2026. Jesse Minter and Anthony Weaver are in place to get the defense moving in the right direction, and both bring the kind of presence that could help restore Smith’s impact. Minter is regarded as one of the game’s best defensive minds, while Weaver has a reputation for getting his players ready for the physical grind of game day.
The personnel around Smith should also be better. The interior front got a boost with Calais Campbell joining the mix, and Nnamdi Madubuike could be back on the field too.
On the edge, Trey Hendrickson and Zion Young could add the kind of pressure Baltimore lacked in 2025. Hendrickson’s pass-rushing ability should make life easier for the coverage unit, while Young’s edge-setting can help Smith and the rest of the defense attack downhill and win at the line.
That makes 2026 a major season for Smith. He and others on the defense can point to last year’s mess as the product of a shaky coaching setup. But if the turnaround doesn’t come under Minter, the questions around this group will only get louder.
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The concerns get sharper when you look at the details. The center spot could be stressed by the tempo of the new approach, and outside of Zay Flowers, there is not an obvious downfield target the Ravens can bank on every week. On defense, age and durability also hang over the picture, with Nnamdi Madubuike and Calais Campbell part of the worst-case conversation. If Baltimore stumbles in the division, especially against the Steelers or Browns, the path back to the playoffs could get a lot narrower than anyone expected. [Read more 🡒]