Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Roquan Smith had another excellent season in 2024. In his third season in Baltimore after the trade that brought him in from Chicago, Smith made his third Pro Bowl and second in a row, and was named to his third First-Team All-Pro.
Smith posted 154 tackles wit 81 solo and four for loss, four passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 1.5 sacks across 16 games, all starts.
It didn't seem like a down year at all for Smith, even after the loss of Patrick Queen in free agency - one of the Ravens' other top linebackers from 2023.
That's why it's awkward and confusing to see Smith's name on a list of players who will have a bounceback season. Pro Football Focus' Dalton Wasserman named Smith as the Raven most likely for improvement from the prior season.
"The loss of Patrick Queen clearly affected Roquan Smith early last season, particularly in coverage," Wasserman wrote. "Through Week 10, Smith ranked outside the top 60 qualified linebackers in both overall and coverage grade. Like the rest of Baltimore’s coverage unit, he turned things around down the stretch, earning an excellent 81.8 coverage grade from Week 11 onward.
"If he can carry that momentum into 2025, Smith should return to the level of production he delivered during his first two seasons in Baltimore."
Roquan Smith doesn't need a bounceback year. He just needs to stay on the trajectory he's been on since arriving in Baltimore.