As 2021 training camp creeps closer and closer, the Baltimore Ravens are exploring every avenue to make their team better. They’ve signed free agents such as Sammy Watkins and Kevin Zeitler, added rookies like Rashod Bateman and Odafe Oweh, and even traded for players such as Josh Oliver.
On Monday, Baltimore worked out a trio of pass rushers that included a former top-five overall pick.
Ravens worked out some pass rushers today, a group that included veteran Dion Jordan per transaction notice. They also worked out DE Chris Smith and OLB Shilique Calhoun.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) July 26, 2021
Briefly after the workouts were announced, it was reported that Smith had signed with the team.
Ravens are signing former Raiders’ UFA defensive lineman Chris Smith to a one-year deal, per his agent @DrewJRosenhaus.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2021
Smith was a fifth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2014, and has put up 72 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles across seven NFL seasons. He stands at 6-foot-1 and weighs 266 pounds, and has also spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Las Vegas Raiders.
Entering his eighth NFL season, Smith might face an uphill battle to make the Ravens’ roster. He’ll be competing with players such as Jaylon Ferguson for a roster spot, but if Smith performs well in training camp and the preseason, it’s possible that the team could look to keep him around. However, at this point he could just be a pure depth signing for training camp, as Baltimore had been running low on quality edge depth options outside of their main five players at the position.
As for the other two players, it seems unlikely that either will be signed now that Smith is in the fold. Jordan, who was taken by the Miami Dolphins with the third-overall pick in the 2013 draft, hasn’t been able to meet the expectations that were set for him coming out of the University of Oregon, only racking up 13.5 total sacks in the NFL.
Calhoun has just 56 total tackles and 2.5 sacks in five seasons after being selected by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2016 draft.
Leave a Reply