Boosting their options at edge-rusher remains on the to-do list for the Baltimore Ravens, so it’s a good thing a former top-40 draft pick is still available in 2025 NFL free agency, a 10-year veteran who’s a natural scheme fit for coordinator Zach Orr’s defense.
A career record of 70.5 sacks in 10 seasons proves Preston Smith’s credentials as somebody who could help the Ravens. The former Washington, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker is the pick from Carmen Vitali of Fox Sports to fill the Ravens’ biggest remaining need.
Vitali believes “there’s something left to be desired in the pass rush. Kyle Van Noy is a great player. Odafe Oweh is, too. But to keep consistent pressure coming off the edge, I’d like to see a deeper rotation — especially to capitalize on the players Baltimore has on the interior. Guys like Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones can wreak havoc inside, which makes things easier and mismatches more common with guys on the outside.”
It’s a strong argument, and Smith is a good choice to add some veteran insurance at a key spot. Yet, what the 32-year-old wouldn’t do is underpin the necessary youth movement the Ravens need more at the edges of their front seven.
Preston Smith a Natural Scheme Fit for Ravens
Smith has spent his career in the pros rushing the passer from the outside. The player taken with the 38th pick in the 2015 NFL draft has alternated between attacking protection as a standup rusher or after putting his hand in the dirt as a traditional defensive end.
He’s primarily an outside linebacker, but the Ravens use players at the position in multiple ways on their hybrid fronts. They require big-bodied force setters against the run and agile rushers able to beat protection.
Fortunately, Smith showed last season he still has the physical traits and general know-how to get to the quarterback. One of his better plays was this takedown of Will Levis against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3, highlighted by USA Today’s Josh Carney, who applauded Smith as a “Savvy pass rusher, has a plan and executes at a productive level.”
One of new #Steelers EDGE Preston Smith’s two full sacks on the season.
Great use of hands to punch and then swim the tackle, allowing him to turn the corner and get to #Titans QB Will Levis for the sack.
Savvy pass rusher, has a plan and executes at a productive level.
Production has rarely been a problem for Smith, who’s logged eight or more sacks in a single season six times in his career. He’s also registered 20-plus pressures five times, per Pro Football Reference.
Just as important as his statistics, Smith offers a heightened level of versatility the Ravens could use in a variety of ways. That flexibility showed up for this sack for the Steelers, when Smith slid inside to “3-tech DT” and got to Cincinnati Bengals QB1 Joe Burrow, per Steel Curtain Network’s Kevin Smith.
Steelers with the interesting 1-4-6 Dime package with Preston Smith bumped inside as a 3-tech DT. Edge pressure from Watt forces Burrow to step up in the pocket and Smith gets the sack. Steelers are ramping up the pressure!
There’s a lot to recommend Smith to the Ravens, but general manager Eric DeCosta could justify passing on the deal to double down on the team getting younger on the edges.
Ravens Undergoing Slow Reset on the Edge
DeCosta has already begun the process of resetting his team’s options at edge-rusher. Using a second-round pick in this year’s draft to select Mike Green, college football’s sack leader last season, was a solid start.
Green is a legitimate breakout candidate, but he’s not the only up and coming outside pass-rusher capable of taking on a bigger role in Baltimore. There’s also an unlikely physical mismatch touted to emerge as the “centerpiece” of the front seven.
The Ravens already have would-be bookends behind 34-year-old Kyle Van Noy and 2026 free agent Odafe Oweh. It means there’s little need to part with limited space under the salary cap to sign Smith.
Not unless DeCosta is more comfortable trusting proven experience over youthful upside.
